I have learnt to live without.......

us,thecat&thedebt

we havent used fabric conditioner for over a year now..

we also fill up the hand was dispenser with bubble bath it is just as good and half the price! it goes further too...

i no longer buy ready meals (didnt realise how expensive they are when you add them all up)

we also buy fresh veg rather than frozen..

we also use regular water rather than ironing water!

thriftlady_2

Completely agree about the fabric conditioner. I just love crispy towels A good rub with a crispy towel and you don't have to bother with those body scrubs either.

My mum seems to be addicted to fabric conditioner and when the kids go and stay with her their clothes smell of it. I can't stand the smell. She thinks I am abusing them because their clothes aren't all soft and smelly :rolleyes:

thriftlady_2

Some other stuff I manage to live without;
dishwasher
tumble dryer
ironing water -not really sure what this is
air fresheners
hair conditioner (although useful in the battle against nits)
make up
perfume
face creams
bread maker
and although I've got one I can manage without a slow cooker
same goes for mobile phone

I can't live without my telly and DVD player though

jennyjelly

charlotte664 wrote:

I agree with the fabric softner thing! Load of rubbish! Although I am moving to re-useable nappies next year when babe comes, so am planning on getting the dryer balls from Lakeland to fluff up the nappies and my towels.

Thats my "give up" for 2007 - disposable nappies!

JML dryer balls are on sale in Woolworths now, they look exactly the same as the Lakeland but are ionly £4.99 rather then the £9.99 in Lakeland.

I wondered about these too - anyone know if they are any good?

skylight

jennyjelly wrote:

JML dryer balls are on sale in Woolworths now, they look exactly the same as the Lakeland but are ionly £4.99 rather then the £9.99 in Lakeland.

Thanks! And I have some Woolies vouchers to spend too! May go shopping tomorrow (if the kids are better). :T

TKP_3

Mine is plastic bags for shopping. I stopped using them about 2 years ago. I always have some bags for life in the boot of my car. If I forget to take them into the supermarket, I just put the groceries into the trolly and take them to the car and THEN put them into the bags for life.
If I am shopping (non-grocery) I get a bag in the first shop, then I put anything else into that bag. Somehow I still seem to have plastic bags around the house (handy for the bins though)

As soon as I have finished my current fabric conditioner I will be trying without. I currently don't use any on my towels (my aunt told me it stops them absorbing water when you use them - so I stopped). Now for the rest of my washing

Poppy9

I confess I love fabric conditioner. It does make shirts and bedding much easier to iron. I sometimes forget to add it to the draw and I can always tell as the washing feels rougher and ironing is more effort.

I couldn't live without deodrant. I had to go without it one day last week as I had to go for some hospital tests. I was stinking by the time they had finished. My BIL (originally from India) never uses deodrant as he doesn't really perspire.

organic_wanabe

Megasaver, a Tawas Deodorant Crystal lasts for ages. Its natural anti-bacterial action eliminates the bacteria which cause odour. You leave your skin wet after washing and apply the crystal. A little of it dissolves and covers the skin with an invisible micro-scopic protective film that eliminates odour-causing bacteria effectively till the next day. Your body does not absorb it, it sits on the surface of your skin and is washed away completely each time you shower. Its only ingredient is Potassium Alum (no Aluminium Chlorohydrate or Chlorohydroxide). I got mine well over a year ago through the internet and it comes in a shell case (handy for travelling) and wasn't expensive - I think under £10 and I have saved more than double that on not buying other deodorant. Was also useful when the recent hand baggage restrictions were in force as this is solid and so no problem.

System

I havent used fabric softener for about 2 years now. I used to be disgusted at the gunge that accumulated in the fabric softener dispenser drawer. I always put my washing powder in the actual drum so it wasnt from that. When i bought a new washer i decided not to use fabric softener again and my washer drawer is still free of gunk. Another bonus is that MrJudi hasnt had to rod the draining pipe since i stopped using it. I do miss the smell though i must admit.

Horasio

I have stopped using fabric conditioner too. I have some to use up but not bought any for ages. Use liquid washing agent and tumble sheet is just as good.

Grated cheese was the same cost as the block for the same weight etc, so bought the grated and put it in the freezer.