Tips and Quick Questions on “How To Start Being Old Style”

Caterina

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

,,,, The only caveat to being so very miserly with the heating is that YOU MUST NOT EVER DRY ANY LAUNDRY INDOORS! That's just asking for trouble (and misery).

Why is that? I am worried now as I do dry laundry indoors! We keep the central heating on for a minimum time (only 1/2 hour in the morning since today) and not in the daytime, but I dry laundry in the living rooom where we have a woodstove. Is it because of the condensation? Can it do real damage to the fabric of the house? :eek:

notjustlaura

Hello

I'm a comparative newbie too and very much still learning. Most of the advice I'd give has already been given but I'd add that it's really important to menu-plan (over a week, fortnight, month - your choice) and then shop from a list. I've been planning weekly but am thinking of switching to fortnightly to keep myself out of the supermarket/justify the delivery charge of online. Oh - and your freezer is your best friend. I cook in large quantities (4, 6, whatever portions I have recipe/ingredients for) and then freeze in individual portions. I've found this gets me away from having to cook small portions every day or being forced to eat chilli every day for a week because that's what I've cooked!

It sounds like you (like me) have no choice about going on this journey so you may as well enjoy the ride. There are lots of challenges, camaraderie, and ways to make frugality fun here and I'm secretly very proud of my new lifestyle.

Laura

schrodie

It's nice and reassuring to know one is amongst friends

I'm considering buying a breadmaker (an early Christmas present) so again knowing next to nothing about which is the best as far as value vs price is concerned any advice is welcomed, my price range is up to about £70'ish.

Thanks

bexster1975

try here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2794062

bexster:)

BitterAndTwisted

Caterina wrote: »

Why is that? I am worried now as I do dry laundry indoors! We keep the central heating on for a minimum time (only 1/2 hour in the morning since today) and not in the daytime, but I dry laundry in the living room where we have a woodstove. Is it because of the condensation? Can it do real damage to the fabric of the house? :eek:

Yes, it absolutely is because of the condensation. Drying laundry indoors with little or no heating on and not enough ventilation can cause water to stream down the walls and for mould to grow, especially on cold outside walls. Now, if one is being extremely miserly with the heating for economy's sake you wouldn't really want the window open, would you?

If I had no choice but to dry laundry indoors I'd be thinking about running a dehumidifier. Better the expense of that than the health-risks of mould.

I've dried laundry in the kitchen but with the window open a crack and the door to the rest of the place firmly shut but that's because my nearest launderette is a good half hour's walk away or I'd have taken it there to be dried.

knithryn

schrodie wrote: »

It's nice and reassuring to know one is amongst friends

I'm considering buying a breadmaker (an early Christmas present) so again knowing next to nothing about which is the best as far as value vs price is concerned any advice is welcomed, my price range is up to about £70'ish.

Thanks

I got my breadmaker for a very cheap price (I think it was about £20) from a charity shop that has the required electrical-testing person so they can sell second hand electricals. It would be worth looking around. Breadmakers were a fad for many people, so there are always plenty in our local shop.

midnightraven3

i am the owner of a beloved panny
but
after reading on here about the artisan method of breadmaking, my panny is in a cupboard:eek:
i NEVER thought i would say that

can someone cleverer than me find the thread for schrodie please?:D

you whack it all in a big tub
mix
done
and it stays in the fridge for up to a week
no kneading no nothing

so hold off buying one and keep an eye on freecycle for one also

OS living becomes a joy
honestly it does
and the only thing you will look back and think is "why didnt i do this years ago!"

LittleLauz

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Angel, the key is to only heat the one room that you're actually in. It makes little sense to heat bedrooms twice a day when no-one's sleeping in them. The only caveat to being so very miserly with the heating is that YOU MUST NOT EVER DRY ANY LAUNDRY INDOORS! That's just asking for trouble (and misery)r.

So, it's much cheaper to just use the central heating in the couple of rooms I use rather than in the couple I don't use? Or will I end up not feeling as much benefit from the heat as it'll all dissappear into the colder rooms.

I'm new-ish to money saving also, I shop at lidl and make big meals and then single freeze portions for another day. By doing this I've managed to cut my shopping bill down to about £12-15 a week.
Perhaps it'd be easier for people to make sugestions if you tell us what that £60 a week needs to cover. I.e how much you're able to spend on food etc.
I Eat lots of potatoes/rice/pasta as these are cheap but filling and not full of unhealthy fats or processed junk.
Also make up a huge batch of soup and freeze in portions, I made a leek and potato one a few weeks ago and it worked out about 24p per portion, a lovely lunch with a couple of slices of bread.
I buy whatever shampoo is on offer at my local Saver Store, a huge bottle is only a couple of quid and I've been using this bottle for a few months.

now and still plenty left!!

Ladyhawk

schrodie wrote: »

I'm considering buying a breadmaker (an early Christmas present) so again knowing next to nothing about which is the best as far as value vs price is concerned any advice is welcomed, my price range is up to about £70'ish.

Thanks

Don't buy one - check out your local Freecycle and see if anyone there has one they can give you. Freecycle is your friend! I got one that had only been used twice and is great.

redlady_1

My breadmaker came from freecycle. It had hardly been used. It looks a little different now, mind you! Just advertise that you are looking for one