Preparing for winter III

jpscloud

If you don't mind skimmed milk, Tescos Value UHT is great. I don't notice any difference using it on cereals or to drink. I have a huge stash! I don't use milk in tea or coffee so can't comment but if tastes good to drink it should be fine I think.

warbaby_2

Hi, La-Cara,

I buy nothing but semi-skimmed UHT milk and I find it perfectly acceptable. The taste is vastly improved over what it used to be. I drink it cold, just as it comes and I can't tell it from fresh - except that it lasts for ages.

The last two years I was snowed in for six weeks at a time and the only thing I ran out of was milk, so I've already started stocking up. The UHT milk I'm buying now, from Aldi and the Co-op, has a use-by date of mid February, so I should be all right this year.

Cheapskate

Well, we have all gardened like mad today - DS (19) did front garden borders, DH finished lawns and edges and helped me to plant our new plum tree, then he took about 10 bags to the tip, took a second lot, but the tip had closed. Never mind, at least the garden's mostly done now! :j If it doesn't rain too much, I'll spend the next few days pruning a couple of trees, then we'll be really done. Bet we all ache tomorrow, though.

Next week, when it's too wet or dark to go out, I'm going to make draught excluders for downstairs doors and curtains for some small upstairs windows. Also going to do some batch cooking to fill up my spare freezer - various mince-based things and soups, as I can leave them to cook whilst I do other jobs. This glorious weather has been a God-send, but now I'm looking forward to cooler times - sorry if you loved the heat!

A xo

tugrin

If you are looking for greenhouse heaters of lanterns go to www.paraffinlamps.co.uk for a startling variety of things that run on paraffin!
I am soo envious of anyone who has family members who will actually hlp in the garden - I know I shouldn't be but I am and am finding it a struggle to put the garden'to bed' at the mo. My lawn is currently COVERED in prunings (climbing hydrangea, jasmine, fuschia and flowering cherry ) and I dont have a shredder so I am going to try and have a massive fire tonight. I think if I get it hot enough it migh burn at least SOME of them.
THink the grass cutting will just have to go to blazes as I cannot get the mower to work and no money now to do such things. I wish I had an electric one that was light and easy to use...

notjustlaura

jpscloud wrote: »

If you don't mind skimmed milk, Tescos Value UHT is great. I don't notice any difference using it on cereals or to drink. I have a huge stash! I don't use milk in tea or coffee so can't comment but if tastes good to drink it should be fine I think.

I've found it's fine in tea and coffee and in porridge

readyforchange

Great topic. I have some Poundstretcher hot water bottles from last year and they do the job. Stocking up on powdered milk & have supplies of baking stuff to make my own bread. I find these are the two staples I most run out of in winter. Have a stock of porridge oats, tinned meats, beans, toilet roll etc too. I really wish I'd have gotten the chance to grow my own stuff this year but have been ill most of 2011.

A couple of years ago a horrible landlord left me & the baby without central heating for two weeks. This was over Xmas during heavy snow. Luckily I had quite a few packs of tealights (good old Poundland again). You'd be surprised how much heat they can give out (always be vigilant with them though).

I managed to buy heavy dressing gowns early in the year for just a few pounds in te charity shops and am stocking up on socks (Poundland again, we should buy shares ).

This year is going to be particularly bad as our household has just been hit with a £36pw pay cut.

bluebag

I dislike UHT milk, don't like the sort of sterilized taste, but tried the 'Moo' brand and it's the best of a bad bunch as far as I'm concerned.
Not great, but passable in an emergency. They stock it cheap in home bargains.

suki1964

readyforchange wrote: »

This year is going to be particularly bad as our household has just been hit with a £36pw pay cut.

Thats hard, esp the way fuel bills are increasing.

But a few hours spent on this board will have you shaving ponds off here and there with cheap and filling meal plans and recipes and lots of ideas on how to keep fuel costs down and of course the OS ways of cleaning ( save a fortune there alone)

Welcome aboard

nikki2804

Afternoon. Torrential rain this morning so no washing out

Costco visit completed. Stocked up on tea bags, chocolate and other essentials. Also popped another £10 on my Asda Christmas savings card taking the balance to £51. Also got £2 goodwill on another card due to a misleading offer - CS guy was lovely.

Got an unexpected windfall but its not to be used for anything sensible apparently. Goi going to buy some new clothes for Winter i think.

Picked up some deicer from Tesco. Cost £1.50 :eek:

readyforchange

Thanks Suki1964

I have a feeling I'm going to become a permanent fixture on here.

Because of all the great tips on here I've just stapled a booklet together made out of scrap paper to write a list in. I'm learning already. :rotfl: