Now and Then: 7 - 13 March

crana999

Austin_Allegro wrote:

Now: have bought full fat milk and am topping it up with water
Then: would have bought skimmed milk at the same price, but which is basically the same as diluted full fat

Um, that's not quite right.

Say if you dilute full-fat milk half-and-half with water and compare it to an equal volume of skimmed milk, the diluted milk has:

about the same calories

less than half as much protein

about 18 times as much fat

and much less calcium and vitamins.

OK, so this may not make a big difference if you only use a bit of milk, but they are not the same thing - for most purposes skimmed milk is much better for you than diluted full-fat milk.

mrsmab59

Now - Put £5 of petrol in car because that was as much cash as I could afford this week.
Then - Would have put £30 in and paid with a credit card that I never manage to pay off each month.

Now - I've set up a computer file where I can put any money saving info and tips that I like the sound of as soon as I've read them.
Then - I'd read something interesting and just know I'd have no problem finding it again :rolleyes: thereby wasting hours looking and rarely having much success.

Now - I've successfully used my slow cooker that has been sitting unused for a number of years. But the icing on the cake is having son number 2 trying and enjoying 'new food' because it smells so nice when he comes home from school.
Then - If it wasn't pre-cooked or in my freezer it had no place in my kitchen

Now - I'm learning to be creative with store cupboard staples such as rice and pasta.
Then - If it couldn't be warmed up in the microwave or oven then I wasn't interested.

Now - I cleaned my own car...and it took less time than it did when I used to drive to the carwash.
Then - £5 for the carwash every week or so, plus the goodies I was usually tempted by whilst waiting to pay.

Now - I've found numerous bottles and sprays in my bathroom and cleaning cupboard all waiting to be used up (and watered down where appropriate). The new me will be hunting down value or generic products, white vinegar, soda crystals and borax in a few weeks.
Then - I'd buy things because they were on special offer/looked good in the advert/thought they might work/so and so used them, regardless of whether I really needed them.

Now - I've discovered my local market and Netto store.
Then - Sainsburys here I come.


Well I could go on and on but I've already waffled for long enough. However I would like to say a great big thanks to everyone who contributes to this money saving forum, you really have helped me turn my life around :T

Queenie

mrsmab59 - you are doing really well! I think the biggest change I see in your post is .... your enlightened attitude!! You really seem to have thought through what you can do differently, more efficiently, but also very clear about the savings it's making in your life. Very well done.

Queenie

Update on my OP:-

Dh has now done the deal on his car .... as he was on the way, I phoned him to remind him to "haggle" - he's never done that before - he did and got ONE THIRD off (plus a couple of extra's which were not originally part of the deal!)

Then: He would have taken everything on face value and never, ever haggled!

HM Laundry Powder: Made up a small batch, used it on the boys footie kits (remember, of course to use vinegar for softener ) - it's worked impressively well! I agree with Halloweenqueen - you need to use the smallest grate on the grater for the soap.
Now: I will make larger batches.
Then: Did HM powder *exist*?

Small but not insignificant (no, "then's" because I've been doing this for a while)

• Washed out the ziplock style lunch bags for reusing.
• Keeping the heating down a few extra degree's (enjoying snuggling in jumpers/lap throw's)
• Turning off all items on "standby" - if a red light shows on a gadget; it gets UNPLUGGED.
• Tracking every receipt using "Money" so that I *know* what's in my bank - not what my statement can mislead me into thinking I have available.
• Took kitchen side caddy of used teabags, emptied under roses.
• Eggshells from baking: cooked in a little water - water used on houseplants, shells went on soil of patio plants.

How's everyone else doing this week?

halloweenqueen_2

I think the main difference for me is I really think about what I spend my money on now. I sort of watched what I spent before but not as eagle eyed as I do now!
I had the Quicken money programme on my pc and recorded everything in but now I also plan the transactions a month ahead - maybe with an alteration here and then but it shows me how much money I have until the end of April now with everything taken out and I allow for savings as well. (What were they before?)
It does bring it home to you about how much you can cut down without compromising your standard of living. If you can cut £5 off your bills then thats £5 you've gained for yourself, whatever you decide to do with it.
I'm gloating this week as the HM laundry powder seems to be doing the bizz!! I also swapped to Lidls dishwasher tablets instead of finish ( i couldn't get on with the washing powder in the dishwasher - although perhaps i'll try the homemade stuff!!).
As I always bought persil tablets before so thats a fair saving on the washing!
I know you can use vinegar as a conditioner but is there anyway of making something like the comfort or lenor at all? (I do like the smell of them!!)

Queenie

Dont' know how to make a comfort/lenor like fragrance for softener - if I were you, I would do one of two things:-

1. Keep using them, just dilute them (same fragrance, half the price)
2. Instead of using it in the rinse, use a plastic tub, add diluted Comfort/Lenor, throw in a cloth - could use a scrap from old sheets/teatowels/a flannel. Whenever you tumble dry, wring out your cloth from your tub and use that as a dryer sheet (fragrance, plus less used)

Do try some borax in your dishwasher - it will work a treat!

foreverskint

mine goes something like this:

then: weekly food and "bits" £150.00 (for 6)
now: weekly food no "bits" 60.00

look on partners face at checkout?

PRICELESS !!!!!:rotfl:

moggins

:lol

That's brilliant

Galtizz

halloweenqueen wrote:

I know you can use vinegar as a conditioner but is there anyway of making something like the comfort or lenor at all? (I do like the smell of them!!)

I use 2 parts vinegar; 2 parts bicarb; 4 parts water; drops of essential oil (I use tea tree, but you could use lavender or any other). It isn't as strong a smell as fabric conditioner but you can smell it (just)

Something else I've noticed with using vinegar (its a bit gross), DH used to have *really* stinky feet (over productive sweat glands) and socks had to be washed on a daily basis or they would stink the house out. Since using the vinegar they don't stink 1/2 as much. I guess this is something to do with vinegar killing bacteria so :T to vinegar.

jordylass

Thanks for this post, so much has changed for me and it's nice to be able to record it somewhere.

Now - plan my menu for the week, cook most things from scratch, check out fixture ferret then go to netto/aldi/lidl for staples.
Then - pop into asda/tesco 3-4 times per week to pick up stuff for tea, all from jars or packets, although I did always use the reduced stuff if poss.

Now - heating set to shorter time and 2 degrees lower.
Then - heating on all day whether in or out.

Now - Electric/Gas supplier changed, telephone through 1899/18866, mobile on lowest tariff
Then - just paid the direct debits, used phone as and when (through onetel), had 2 mobile contracts...eek

Now - put petrol in at the cheapest place as I pass
Then - put petrol in at the nearest place when I ran out

Now - eat delicious, nutritious HM soup
Then - soup? for dinner??

Now - make birthday cakes, pies and pasties
Then - I can't cook

Now - joined flylady.net and stopped procrastinating - have cleaned out all cupbaords and got the house and me organised
Then - I didn't have time to do anything - (of course I did, but I procrastinated).

Now - check money saver sight religously - record recipes, tips etc
Then - online shoping/browsing

Now - do I want this or Need it
Then - I want it I'll have it

Now - every receipt kept and recorded in Quicken
Then - what can we have spent all that on (at the end of every month).

Thank you a million to everyone who has helped with their posts, because I couldn't have started without them.