As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

Bambywamby

I had Home Economics at school (in the eighties) and it was incredibly useful. We cooked everything from basics like cottage pie to fully iced Christmas cakes. We even learnt how to portion a chicken and then how to scrub the chopping board to within an inch of its life lol. It is such a shame that these days lessons are based around theory and written assigments rather than real life practical subjects - what has happened to woodwork and metal work? It's worrying how many teenagers don't even know how to fry an egg or change a plug.

smileyt_2

I've just been online and cancelled the two mags I get by subscription (saving £6/month) and various charity direct debits so that's a total of £18/month. I am now really stuck because I have 3 more charity direct debits totalling £8.50 per month and I know I should cancel them but they are so dear to my heart. One is greenpeace (I have been a supporter for 17 years), one is the Brooke clinic for horses and donkeys in the third world, which supports their human owners too, and one is refugee action, and these are people who have absolutely nothing and rely on charity (in spite of the lies the tabloids peddle - but I don't want to start a debate on that).

I'm going to cancel the TV licence too.

I think I will leave the last three direct debits for a while and see how I cope.

If I get another teenager with me in supported lodgings I can re-start the direct debits I've cancelled, for a while at least. The trouble is that having a teenager in the house (especially one that isn't your own) is exhausting and I'm still in recovery from the last one! I don't want to be in the position where I'm tempted to take one in just because I need the money, because that would be wrong.

Hells bells. I think we should print off this forum and send it to David Cameron so he can see what's happening to folk. However, I doubt that he'd care.

jackieglasgow

Jojo this Denby dinner service (it comes in three colours) is £38 in store at my local Tesco, I have it, it is a fab set, and they do matching mugs etc too, and its regularly on 20% off, I have been adding to my set bit by bit over the last two years, its freezer microwave dishwasher and oven safe, I regularly use it to freeze extra portions or clingfilm stuff to use again the next day. I also live with three smelly boys and despite all sorts of abuse, I have only one bowl with a chip which is a record, as its my fourth, yes fourth set of china in thirteen years. I know its not exactly cheap but it is very good value for money, with some things you only get what you pay for.

redlady_1

I have Denby Greenwich and have had it since 96. When I got married I decided I wanted a dinner service I could use daily and settled on this one. I cant ever see me changing it to be honest. I can heartily recommend Denby. You can often get it in Debenhams in the sale and also at outlet centres. I have only ever had to replace one plate in all that time although the milk jug has a small chip.

mardatha

Hells bells. I think we should print off this forum and send it to David Cameron so he can see what's happening to folk. However, I doubt that he'd care.
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AGREE TOTALLY !

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

mardatha wrote: »

My tomatoes are covered in green ones and just need some (hahaha) sun to turn them red.
Had to turn the tv up to cover the noise of rain battering the windows tonight. Is like a December night

You've got fruit already??! :eek:

grandma247

hi Just caught up but am going out again in a few mins.
I taught both my youngest boys to make scarmbled eggs at three years old. It was very useful if I was ill because they fed themselves. if you teach them to repect the cooker they are fine. I always stayed around anyway so they were never entirely on their own.

I add a tin or jar or two of plain white beans whizzed in the processor to my sausage meat and blend it well with a fork so kids don't see them. Adds extra protien and other goodies. If your kids like baked beans you can do a layered sausage plait with them.

I have spent the last couple of days bottling spaghetti sauce and tomato juice for soups etc.
I managed to buy three boxes of B grade tomatoes from my local Asian shop for £1.50 a box. There was 38lb of tomatoes altogether. I got 22 jars of sauce, 8 jars of juice and most of the pips and skin are waiting in the freezer till I can dry and powder them.

Nicepeach

Hi, Can anyone help with the following at all please? You all seem so knowledgeable on such a variety of subjects on here & I've picked up some brilliant tips & tried to join in & contribute where I could but
I'm quite new to the site & have posted a request for info before but had no response so I'm not sure if I've put it in the wrong place (sorry if I have!).

I acquired an Easi Yo system the other day for £3 from a CS - thought it was a good price. It comprises of the white drum, two cannisters and an instruction/recipe booklet.

The two cannisters have white, flip-top lids. Can I make the yoghurt in these or are they only for storage? As the assistant in the store advised me that it wouldn't work with these cannisters and I needed the ones with the red lids?

Any help/advice gratefully received.

By the way, before I purchased the system I checked out the prices for the sachets in our local shops but could only find them in the national chain of the healthfood type store Julian Graves and they have got all the different types of sachets & the machines and extra cannisters etc. on offer - BOGOF if anyone's interested. So I managed to get four sachets of mix for £7.50.

Any contributions gratefully recieved. x

mardatha

I have 2 red tomatoes. Will take pics tomorrrow lol!

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

GreyQueen wrote: »

I'm pleased that people are getting some of their bills down by concentrating on their usage, Every little helps in these straightened times. Here in Shoebox Towers (a block of council flats) you can pay rateable value as a rent charge for your water which is about £400 per year or have a water meter, which is coming in at £90 a year for me. My friend and neighbour SuperGran has a much bigger WC cistern than me, mine being a skinny 6 litre one, and I have 3 x 1 pint plastic milk bottles filled with water in mine, which is all I can fit around the mechanism, reducing the flow still further, and never have the slightest problem with things disappearing properly.

Same as here (council flats, water paid as rent charge) and I'm currently paying approx £400 a year too (eek! I didn't consider this cost until I read your post!!!)...would it be worth me looking into getting a meter? I live almost on my own, I *think* I don't waste water, I do the "if it's yellow let it mellow" mantra with the toilet (:D), don't have a garden etc etc...is there anywhere I can get an estimate for comparison between 'set rate' and 'metered' water?

£90 for you - well done!! How do you achieve this? I mean, what is your average weekly usage, do you bath or shower? Hand wash-up? Washing machine?

Anyone else on a water meter? Good or bad results?
:beer: