It isn`t tough for us. We are OS and we COPE

Softstuff

ceridwen wrote: »

then what does one do for the best with "surplus" money. I have never ever seen a thread started anywhere on MSE as to just what one does if you have relatively "simple" financial needs and there is money "left over" after dealing with those needs - and you want to use it wisely/usefully - rather than just "throwing it away on consumer goodies" or leaving it for someone else to figure out after you've gone....

I honestly think this topic merits a thread to itself as to just what to do with "surplus" income for those who arent selfish enough to just splurge it on themselves.

I think an "old-style" thing to do is to support an institution that you feel the government is not funding. Philanthropy is how libraries, art galleries and universities in many cases were founded way back when. I don't think you have to be super rich to make a huge difference.

It was important to hubby and I to ensure that when we cark it, having no descendants, the government didn't take anything that was left and spend it on a quango, so we found a university we respect, doing research we feel will prove to be important at that time, and made a bequest. I reckon unless you have a strong faith that government would spend your cash well, it's a good idea to have a will and make it clear where you want your money to go, no matter how small.

Hopefully at some point in the future we'll have some spare cash around, and then we can look at directly donating there or perhaps elsewhere.

ChocClare

robbiedoggy wrote: »

On a totally different tack I know but does anyone have any idea what I can use to cool down a bought chilli dipping sauce - it is one I use regularly for different recipes but instead of picking up original I have somehow got two bottles of hot and it is much too hot for us. Have no idea what I can mix it with to cool it down and I don't want to waste it.

My friend does a brillo dippy thing which uses the sweet chilli sauce, but I imagine it would work just as well with hot.

Put some Philadelphia/own brand soft cheese in a bowl. Pour a thin layer of chilli sauce over the top. Sprinkle with chopped coriander.

This is scrummy with tortilla chips and the blandness of the soft cheese would, I would have thought, cut through the heat of the chilli sauce.

zarazara

today in true OS style I have made a stew with veg from the allotment and some local beef mince which happened to be reduced in price too.

kidcat

You could add tomato ketchup to the sweet chilli sauce or even natural yoghurt.

ceridwen

Softstuff wrote: »

I think an "old-style" thing to do is to support an institution that you feel the government is not funding. Philanthropy is how libraries, art galleries and universities in many cases were founded way back when. I don't think you have to be super rich to make a huge difference.

It was important to hubby and I to ensure that when we cark it, having no descendants, the government didn't take anything that was left and spend it on a quango, so we found a university we respect, doing research we feel will prove to be important at that time, and made a bequest. I reckon unless you have a strong faith that government would spend your cash well, it's a good idea to have a will and make it clear where you want your money to go, no matter how small.


Hopefully at some point in the future we'll have some spare cash around, and then we can look at directly donating there or perhaps elsewhere.

Thanks for that idea - I'll give it some thought. I CERTAINLY dont want the Government giving things to firms/groups I disagree with or subsidising individual "households" that I would expect to cover their own costs (rather than asking the Government for money). So - I DO have a Will that makes sure its going somewhere I approve of:D

Wise to have a "back up plan" for anything left over in life (after dealing with keeping enough savings to fund any "life costs" the Government SHOULD pay for - but wouldnt - eg direct health costs definitely attributable to me personally. Nothing will be set aside for nursing home fees/future "Death Tax" obviously).

vivatifosi

robbiedoggy wrote: »

On a totally different tack I know but does anyone have any idea what I can use to cool down a bought chilli dipping sauce - it is one I use regularly for different recipes but instead of picking up original I have somehow got two bottles of hot and it is much too hot for us. Have no idea what I can mix it with to cool it down and I don't want to waste it.

Hi everyone, I was surfing and came across this thread as I wanted to add my tuppenceworth on libraries. Then I saw this about chilli sauce and even though I work in a library this was even more up my street!

Agree with everything everyone has said so far, essentially you want to take out the heat with something creamy. You can try anything you've got in the fridge and see what works best - mayonnaise, cream, sour cream, fromage frais, yoghurt, a glass of milk on the side... One of my favourite taste combos (they work strangely well together) is sweet chilli sauce with coconut yoghurt. A bit sugary but absolutely divine, especially with veggie tempura.... mmmmm..

vivatifosi

seraphina wrote: »

ceridwen - check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11950843

However much I love the idea of libraries, I feel sad that none of my local libraries have made any effort to cater to people who work. I love the idea of borrowing books but it's impossible for me to get there when they're open.

seraphina, have you tried joining a different local authority? If you work somewhere different to where you live, you may be able to visit the library where you work but in your lunch hour. In the library I work we allow this but not every local authority does.

Where I work we are open in the evenings and seven days a week so that we can catch people who work, but I do realise not every library is the same.

FatVonD

I'd go with the soured cream to cool down the chilli and some grated carrots on top of that. My inlaws worked in Ghana for a few years before they had children and they always talk about the curries being accompanied by all sorts of fruit and vegetables to cool them down. I've taken a leaf out of MIL's book and serve boiled eggs and bananas with curries and it's lovely, I'm sure it'd work just as well with chilli!

I have been busy stockpiling and have finally found a use for the fruit boxes I brought home from Tesco the other week. I didn't have a use for them at the time (I can never resist a good box!) but they are the perfect size for sliding under the bed filled with tins. They're the type that apples are delivered in and they have a Union Jack design so they're 'on trend' too! (As my ex boss would say, oh, how I hate that phrase and don't even get me started on 'luxe'!)

As well as stocking up on staples I also filled the car with petrol. I don't use it often (mainly for picking up my son from his dad's once a fortnight) so it should last a good long time and I'll just top it up as I use some so if prices do go sky high I'll still have a full tank at the 'old' price.

GreyQueen

FatVonD wrote: »

I'd go with the soured cream to cool down the chilli and some grated carrots on top of that. My inlaws worked in Ghana for a few years before they had children and they always talk about the curries being accompanied by all sorts of fruit and vegetables to cool them down. I've taken a leaf out of MIL's book and serve boiled eggs and bananas with curries and it's lovely, I'm sure it'd work just as well with chilli!

I have been busy stockpiling and have finally found a use for the fruit boxes I brought home from Tesco the other week. I didn't have a use for them at the time (I can never resist a good box!) but they are the perfect size for sliding under the bed filled with tins. They're the type that apples are delivered in and they have a Union Jack design so they're 'on trend' too! (As my ex boss would say, oh, how I hate that phrase and don't even get me started on 'luxe'!)

As well as stocking up on staples I also filled the car with petrol. I don't use it often (mainly for picking up my son from his dad's once a fortnight) so it should last a good long time and I'll just top it up as I use some so if prices do go sky high I'll still have a full tank at the 'old' price.

Oh, the pleasures of a really good cardboard box (sigh). I have a low slung bed and got two of those underbed trolleys (Argos £25, wood and gridded metal). Except mine were £3 from a bootfair. They're fantastic and roll very smoothly on the hard floor. One if full of tinned tomatoes and the other is about to have it's cargo disbursed so that it, too, can be a larder trolley.:rotfl:

grandma247

I use the boxes for my home canned goods. I have nine all full under the bed.