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

mardatha

Redlady me too. I wont have DDs unless it's totally unavoidable. Really bugs me how they try to make you do that. I have a great stove that's never off, but it's fitted into the chimney so only sticks out 6" or else I'd do all the cooking on that. We are plotting and scheming how to cut down even more, Smiley's 12% would be ideal. They had enough bloody profits off me !!

redlady_1

BB - dont under estimate the cost of installing a wet system. I looked into it when I moved here and it was at least £3k and I have a 2 bed cottage. Plus if you have heat directed away from the burner then the heat will drop in the main room. Then you need someone who can service and repair it and they are more rare than hens teeth (well here at least) Fuel is not cheap and you do need alot of wood to keep something like that up and running - thats if you can use wood. Think carefully but it was the one system I wanted when I moved here until I looked into it.

redlady_1

mardatha wrote: »

Redlady me too. I wont have DDs unless it's totally unavoidable. Really bugs me how they try to make you do that. I have a great stove that's never off, but it's fitted into the chimney so only sticks out 6" or else I'd do all the cooking on that. We are plotting and scheming how to cut down even more, Smiley's 12% would be ideal. They had enough bloody profits off me !!

Well, when I had Steve fitted I was actually at work. When I came home they had fitted the flue at the back vent not on top. At the time I wasnt very impressed. Now I love them as it allows me about 20 inches square to play with.

LannyLee

mardatha wrote: »

Ella, this happened to my OH and he refused to repay it as it was their mistake. They didnt chase us up, but it was only £150.

This happended to me as well & I politely wrote back to say "sorry your mistake, etc" and they didn't pursue it any further, like others have said it was their mistake, not yours, but I would check the MSE employment boards etc as they will prob have the exact legal standpoint.

Good Luck

LannyLee

bertiebots wrote: »

Am very annoyed about the fuel news like many others..only have gas central heating as I have no fire/chimney. The other problem I have is that the radiator-which is the only heat source in the lounge -is right up under the windowsill which makes tucking curtains behind a real faff ,so I need to see if I can find some warmer ones that arent too thick. This will also mean putting up a new pole in my rubbish plasterboard walls (which should be fun ) so more expense! But I figure if I get this sorted now in summer it should be cheaper.....will scour fleabay!

I got some reflective stickyback foil from A5DA, it was approx £6, but had enough to do 5 radiators in my houes (medium sized ones, approx 26" wide) and this made such a difference, especially on the ones that were outside facing, I reckon I made back the £6 in the first few weeks. HTH.

LannyLee

scottishminnie wrote: »

Hubby loves pancakes - that will be perfect, didn't think of that.

I think I'll take the ice cream maker - I can always send it back if it doesn't work out. Mum did buy an extra bowl so that she had one in the freezer all the time so that should help. I've got lots of ingredients which I think I could use up like rum in rum and raisin ice cream so I'll give it a go.

Make sure when you freeze them you do with layers of baking paper inbetween otherwise the stick together - ask me how I know!?!

bertiebots

r.a.i.n.b.o.w wrote: »

Sardines/Pilchards - I WISH I could eat them as they're so good for you, but I cannot STAND bones! My parents think I'm weird cos they reckon the bones are edible and easy to chew, but I can't DO them!

Any ideas? Of either to de-bone them, or get them to a consistancy so that I can eat them?

Pilchards are very easy to bone! (and they happen to be the cheapest too!) all you need is a bowl and a fork. I tip the fish into a bowl and with 2 forks open each fish down the side (length ways) , you can see where to- so its really easy, then I lift out the bones with the fork and they usually come out in one go! Pilchards are bigger than the other oily fish so the bones are quite big and very easy to remove if you want to x

grandma247

rainbow we spend abot £44.40 a year on toilet rolls at current prices for the basics rolls, now 6 jumbo instead of 12 normal size for four of us. I have over six months worth of the smaller rolls but replace one packet a week with the jumbo because they take up less space and maybe I will achieve putting a years worth in the same space.
We will not be able to reduce this anymore without getting the whole family on board with the wipes idea. I have a pile that I use for myself since I was probably the heaviest user. I may make another load to use for mop up. (ladies will know what I mean.) I use a lot less toilet roll now. Our sink is right next to the toilet so that makes it easy to do this. I just made them from old cotton T shirts and some toweling fabric offcuts. I hem them with a zig zag stitch but that just helps them last longer so you don't have to do that.

Sardines and pilchards are easy to de bone. just put them on a plate or cutting board and run a knife in lengthways flip open and gently lift the bones and any threads.

What upsets me about the fuel price rises is that old people will start dying from the cold again and families will die because of unattended candles being used to save electric.
I am going to buy some of those tilly style candle holders I have seen for hanging in places I normally keep the light on all the time such as the stairs. Must have a word with dh about putting glass in the top of the bathroom wall facing the stairs so it lets in daylight, also some camping water bottles from the pound shop. They will be covered in something black and put out the front which is the sunniest side.

I was talking to my daughter and sil last night and when I told them about the price hike they immediately said they would have to move but it will not be that simple because they need at least four bedrooms. I was discussing ways they could save money so I will have to write a list of things that may help them.

fruedianslip you could try pound shops etc for soaps and shampoos,just compare prices first as pound shops are not always the best value.

grandma247

I have been looking at this for my tiny concreted back yard. It is a wonderful idea but expensive,probably because it is new. I will be keeping an eye out for it getting cheaper and may have a look to see if we still have a pop up play tent I can cannibalise.

jamanda

grandma247 wrote: »

I have been looking at this for my tiny concreted back yard. It is a wonderful idea but expensive,probably because it is new. I will be keeping an eye out for it getting cheaper and may have a look to see if we still have a pop up play tent I can cannibalise.

Wow I like those, especially for DD. Like you, I will wait until the price drops.