Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

cw18

Erme wrote: »

Now realised I need to learn how to do a french seam - time to dig out the sewing books at some point and get practising

If memory serves me right (from about 25 years ago!), this means sewing a narrow seam with the wrong sides of the fabric together. Then turn the sewn piece right sides together and sew again so that the raw edges are caught inside your 'new' seam.

lynzpower

itsallinthemind wrote: »

Ah hah. See I did read what you said, Christmas holidays has meant I am not used to 05:00 starts...I'm feeling it, so it seems!
Be great if she does want to sell it

Anyone here know how long homemade pickled onions and piccalli(sp?) last after popping in jars with the lids then popped. Before they lose the crunch?
Google is not my friend today and they never normally even finish pickling properly before they are gone lol

Are the lids springing/ bulging?

If so I would definately not be eating them as this is a sign of spoilage in the foods, or could be a sign of botulinum.

If there is anyone immuno-compromised in the house then do not let them eat the contents!

seriouslyfrugal

thanks Nuala :A

i'm sure it will be sorted out ( dishwasher) it's more the inconvienance of it really it's amazing how you get used to somthing then take it way and it seams verry strange !!!!

itsallinthemind

lynzpower wrote: »

Are the lids springing/ bulging?

If so I would definately not be eating them as this is a sign of spoilage in the foods, or could be a sign of botulinum.

If there is anyone immuno-compromised in the house then do not let them eat the contents!

No, they were sealed in the oven and the lids are still fine. Just not sure how long they keep crunchy, tried google again-no luck! I'm paranoid about things like garlic in oil, big immune system issues here!

elly68

well kids are away in with packed lunch again today if they tidy their rooms they will get £2.50 each leaving me £23 to pad oh thinks i'm crazy but twice this week been tempted by takeaways and have not given in will go take chicken out of freezer for tonights dinner curry with trimmings dd fav i have pompaddoms and onion badgies in as well ,and when i went back to work yesterday there was a bottle of wine waiting so that will cheer us up ,although have to say the one thing we have plenty of is drink .

midwinter

seriouslyfrugal...

My dishwasher gave up the ghost a few months ago, researched new ones etc etc, asked for information at my local electrical store rather than one of the high street giants, pre christmas, in case I needed to buy before the new VAT levels came into force, and they recommended I had a repair man out first, as lots of dishwasher failures are repairable.

It was indeed repaired, for around 1/5 of the cost of a new one.

so I was happy!

See if there is anyone local who could look at yours?

23rdspiral

hi everyone, i saw an interesting article on VAT today and thought i'd share the highlights... now i dont buy mini raisin packs anyway as they are way more expensive per 100g than the big bags, but i still thought this was interesting -

a packet of chocolate-coated biscuits is taxed at the full rate of 20%
chocolate chip cookies, jaffa cakes, flapjacks and shortbread (not choc coated) are zero-rated.

potato crisps carry the standard rate
tortilla or corn chips are exempt.

nuts without shells are rated at 20%.
roasted or salted nuts that come in their shells are VAT-free

Strangely, large packs of dried fruit – such as raisins – that are packaged for home baking are exempt
smaller packets of the same items marketed as snacks or confectionery are standard-rated.

paraphrased from http://www.orange.co.uk/money/tax/23362.htm?linkfrom=hp4&link=secondary_pos_1_link_title&article=110107x0830x4sec1moneyyoucanstillbeatthevathike

mooomin

I buy a kilo of raisins at a time and take them to work in a wee tub for snacking - didn't realise I was beating the Vatman

IPod issue partly sorted. My mum had my old one so I called her today to see if she's using it (she's not) and she's putting it in the post for me today.

I'm going to frugalise all the money I need to buy a new one.

seriouslyfrugal

Hi Midwinter

I think mum has arranged for someone to come and look at the dishwasher just to make sure there is nothing that can be done

but thanks for the thought :):)

Lily_The_Legend

Hello everyone! :hello: TFI Friday! :j

Today will be a low spend day as I'm meeting a friend for a drink at lunchtime. I've asked if she can drive, though, so it saves my petrol! I've driven the last couple of times we've met up anyway.

Tonight's dinner will be red pesto pasta. I've brought my lunch in again today. :A

Well my little phone is at home in the airing cupboard in a plastic tub full of brown rice which was best before some time in 2008. :D

I'm using an old phone and the '8' button doesn't work and neither does the space button! :wall: Makes texting interesting! :eek: I had to input DH's number, luckily it doesn't have an 8 in it! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Right, I shall go and read back now!