Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

janb5

If I have photocopied something that I don't use any more, I use the other side of the paper to print labels for Ebay sales.

Frugalsod

unixgirluk wrote: »

I love porridge and with porridge oats being cheaper than the instant stuff instead of making it in a pot in the morning I'll soak one part oats to 2 parts water in a bowl overnight then microwave it on high in the morning. It takes about 90 seconds (depending on the power of the microwave) but this uses less energy than cooking on the hob without soaking.


I never waste the dregs of a cereal, I mix this with others and add maybe a handful of dried fruit to get something different.

I found that microwaving with cold water immediately has the same cooking time in my microwave even without leaving overnight.

Uniscots97

If you want to make cut flowers last a bit longer add a teaspoonful of sugar and a penny. Not sure how this works but it should keep your flowers fresher for a few more days.

Frugalsod

Bicarbonate of soda makes a good carpet freshener. Remember to vacuum it up afterwards.

melanzana

Frugalsod wrote: »

Bicarbonate of soda makes a good carpet freshener. Remember to vacuum it up afterwards.

And it's magic for getting rid of the "sick" smell on a carpet when a little one (or a big un!) has been ill all over the place.

Clean up as best you can. Then use a few baby wipes. Then, while still damp, liberally cover with bicarbonate. Leave for as long as you can, overnight best. Vacuum up. Smell gone!

I have the knowledge from experience!

mcculloch29

Most cream-based kitchen/bathroom cleaners are based on chalk - there is absolutely no difference in the formulation, other than some having more chalk than others.
I've also used bicarb as a stain remover, it really is quite effective. I prefer it to cream-based cleaners on cups, bowls etc as it leaves no taint to be rinsed off.

Does anyone else re-use zip-lock or press-to-close freezer / food bags? I find they are relatively easy to clean, especially if a little vinegar or soda is added as a de-greasant. They are just a bit too good to throw away.

A lot of A!di's products have sturdy aluminium trays which wash up very well and are great to use again.
Especially if you are making something like home-made faggots (savoury ducks) which are very economical if made in bulk.
No need to buy trays from the pound shop (A!di's are better quality anyway)

pamsdish

Do you have the faggot recipe to share, i have stopped buying them as no longer like the taste, no idea what they have done to them. I also save undamaged foil trays although only 1 pound fot 10 in pound shops.

melanzana

Oh, and bicarbonate is GREAT for whitening teeth. Use neat, tastes horrible, but... Then follow with your toothpaste or mouthwash. Cheap as chips for the red wine, tea, coffee and fag stains.

And is safe.

[Deleted User]

unixgirluk wrote: »

If you want to make cut flowers last a bit longer add a teaspoonful of sugar and a penny. Not sure how this works but it should keep your flowers fresher for a few more days.

using cheap lemonade will perk up a vase of flowers that are starting to look a bit sad or failing that an asprin in the water also perks them up:D

mcculloch29

pamsdish wrote: »

Do you have the faggot recipe to share, i have stopped buying them as no longer like the taste, no idea what they have done to them. I also save undamaged foil trays although only 1 pound fot 10 in pound shops.

Here we are. Nicer than Mr Brain's. I got this from another thread and changed it slightly for my needs. You really need a mincer, blender or food processor, though you can do it without if you are prepared to spend time shredding - you need to cook the meat first in that case.

Be sure to pulse the breadcrumbs last as the liver leaves the food processor very messy and the breadcrumbs clean it. They also save any scraps of liver from being wasted.

1 kg of belly pork
500g of lamb's liver
500g of bacon offcuts - salty gammon is good
5 bread crust -
2 Free range eggs
500g onions - more if you make onion gravy
Salt, pepper and dried sage.
If you have your own food processor or mincer, then these are really easy to make.!

1. Cut the rind off the belly pork, cut into cubes and pulse in the food processor until minced.
2. Add to a large mixing bowl, or clean washing up bowl.
3. Cut bacon into chunks, I use 'bacon off cuts', and again, pulse in the food processor until minced, add to the mix.
4. Skin and roughly chop the onions and then blitz until small chunks. If making onion gravy, chop 1kg and put half aside.
5. Cut liver into chunks and pulse, be careful not to puree it, add to mix.
6. Place five bread crusts in the processor and blitz, add to the mix.
7. Add four heaped tablespoons of dried sage, one tablespoon of salt and one tablespoon of ground black pepper.
8. Crack two eggs into the mix.
9. Roll up sleeves, get your hands in and mix thoroughly.
10. Form into balls and place into several deep baking dishes and roast in a hot oven for approx. 30 - 40 minutes.
11. Whilst they are cooking, fry the onions if using, pour gravy granules on top and make a litre and a half of gravy. I don't bother with onion gravy.


12. After 30 minutes, add the gravy evenly over the dishes and cook for another 10 minutes.

13. Leave to cool.
14. Bag into portion sizes for your needs.

I made 20 massive 'meatballs' but could easily have made them smaller to get 24.
I ran out of gravy for the last lot, as I only made a litre (!) so froze the faggots in a bag when cooked, without gravy.
When using, I defrosted them in the micro, then added gravy and warmed them through in a glass dish in the micro. With mustard instant mash and frozen peas, a tasty meal was ready in under 15 minutes.