Where do we go from basics?

donnajt

quintwins wrote: »

i hope so mine are starting to sprout i really need to get them in the ground this weekend

quintwins could you briefly explain (if u don't mind) do you mean you plant the sprouting potatoes or just the skins ??? i want to try this

thank u x

donnajt

donnajt wrote: »

quintwins could you briefly explain (if u don't mind) do you mean you plant the sprouting potatoes or just the skins ??? i want to try this

thank u x

went to Mr T's this morning with a very small and basic shopping list .... £16 AARRGGHHH!!! Got home and realised I had forgotten the rice..............................

VJsmum

donnajt wrote: »

quintwins could you briefly explain (if u don't mind) do you mean you plant the sprouting potatoes or just the skins ??? i want to try this

thank u x

Hi I am by no means a gardening expert but you plant the whole potato. You can plant some which might start sprouting from your food supplies but it is better to get seed potatoes from a garden centre / BQ (for ex) / or places like B&M or Home Bargains or wilkinsons. You put them in an egg box until green shoots start sprouting then plant them, preferably in the ground green shoots upwards.

As they grow you need to cover them in soil for a while, eventually they flower and then you can harvest. I believe that you shouldn't put spuds in the same spot 2 years running due to the potential for disease.

Mingle

I think there is a difference between eating basics and eating in a savvy way. Take basics cereal for example- it would be better to buy oats rather than cornflakes because you need MUCH less to make a portion and they're more filling too. Sandwiches- a pasta dish made with a can of tomato and some store cupboard herbs is cheaper and more filling than a sandwich.

imogen-p

Rigsby1967 - I tend to use 1ltr tubs to freeze things that I've batch cooked. Otherwise they get used for storing biscuits/cake. I have also used them as plant pots. A couple of holes in the base and fill with compost and you can generally get a couple of small herb plants growing in it.


I know what you mean. I've cut down loads, and am wondering where to cut down any more, (car, mobile phone, and sky tv all gone over a year ago).

It feels like when I was growing up in the 80's, contantly scraping round for coins for the leccy and gas meters, growing what we could in the garden, and getting what wood we could to feed in to the backboiler. The big storm of '86 or wsa ot '87 was brilliant, we got enough to last near a year. We managed, me, my mum and my brother, but with no washing machine, no proper heating and at one point no fridge it was hard. At least I'm not back at that stage yet.

Still with just me working, and with DH and DS at home it's not easy.

My saving things at the moment are:
Buying tea from £ shops, often have 100 brand name tbags in, and that lasts a month. Same for coffee if they have it in.
Porridge for breakfast, filling and much cheaper than cereals, and can put a bit of dried fruit/jam on it to make it more interesting.
Using half the amount of powder for washing. (I am going to try using white vinegar for softener after current bottle runs out)
Using grated carrot, potato or breadcrumbs to bulk out mince.
Buying the 5lb for £3.50 mince from the butchers, and making it go for 10 meals/30 portions. (20 adult and 10 toddler)
Buying cheap cuts of meat. (belly pork, liver or ham shank.)
Buy economy brands for things like pasta, flour, beans.
Get about to go out of date things at supermarket and either use right away or freeze.

sb44

rigsby1967 wrote: »

.
I have a 1kg empty tub that i am deserately trying to find a good use for otherwise it will end up in the bin......any ideas? Sorry OP, slightly off topic but money saving in a sense .
Thanks
rigs

I have been saving the 1kg ice cream tubs that I have been buying from Tesco, the Jennie's £1.50 each, two for £3 ones (yes, I know I can get ice cream cheaper as I used to buy their cheaper 2ltr range but this is really nice).

I have one of my kitchen cupboards full of them now. Nine on each shelf, stacked up, containing, bicarb of soda (bought in bulk), different type of pasta in some, bags of spices in another, rice, etc etc.

sb44

imogen-p wrote: »

My saving things at the moment are:
Buying tea from £ shops, often have 100 brand name tbags in, and that lasts a month.

If you have a Sainsburys nearby, try their Basics Tea Bags, 27p for 80.

I wasn't a tea fan but I def drink more since buying these.

They are not like other value ones, they do taste like 'proper' tea bags.

grizzly1911

awaytogoyet wrote: »

A really helpful piece of equipment for frugal living, I find, is a slow cooker. I've got a largish one as I freeze what is left over. Asda quite often have them on offer, or you may pick up at a boot sale etc. Just throw in a small amount of meat, lots of veggies, stock & pad out with lentils, oats etc. - leave on all day (hardly uses any electricity) & a lovely hot 'casserole' awaits you at the end of the day.
Because it cooks very 'slowly', you can use less expensive cuts of meat.


QUOTE]

Also Pressure Cookers great for stews similar to the above. Once up to pressure(boiling) takes 20 mins on the heat, when you can turn down the hob to almost simmer level.

You can also use cheaper cuts of meat beacaus the cooking process tenderises the meat - often just falls apart.

If you boil up some extra veg (due to space constraints) you can keep it topped up for 2/3 days.

People often think the left overs warmed up have a better flavour.

Had ours as a wedding present and often used during the winter, kids loved them.

You can also use them for a variety of cooking if you want to.

donnajt

VJsmum wrote: »

Hi I am by no means a gardening expert but you plant the whole potato. You can plant some which might start sprouting from your food supplies but it is better to get seed potatoes from a garden centre / BQ (for ex) / or places like B&M or Home Bargains or wilkinsons. You put them in an egg box until green shoots start sprouting then plant them, preferably in the ground green shoots upwards.

As they grow you need to cover them in soil for a while, eventually they flower and then you can harvest. I believe that you shouldn't put spuds in the same spot 2 years running due to the potential for disease.

thank u so v much, i bought some potato seeds a couple of years back and somebody told me u couldnt harvest until they flowered, well, mine never flowered, about 6 months later i decided to empty the pot and found about 20 rotten potatoes AARRGGHH!!

grizzly1911

kittie wrote: »

we are a very very long way from what it was like when I was a child. That was real poverty but we all smiled through and communities helped each other. Pigs head was made into a couple of good meals, pea soup and bread was a staple. Cake sometimes as long as it only used one egg.

A dress from paddys market, cut down to make a childs dress and a top. A bath used to bath several people one after the other

People today don`t know they are born and many got into a bad situation through debt and wanting things NOW. We didn`t have any new furniture when we married, except for the mattress. Everything was hand me downs or bought cheap from second hand shops.

Don`t worry, you will live but it will take more effort and imagination

I do think people , in general, expect more these days, expect it now and throw it away too soon.

I know my two teenagers eat masses of food. They just burn it up. My son who is will leave home this year, for Uni (hopefully) is worried that he will be able to afford to feed himself.

You can see things getting progressively worse at a faster rate. I keep on at them not to waste things, turn off the lights(even though all low energy) and shop wisely and look for the besy buy.

I am yet to reach 50 but can remember coats on the bed, ice on the inside of windows, shared bath water and more. Not saying I want to go back to that, but I guess unless you have tasted that sort of thing, it makes it difficult to think what thinks could be like and appreciate what you have got and what you can do without.

Wonder what Cameron, Osborne and cronies would make of this thread???