Old style things that 'only you' do...

Toxic_Lemon

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Freeze fresh ginger

If you leave ginger out on a window sill, you should get a tiny shoot which means you can then bury the ginger in a large pot and harvest the root later, once it's multiplied.

faerie~spangles

Toxic_Lemon wrote: »

If you leave ginger out on a window sill, you should get a tiny shoot which means you can then bury the ginger in a large pot and harvest the root later, once it's multiplied.

Yes, I plant some every year.

Pippin12

Thought I'd bump this up as I've spent many happy hours reading through the whole thread. Some fantastic tips here. I've started squishing my toilet rolls, decanting my shampoo and conditioner into pump-action bottles (themselves recycled) and watering down my clothes detergent. I'm just starting out as an OS MSEr though and have a long way to go and loads to learn lol!

auntymabel

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

No faerie, not everybody. The people who raised me had a very judgemental and uncomplimentary term for people who did things like that. So I don't do it. But then, back when I actually had a job to go to I didn't "borrow" biros or other useful stuff out of the stationery cupboard either. That either makes me slavishly mentally-conditioned or a fool, I expect.

A policeman once told me about a young boy who had been caught shoplifting pens from a well-known stationers. When his father arrived at the police station he was furious with the boy. "Why on earth were you stealing pens? I could have brought you some home from work."

Pippin12

auntymabel wrote: »

A policeman once told me about a young boy who had been caught shoplifting pens from a well-known stationers. When his father arrived at the police station he was furious with the boy. "Why on earth were you stealing pens? I could have brought you some home from work."

Priceless!

Newgirl_2

sophiesmum wrote: »

Caught myself doing another one tonight ... Anyone else use the vinegar from used jar of pickles to fill vinegar bottle? I don't remember the last time I actually bought vinegar for this.:rolleyes:
sophiesmum

When I first heard this recommended I thought 'what??!!??' but I tried it and it's actually really really nice. Silverskin vinegar is a bit different but proper pickles works.

Newgirl_2

mirakl wrote: »

I freeze even a leftover tablespoon of curry in my "curry box" so by the end of the month there's a random mixed meat curry in the freezer for a lazy dinner.

OK, I thought I was inventive when it came to using leftovers but I love this idea! The curry equivalent of a mixed kebab. You are a genius!!!

Kitchenbunny

Wow, this has got me thinking... Let me see:

I trim the fat off steaks and chops, snip it into teeny pieces and put it in the freezer until the oven is going on. Then, I put it in a foil tray on a very low shelf and let them melt so I can use the fat in other frying.

I use cheapy 4 in 1 facial wipes once, then use a face wash to remove make up and just rinse the facial wipe. I use them until they go too thin to be of practical use, and then the sink gets a wipe around too. (instead of using a normal cloth).

Dishcloths, once used for washing up, get used to wipe around the sink in the bathroom before going in the wash (unless they're too manky to use, in which case not).

There are more, but I'm sure others have mentioned them already

K xx

Newgirl_2

tawnyowls wrote: »

I do too - the bathroom doesn't need the scouring pad bit, so an old sponge works fine (obviously, it will have gone through all the washes in the dishwasher beforehand).

And me! I put plastic straws in the dishwasher too - one pack of straws does me for months (assuming I've actually had to buy them and they didn't come from drinks served to me). I collect the plastic swizzle sticks served in drinks and take them home with me too.

I too turn bottles upside-down; use a tube squeezer on all tubes and then finally cut them open; add vinegar/milk/water, depending on product to wash out jars/cartons/bottles of sauces etc; add the contents of the hoover and the tumble-drier to the compost heap; fill a flask when I make the morning cuppa, and use each teabag at least twice; use a microfibre turban (picked up in Poundland) so no need to use hairdryer; use washing scrunchies (4 for £1) in the shower, as they're really economical with shower gel; re-use envelopes, packing material and rubber bands whenever possible; re-use carrier bags several times and then use them in the bins; use vinegar from pickled onions in the vinegar bottle (much nicer than normal vinegar on chips); freeze leftovers in takeaway cartons or icecream tubs; give plastic containers (especially the cocoa and soup ones) to OH to use for storing screws etc, and also use some myself - the pasta sauce ones are ideal for cotton buds and for keeping small bottles of essential oils etc upright; give glass jars to friend who makes jam, and egg boxes to another who keeps hens; use old polystyrene packing in the bottom of plant pots; use toilet roll inners for planting sweet peas and other plants that like deep compost and don't like being disturbed; and use CDs as coasters or bird scarers.

I buy white towels too - much as I dislike Tesco, I have to admit their value towels are really cheap, and good quality. I usually find they wear out before they become discoloured, so no need for dyeing. I also only buy white sheets, and then accessorise with different coloured cushions, pillowcases, etc, so I can change the look if I get bored with it without it costing a fortune. Most of the accessories I pick up in pound shops or charity shops anyway.

I use liquid soap, and I have nice china dispensers so that I can just buy cheap soap, but every time I empty a new bottle into the dispensers, I add water, give it a good shake, and use that in the ensuite ('cos "company" will never see it).

Not entirely sure I'd agree with taking sachets etc put out for general use in a restaurant, but I would take them if they were served to me personally as part of a meal, and I always take the stuff from hotel rooms (I feel fine about that, as, having worked in a hotel, I know it's always chucked out for hygiene reasons, even if it looks unused).

One thing I do that doesn't seem to have been mentioned; I often buy jars of chilli, lemon grass etc because I prefer them to dried. Unfortunately, they only last a month in the fridge, so as soon as I open a new jar and use the first spoonful, the rest get decanted into ice trays, frozen, and then stored in bags in the freezer. I also freeze left-over wine, tomato puree, and coconut milk in the same way to add to sauces, and grate stale bread and hardened cheese to freeze too.

I think we should all congratulate ourselves on being such an environmentally friendly crowd!:T

This is the one post that had me nodding at every single thing on the list. It' good to read a thread like this one and know 'it's not just me'. :rotfl::T

danetastic

I've made 4 lap quilts out of a king size duvet . The last 2 days the heating turned down and I'm warm enough watching tv with one over my knee