Where do we go from basics?

[Deleted User]

silverleaf79 wrote: »

Great, sounds like it'll work well for you! Honestly, you won't go back once you're used to it. If someone gave me free shampoo for life I wouldn't use it again.

I tried lots of different (and expensive) shampoos and lotions and potions, even prescription meds and nothing helped my scalp. But with bicarb/vinegar I get much less flaking and itching. It's not perfect but as long as I don't wait too long between washes (my scalp hates being even a little greasy) it's definitely better than it was, and my hair's in better condition too - much shinier. My mum said that bicarb baths helped my eczema when I was a baby too.

I think shampoo/conditioner's a con, to be honest. Years ago people used to wash their hair with ordinary soap and use a vinegar or lemon juice rinse, but of course in modern times toiletry companies have convinced everyone that they need a special product to clean their hair. They put in harsh chemicals like sodium lauryl sulphate which dries out the hair and then you need to slather on conditioner full of silicones to coat your hair and make it feel softer. Then you need the SLS to wash the silicones out... :mad:

I have become so aware recently of the deceptive marketing that goes on. I walked down the aisles of my supermarket recently and thought - all this stuff! No one really wants it or needs it - we only think we do because of clever marketing. Can you imagine what would happen if we all got wise and all made our own laundry gloop, shampoo, bread, batch cooked and cooked from scratch, grew some of our own food, used cotton handkerchiefs instead of disposable, stopped buying magazines, started making our own clothes, made small gifts instead of buying them. and so on, and so on? Would there be any NEED for supermarkets at all? I used to think there wouldn't be time for doing all these things, but in fact they're very satisfying and enjoyable - much nicer than spending time in front of the TV (More marketing)

sparrer

budgeteer wrote: »

I have become so aware recently of the deceptive marketing that goes on. I walked down the aisles of my supermarket recently and thought - all this stuff! No one really wants it or needs it - we only think we do because of clever marketing. Can you imagine what would happen if we all got wise and all made our own laundry gloop, shampoo, bread, batch cooked and cooked from scratch, grew some of our own food, used cotton handkerchiefs instead of disposable, stopped buying magazines, started making our own clothes, made small gifts instead of buying them. and so on, and so on? Would there be any NEED for supermarkets at all? I used to think there wouldn't be time for doing all these things, but in fact they're very satisfying and enjoyable - much nicer than spending time in front of the TV (More marketing)

I couldn't agree more. My cleaning cupboard, which pre-MSE was packed with must-haves, now has 6 cleaning products - Stardrops, 5 litre container of ordinary brown vinegar, soda crystals, economy sized box of very cheap washing powder, eco bleach and a large tin of lavender furniture polish which I've had for 4 years and not even halfway through.

Now if only I could just find a substitute for the vacuum cleaner, floor mop and bucket and iron...a lady who does, maybe?

Greenqueen_2

I brought a half used tin of furniture polish with me when I moved house- 17 years ago--It still has some in!!!!! Perhaps I`m just a slovenly housekeeper.

VfM4meplse

donnajt wrote: »

Have you got a farm shop nearby? we have one called barleylands you can buy 10kg of potatoes for £2.50, 5kg red onions £1.95, bags of apples, oranges, pears etc £1, 24 eggs £2.50, they also sells groceries ie 3 jars red pesto £1, 10 packs noodles £1, biscuits 3 for £1, dried herbs 4 jars for £1, i find this really cuts our food bill

Is this Barleylands in Billericay? As a child I used to love picking fruit there, but the PYO fields closed some time ago. I didn't realise the farm shop was such good value for money, the next time I visit my family I'll stop by en-route.

FatVonD

threemuttleys wrote: »

baby wipes are 26p

Up to 36p yesterday :mad: (from 18p a few months back, how can they justify it??!)

sparrer

Greenqueen wrote: »

I brought a half used tin of furniture polish with me when I moved house- 17 years ago--It still has some in!!!!! Perhaps I`m just a slovenly housekeeper.

Not at all Greenqueen, my friend's OH is a French polisher who says wood should only be polished once every 4-6 months and buffed with a duster the rest of the time, otherwise the wood gets a build-up of polish/wax which can spoil the colour of the grain. And if a French polisher says so, who are we to argue?

TravellingAbuela

When I was a little girl my mum and grandma used something they called Black Magic for cleaning. It brought glass, mirrors and wood up a treat. They mixed it up themselves and then put into individual bottles. The bottles had to be shaken before each use as the contents separated. Does anyone have the "recipe" for Black Magic or can even remember their grans using it? I can remember there was methylated spirit in it but not the other ingredients. Can anyone help jog my memory?

mardatha

That sounds lovely, hope somebody knows of it

musharoom

I love the idea of making my own bicarb shampoo, I'll be giving that a go next I think. Went off the idea of shop bought chemically over loaded hair products a while ago and tried the shampoo bars from Lush instead, only prob with them is the price, not ideal for money saving!

With slow cookers- I think I'd be too paranoid about leaving something like that on while I'm out at work, I never go out if the electric oven is on, my OH thinks I'm a little OCD when I switch off all my appliances at the plug (but then he is the least moneysavvy person that I know!) It would be a great time and money saver to have one though I think. Can anyone put my mind at rest or recommend where I could buy a reliable relatively cheap one that won't burn the flat down?!

THIRZAH

A friend of my mother's once served us "lasagne pie"-leftover lasagne topped with pastry!

Talking about pastry-my grandmother would roll any leftover pastry out into squares and bake it on a tray. She would store it in a tin and use it to top stewed fruit-saving having to put the oven on just for one pie.