How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

psso

Hi all, hope you don`t mind me coming out of lurkdom to put in my tuppence worth re the seed / eating spud query.

Many years ago when OS was the normal way of life, my dear old dad used to use both types and didn`t see much difference with regard to blight etc. If anything the `eaters` were better than the seed he reckoned.

As an experiment, he planted the peelings from the sprouty ones my mum had peeled for the dinner, quite thick peelings I think they were.
He got quite a decent crop from them I think and did that for years after that first time. Worth a try ??

gailey_2

ChocClare wrote: »

gailey - re your electricity payments, if you're with Scottish Power, what they do is an annual review of your credit balance, and if you're in credit by more than 3 months' direct debit, then they'll refund you the difference. So, in your case, if you pay £100 per month (for example) and you were in credit by £416, then they'd repay the £116 and you'd still be £300 in credit.

jediteacher - your post about your tumble drier reminded me of something I'd been meaning to post.

First off, I know this isn't for everyone, as there is a certain amount of investment involved. Anyway, back in January, DH called Scottish Power and said, what do we have to do to get Economy 7. The answer was that we needed a new meter, and that the daily rate would be fractionally more. We did our sums and paid £53 for a new meter to be installed.

However, between 2330 and 0630, our electricity is 3p per unit instead of 12p per unit. We already had a load of timers hanging around the place, so we have set the dishwasher, the immersion in DD's room, the washing machine and - occasionally - the tumble drier - to come on at night or very early in the morning to take advantage of this. We have already noticed a difference in our electricity bill compared to this time last year. As I say, you've got to invest the initial £53 so it may not be for everyone (plus noise is a factor for those with close neighbours/thin walls). But worth a thought, as these are all things which gobble through electricity.

GreyQueen, you could do this and get your revenge on IB (only joking) :rotfl:

Does that mean scottishpower always like hold credit not refund it all?
over a year ago last winter we were in arrears as used more than we paid so they upped our monthly combined gas and leccy to £143 amonth from 90now we have huge surplus.

Is econonomy7like night storage heaters as had that many years ago and hated it.With 2young kidies,oneon way and cloth have washing machine and drier on constantly throughout the day and on economy7think that be more pricey so not sure best option for us but ok for

Kezlou-no offence taken eldest just turned 5 so was mostly 4-5year olds they were so exited and running round like pyhchos as hired a bouncy castle surprisingly cheap in winter just need a hall with big enough ceilings .Thankfully no one was sick.

Only did the packed the packed lunch idea over buffet because dident want to hire kitchen,neededto be supervising the kids and heavily pregnant couldent face doing huge buffet.
If it was bbq or adultparty would definatly have done buffet as I love entertaining and cooking but sadlylacking energy at moment.

Also another girl in same class having her birthday same day so many were doing 2.so they had cake in party bag ours was 11.30-1.30the other girls started at 3pm-5pm and they were doing food too.Lucky parents dident have to feed their kids anything but brekkie and supper that day.

Mrs veg plot-forgive me if these ideas no good you work so hard.

does oh workat all?if so could he work more hours

checkout the up your incomeboard

try surveys for cash

mystery shopping-maybe oh could do it if he has more time

money for reveiws-dooyoo.

have you switched everything and earntcashbackthrough switching andpurchases online with quidco/topcashback.

Are you claiming all the reward points as nectar can be used at lots of places not just sainsburys we even fill up petrol at sainsburys to get more nectar points.

Remember with tesco clubcard if you exchange for tesco rewards rather than spendi nstore than can be worth more and used for meals out/family daysout ect.

Boots advantage points are fab too dont forget to use advantage card machone for evenmore discounts got 6dove deodrants last month for 25pwas over 2quid each found out on grabbit board.

Think that milk and more offer running again to get free 10quids worth of groceries.

Checkout comping board enter as much as you can never know you might get lucky.:D

Are you claiming allbenefits ie taxcredits you entitled too?

Eat less meat.

sellat carboots and ebay.suggest ebay challange on dfw asgreat motivater.

oldcoupleroundcorner frommesellhomemade jams and chutneys fromoutside theirfront door.

Maybe advertise services locally like babysitting,dog walking,gardening and carwashing. Do you or oh have any extra skillsyou can utilise.

know a few stay at home mums who make cakes as extra pin money.

Also worked with someone who used to do floristry for weddings.

My aunts ex husband oldest paperboy I know seems youngsters dont always want papers rounds also see people paid to deliver yellow pages/leaflets ect.

Make anything crafty sewing/knitting and sell carboots,craft fayres and fetes.

Grows as much as you can and forgage.
round here we have damsons, greengage,cherriies,elderflower,blackberries,nuts ,elder.
try brewing my hm rc elder champagne was huge success.

Maybe an energy monitor try minimise power.

cant think of anything else.

ChocClare

Hi Gailey, no, Economy 7 is not like storage heaters. It just means you have two meters, one for daytime and one for nighttime. So from half past eleven to half past six (seven hours, hence Economy 7) ALL the electricity you use is cheaper. So it will be cheaper to do your washing, run your tumble drier, run your dishwasher etc. My DH suggested I get up at 6am and do the ironing as it would be cheaper then.

I won't repeat my response.

If you get those timers that attach to sockets, you can have it so that your various appliances come on at a pre-set time to make the most of the cheap electricity.

Our washing machine has a start switch which needs to be pressed unfortunately, so we just press start as we go to bed at half eleven.

Dishwasher comes on at 5am.

DD's immersion comes on at 6am instead of 6.30am - the water is still plenty hot enough by the time she gets up at 7am but it's cost a quarter of the price to heat it.

With Scottish Power it says on their website if you still think you're paying too much you can ask them to review it again btw.

jumblejack

GreyQueen wrote: »

Loving that new word. Consider it stolen and added into the GQ vocabulary:rotfl:

I've "kept my numbers" for 13 years now (I know, I know, should get a life but it is addictive.....) and just add my figure from the grocery receipts to a wee notebook - am only on my 2nd notebook -and make a running total every Saturday and a monthly total which gets added onto an Excel spreadsheet. I like to fiddle around with Excel because I'm a sad git with a pie-chart addiction. And the Autosum function is soooo easy. It interests me to see where my money is going, to see if I'm happy with the direction and if I can tweak my habits to make a little more money appear in the Trips and Hols section, f'instance. We all have our funny little ways.......:rotfl:

Glad you like my new word!!!

May I ask if you also keep note of the things purchased too or just amount spent? I am excessively thrifty but am happy to make further adjustments hence why I read these forums!

mardatha

I know lots of people do it, but to me paying a monthly DD is not OS at all. You can be hundreds of ££s in credit and yet they are still taking your money. So they are getting interest that should be yours! Noway in hell would I be paying along while they owed me money. Far easier to keep that DD money in the bank and pay the bill when it comes in.

jumblejack

Well I have just added up all my grocery receipts out of my purse from last Sunday (20th) and they add up to £57.45. I have stapled the receipts into a new exercise book (I only have these in cos of home schooling-may need to get something more suitable for long term!) and am going to keep a weeks receipts to a page and see how I go on. I would like to reduce it if possible. This is for a family of 4.

Most of the receipts are a good example of my shopportunist (i had to get my word in somewhere, he he!) behavior, ie: today's receipt shows that I purchased 24 x 1.5 litres multivitamin juice drink from lidl which was on offer at just 59p!! This is too good to miss as it is our favourite cold drink and is top quality stuff working out at 39p a litre!!!! I also purchased 600g of nescafe from there for £6. (2x 300g for £6!). Yesterday we bought 5x packs of frying steak from there for £1.14 a pack (the weekend offer!). Earlier in the week I bought 3x utterly butterly at 79p, etc....

I am going to see if I can bring it down this week. Oo, I just thought, that total (£57.45) is actually for 8 days as it is Sunday-Sunday! Not as bad as I thought then!!! Still, I am sure I can improve, ESP as I intend to meal plan this week with my pantry/freezer supplies!!

elisamoose

rachbc wrote: »

Interesting ideas about car sharing C - at my work expenses are paid depending on the engine size of your car so you could use similar bandings. Unfortunately petrol coasts aren't the only pence per mile cost in running a car though - there is oil, depreciation, tax, insurance etc. My work milage is paid at 50p/m to cover all those things and I think any organised 'lift share' arrangements would have to acknowledge all motoring costs to be successful -not saying the 'liftee' should pay them all but a contribution greater than just petrol. For example to the city were I work is 8 miles - the bus costs 2.50 at peak time, a taxi would be about £8 quid, I think at 40p a car share its not enough 'incentive' for want of a better word for someone to make themselves and their car available. Obviously it can, and does work well with groups of freinds but expanding beyond that...

I am not a driver but work with an ex insurance bod. He refused to take us to a course recently as his policy clearly states ' commuting to one place of work'.he said he learnt the hard way that in the evnet of a claim the insurer will do everything to get out of paying! I think any lift share arrangements need to be thoroughly researched

greent

Phew!!! Finally caught up on thsi thread from the start

I've been AWOL from MSE in general this year. DH has not had any work since just before Xmas and it's tough He is finding it mentally tough too (long term depression, previous suicide attempt, anger management issues) so it is quite draining on all of us. I'm going to reign in the finances much more in March and onwards. We're committed to a school trip DD is going on and my mum (bless her) gave us £100 for that today, as she had a bonus at work. It's my birthday next week, so I've got OH to get me some skincare stuff from Boots (cashback, advantage points, TEsco cr card clubcard points) on 3 for 2 - stuff I like and would just have gone and bought previously, but am more than happy to have for my bday. It's also my m-i-l#s 60th bday. We have bought her present on offer and with cashback, discount code and vouchers physically paid < £10 for it (on sale elsewhere for £80+)

I have potatoes chittig, but haven't planted any seeds yet. Am hoping to get a garden centre voucher for my birthday and will get some compost to start some off (I have plenty of HM compost for planting on, but like to start them in 'bought' compost) AM planning (aside from potatoes) tomatoes, chillis, peppers, cucmbers, carrots, aubergines, courgettes, beans (french & runner), butternut squash. Oh, and spinach, because I eat masses of the stuff. And salad leaves (cut and come again style) Need to get a move on with it though!!

Congrats are in order to some - but I can't remember who - a new baby and some jobs ioiwe sounds like you need some ((hugs)) and ((more)) for anyone else needing them too

Off to prep dinner

xx

flowertotmum

:wave:to all the nebies..its so lovely to get new folks on here..welcome..
Well i have had a very old style day..sunday lunch was lovely with leftover yorkshire puddings filled with HM jam for pudding..yummy..
Done lots of sewing today..made fern and iris little pocket thngs to keep their treasures in..we sewed some flowers on the front with buttons for the middles..very easy and kept them entertained..they are carrying them around like they are the treasure now...printed off a "DIG FOR VICTORY" sign and laminated it..put it up in the greenhouse for encouragement...framed another for the kitchen..keeps me going..
My brother came round for a cuppa and told me i am what they call these days a "micro-holder",smaller than a smallholder but bigger than kitchen garden..:D..very nice to hear..he went home with some jam and frozen veg..or was that his purpose:question:compliment your sister and she'll give you veg...;)either way its nice to have our efforts appreciated..i have 22 eggs in my fridge from the ladies not sure what to do with them all..you can only eat so many before getting tired of them:D..
Anyway me and hubby have decided to be as self-sufficient as possible this yr..growing,making,baking,swapping for stuff we can't get..going to make the most of our community too..library,surestart centre(while its still there)..
Also i moved the furniture around in my living room and changed the fleeces..wow it made it look so big and bright..really amazing as i never spent any money:D..have decided to change the pictures in my living room too..have gotlots of free samples of wallpaper and they kinda have the same theme..just need to paint the frames..
I have started a penny jar for a rocking chair..always wanted one..and now i have room for one so i am saving for it..might take a while but i will get there...
Have got buds opening on my pear tree..thats a sure sign of spring..it looks like it going to chuck it down any minute so best go put the ladies to bed...
Love to you all...
ftm

flowertotmum

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

Funnily enough, and this sounds a bit twee, but our Iris looks like that as well (although I think the hair may be chemically achieved!).

She's snoozing in the chair after a hard day visiting a jumble sale! Your Iris sounds lovely

:rotfl::rotfl:..iris is always snoozing in the chair..she loves her sleep..
ftm