Work In Progress for 2011 Old Style Calendar

Greenshieldstamp_2

This thread is open to everyone and is credited to / belongs to everyone in Old Style / MSE.

The Aim of the thread is
To update the alternative Old-Style calendar which was begun in 2009, ready for 2011, showing the best times of year to find bargains, or the times to make the best savings.

Calendar in Reverse
I see it as a calendar in reverse - The opposite of when the large companies would like us to buy things.

One example is the tip of Buying Christmas cards and wrapping paper in the January sales; and buying summer clothes in winter i.e out of season.

The calendar isn't just for buying things, but the best times to do old-style jobs too, maybe in the garden, or cooking certain things.

I am sure there will be lots more examples, which would act as reminders for 2011, and I would love to hear your ideas so I can update the calendar below,

This calendar is for everyone, whatever beliefs you have, so if there are any significant dates, such as religious festivals or events taking place in 2011, then please let me know and I will add them.

The Format of the 2011 Calendar will be worked on later
I am working on updating the content first
If for example if you would like a different format; perhaps an appointments style one then let me know


2011 Money-Saving Tips
If you have new ideas for the Money Saving tips which should be included for 2011 please let us know.

Here are the other Old Style Calendar thread links

[thread=1328695]2009 Money Saving Alternative Calendar[/thread]

[thread=2144867]2010 Old Style Calendar[/thread]


[thread=1420503]Preserver’s Year[/thread]


If you have any ideas and feedback please feel free to join in.
All ideas are welcome. I have contacted Angela and asked if she will kindly share her feedback from her excellent 2010 calendar.



Calling all proofreaders / grammer experts
If you would be willing to proofread the calendar later in the year then let us know

Techies
If you would be willing to check the file later in the year to see it works in the different browsers etc. then your help would be very welcome.

Other Calendars
In addition if you have been given any calendars this year, and they are proving really useful , then let us know why they are so useful.
I will start with adding the months in the next post so we can add the tips into them as we go along.

PS: Will start working on January, February and March in the next few days. I will put existing tips in place, please let me know if they are still relevant or need rewording.

Thank you.

Greenshieldstamp_2

This is the space where the monthly money-saving tips for 2011 will be added




January 2011 Updated

• New Year’s Day Bank Holiday Saturday 1st January (Scotland Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th January)

MoneySave

• Make a Finance list using all Martin's money-saving tools on MSE to help decide what you personally need to achieve financially in 2011
• Include any credit card switches; or other significant money dates for you and your family
• Start a sealed money jar and put any spare change in it to save throughout 2011
• Have a start of year financial over haul, check everything you are paying for is the best value, insurance is adequate and cheapest, get rid of Sky movies now Xmas is over
• Make a personal list of any important dates and celebrations coming up for you and your family this year, so you can plan ahead and maybe prepare hampers; make cards or gifts

Look For

• Buy xmas cards and wrap in sales, also look for little gifts, stocking fillers and other presents that won't date and you can use for next years’ birthdays & christmas
• Purchase hamper baskets and coloured tissue for next years’ gift hampers, cheapest at this time
• Check Freecycle for unwanted presents
• January is a buyer’s market on Ebay, as nobody wants much as they have spent too much running up to Christmas. Perfect time to get a low cost bargain
• Look for left-over summer bargains in sales e.g. sunhats and sunglasses; holiday bits and bobs

Health

• Start that new years’ diet (cheaper to eat well, less junk food & treats)
• Choose one thing to make a difference to your health in 2011 – maybe walking each day; giving up something such as cigarettes;

House and Home

• Check on your neighbours especially if the weather is bad
• Put Bread crumbs, fat, rind etc out for the birds
• Give the house an early spring clean, no clutter to help you feel more energetic and positive
• Help keep the paths clear outside your house
• Look through your wardrobe before hitting the sales to see what you really need to buy in 2011
• Check prices for door-curtains; or material in the sales
• Make one environmental commitment that you and your family could stick to in 2011 e.g. switching off lights; or recycling more
• Sort through unwanted Xmas gifts and store them away for recycling
• Pack carefully and put xmas decorations and tree in loft for the following year
• Have a present store for next Xmas and birthdays that you add to throughout the year, so the expense doesn't hit you all at once
• Start / Update Your Food Store Cupboard in 2011 to save running out of food and making costly extra trips to the shops

Make and bake

• Make Seville Orange Marmalade
• Freeze any left over mince pies, xmas cake, cooked meats for packed lunches.
• Any recipes using cream as this is often sold off in supermarkets after Christmas

Grow

• Make plans for your garden / windowsill / plant pot for 2011

In Season





Fruit

• Apples; Clementines; Kiwi Fruit; Lemons; Oranges; Passion Fruit; Pears; Pineapple; Pomegranate; Satsumas; Tangerines

Vegetables

• Beetroot; Brussels Sprouts; Cauliflower; Celeriac; Chicory; Jerusalem Artichoke; Leeks; Parsnips; Potatoes; Shallots; Swede; Walnuts

Fish

• Brill; Clams; Cockles; Haddock; Halibut; Hake; John Dory; Lemon Sole; Mussels; Plaice; Turbot

Meat Poultry and Game

• Duck; Guinea Fowl; Partridge; Venison

February 2011 Updated





Moneysave

• Check the Travel Lodge hotel site for bargain rooms. This time of year they find it hard to fill the hotel and can give rooms away from £19
• If your friends got books/DVDs for Christmas, they should have read or watched them by now. Why not start a swap club

Look For

• End of winter items such as shovels; antifreeze; and screen wash
• Farmer’s Markets and Car Boot Sales in your local area as many start up again in February

Health

• Remind yourself of those new year’s resolutions and don’t give up

House and Home

• Clean out one cupboard
• Clean the inside windows

Make and bake

• Bake heart shaped cookies for Valentines’ day and find the best offers in supermarkets on Rose wine. Makes a nice Valentines’ gift
• Make your fruit cake now for Easter, add some marzipan and a bit of almond essence and you have a bargain price Simnel cake

Grow

• Sow peppers and chillis indoors in a warm temperature. (They need a long growing season)

In Season




Fruit

• Bananas; kiwi fruit; lemons; oranges; passion fruit; pears; pineapple; pomegranate

Vegetables

• Beetroot; Brussels sporuts; carrots; cauliflower; celeriac; celery; chicory; Jerusalem artichoke; kale; leeks; onions; parsnips; potatoes; purple sprouting broccoli; radishes; rhubarb; rocket; shallots; spinach; swede; turnips

Fish

• Brill; clams; cockles; cod; coley; crab; dab; haddock; hake; john dory; lemon sole; lobster; mackerel; mussels; scallops; shrimp; skate; turbot

Meat, Poultry and Game

• Beef; Chicken; Guinea fowl; partridge; pork; rabbit; turkey; venison; wood pigeon

March 2011
Moneysave to be updated
Look For to be updated
Health

• Take lots of pretty scenic walks to warm up and see the spring flowers in all their glory

House and Home

• Start decluttering alongside spring-cleaning - see Ceridwen's Simplifying Life thread for inspiration
• Spring clean the house, ebay all your clutter and get ready for all that glorious weather spring and summer 2011 will bring us.
• The clocks go back, time to think about not using the heating any more, bring the odd bunch of wild spring flowers in to your home to brighten it up
• The second Wednesday in March is National No Smoking Day, quit smoking with many others and save yourself a fortune
• Cycle or walk to work now the weather is getting better
• Clocks SPRING FORWARD ONE HOUR 27 March 2011

Make and bake

• Look for young nettles good for for making soup and other goodies

Grow

• Clean out greenhouses; cold-frames and containers and prepare for planting Sow tomatoes for growing in greenhouse
• Prepare the garden for planting seedlings

In Season
Fruit

• Bananas; kiwi fruit; lemons; oranges; passion fruit; pineapple; pomegranate

Vegetables

• Beetroot; Brussels sprouts; carrots; cauliflower; celeriac; celery; chicory; Jerusalem artichoke; kale; leeks; onions; parsnips; potatoes; purple sprouting broccoli; radishes; rhubarb; rocket; shallots; spinach; swede; turnips

Fish

• Cockles; crab; dover sole; john dory; lemon sole; lobster; mackerel; mussels’ oysters; salmon; scallops; shrimp; skate; whitebait

Meat, Poultry and Game

• Beef; chicken; pork; rabbit; turkey; wood pigeon

Greenshieldstamp_2

This is the space where the monthly money-saving tips for 2011 will be added

April 2011


May 2011


June 2011
Check prices for coal and oil - can often be cheaper in summer

Greenshieldstamp_2

This is the space where the monthly money-saving tips for 2011 will be added

July 2011

August 2011

September 2011

Greenshieldstamp_2

This is the space where the monthly money-saving tips for 2011 will be added

October 2011

November 2011

December 2011

Greenshieldstamp_2

To be Added from 2009 thread

Bilberry Charlotte- I can`t add much, but for anyone who lives in an area where bilberries grow (saw them described as windberries on the Victorian Farm programme) don`t forget to go and pick some. They are costly in the shops.

In my neck of the woods, the coal merchants drop their prices through the summer so it is always good to get a few bags in before the prices go back up in Autumn.

Charlie's Aunt - have added this one
Can I suggest including last minute fresh food shopping on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve afternoons?- I got large punnets of fresh raspberries, melons and other expensive out of season fruit for 10p each and great meat bargains from Sainburys last year on these days...and a friend has told me that Lidl were giving away fruit and veg on Christmas Eve to clear the stock

BigMummaF

You've got clocks going back AND forward in March so perhaps that should be edited out now while it's fresh in the mind

January.
I would add looking for little bits to put away in readiness for school holidays later in the year, like board games, jigsaws, puzzle books etc.
Collect anything suitable to use on home-made cards--ribbon, paper, bits from crackers.
Start thinking about what child care is needed later in the year, as half term is only six weeks from crimbo as a rule!
Have a bottle of children's paracetamol suspension as well as adult pain killers, for when those sniffles begin in the middle of the night & only over-priced stuff is available from the 24hr stores!
Chinese new year along now.
Income Tax forms need to be sent back before 31st.

February.
Book tables early for Valentine's Day or look for best bargains--preferably whoopsied --on steak, salmon etc. Don't forget baby sitters too!
Pancake Day.
Lent--good time to review Resolutions?
Start looking for deals on Easter things, or get the moulds to make your own.

March.
Mothering Sunday.
Clocks go forward.
Comic Relief/Red Nose Day--they do every other year don't they :think:
Possibly Easter.

April.
Possibly Easter.
New Tax year.
Budget?
Grand National.

May.
Two Bank Holiday Mondays.
Half term for schools towards end of the month.
Cup Final?

June.
Wimbledon.
Sales begin.
School uniform starts to appear.

July.
Long school holidays begin!

August.
Bank Holiday Monday.
Check coats, hats, gloves, scarves, pe bags, satchels, lunch boxes, flasks, etc

September.
Schools go back.
Shops start decorating for crimbo :mad:
Begin lists for cards, gift ideas/got, possible menus, whose visiting whom,
Stock up on de-icer; check anti-freeze levels.
Check torches, batteries, candles, etc.
Wash fleece throws, collect bubble-wrap for windows, line curatains & hang door curtains--in other words--winter-ise your home

October.
Halloween.
Half term--wash school coats.
Make crimbo cakes & puds.
Check last posting days for parcels & letters.
Start looking for exceptional food bargains for crimbo.
Check dates for parties & arrange transport, babysitters, outfits, gifts, etc.

November.
Bonfire Night.
Post cards & parcels to make sure they don't get swallowed up in the deluge!
Confirm acceptance for parties, babysitters, transport, etc.
Kids crimbo card list.

December.
Crimbo.
New Year.
Wash, replace, repair uniforms.

Some of those sound silly, but are often things I forget at the time :wall: