Hard Times: How to cope with everyday living.

kippers

This thread is really interesting.

Cutting back has been a gradual thing for us, especially after joining this site in 2006. Reading your posts has made me realise how far we have come:

• I bake all my own bread, wraps, cobs, pitta, naans
• I always cook from scratch.
• I make all cakes, biscuits
• I don't waste a thing, everything gets used/frozen for later
• My dd's and dh have lovely packed lunches everyday
• I make jams, pickles, chutneys
• I make icecream and last week learnt how to make yogurt
• I make my own wash powder
• I make my own shampoo
• I have just found a recipe for dishwasher powder to try
• I have 3 allotments so grow nearly all our fruit & veg
• I meal plan and do one large shop once a month and then little shops for eggs & milk
• I always carry a list of birthday/xmas presents reqd so i can buy throughout the year
• I budget for everything.
• We entertain my dd's cheaply for example we had a halloween party for the four of us this week, dressing up, scary meal and games which we all enjoyed
• We snuggle up under blankets at night to watch tv
• We don't have takeaways anymore as i make them myself eg curry nights, pizza nights
• I make hampers of homemade things for my family as xmas presents
• We have stopped trying to keep up with the Jones and we are happier for it
• I keep learning different things-i'm going to learn how to make soap next

If I think of anymore things i'll edit my post. The funny thing is, i think we live better than we ever have and yet far more cheaply.

Lavandula

kippers wrote: »

This thread is really interesting.

Cutting back has been a gradual thing for us, especially after joining this site in 2006. Reading your posts has made me realise how far we have come:

• I bake all my own bread, wraps, cobs, pitta, naans
• I always cook from scratch.
• I make all cakes, biscuits
• I don't waste a thing, everything gets used/frozen for later
• My dd's and dh have lovely packed lunches everyday
• I make jams, pickles, chutneys
• I make icecream and last week learnt how to make yogurt
• I make my own wash powder
• I make my own shampoo
• I have just found a recipe for dishwasher powder to try
• I have 3 allotments so grow nearly all our fruit & veg
• I meal plan and do one large shop once a month and then little shops for eggs & milk
• I always carry a list of birthday/xmas presents reqd so i can buy throughout the year
• I budget for everything.
• We entertain my dd's cheaply for example we had a halloween party for the four of us this week, dressing up, scary meal and games which we all enjoyed
• We snuggle up under blankets at night to watch tv
• We don't have takeaways anymore as i make them myself eg curry nights, pizza nights
• I make hampers of homemade things for my family as xmas presents
• We have stopped trying to keep up with the Jones and we are happier for it
• I keep learning different things-i'm going to learn how to make soap next

If I think of anymore things i'll edit my post. The funny thing is, i think we live better than we ever have and yet far more cheaply.

Wow that is fantastic:T:T:T:T:T:T:T
I am seriously impressed.

rachbc

OOh just seen the cob and think this could be brilliant christmas pressie for hubby. Was thinking of a storm kettle but this look a lot more versatile - can you use other pans on them too - eg boil a cmaping kettle? Love the idea of being able to roast a chook iwht 4 bits of charcoal!!

System

I make my own shampoo

To be honest, i know the difference when i'm using a cheap conditioner compared to a better quality conditioner but to be honest, i'm not sure theres much difference between a cheap shampoo and an expensive one.

How do you make shampoo? I might be tempted to try it out.:D

squeaky

I don't use shampoo - I use soap. More to the point I use dettol soap or a tea tree oil soap from the local farmer's market.

A few years back my now ex got on at me about it so I started using shampoo. Within a couple of months I had dandruff and an itchy scalp (drove me nuts). Head and shoulders and even medicated shampoo on prescription never touched it. Went back to soap and everything cleared up in a matter of a few weeks.

Shampoo...? Never again.

candygirl

Me and OH have just bought two mountain bikes for £50 to save on petrol.The saddle wrecks tho:eek::eek::eek::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Jules69B

*I accept any gifts and bags of clothes from friends. this week my son's rugby Manager was clearing his daughter's clothes so my daughter ended up with 3 bin bags of good quality clothes, some for now and some for next summer. 3 bags in and 3 bags out! some will be listed on Ebay as they are Monsoon etc (again Recycled from others) anything not useable for my kids gets given to other families or Freecycled.
* Recycle the rugby kit amongst team mates.
* Donated Bags of apples get cooked and frozen or made into chutney/ jam. same with the blackberries we collected.
* dry bread gets put in the blender and whizzed down to breadcrumbs for the freezer.
* We were given 3 bikes last week from another Rugby friend so am trying to cycle kids to school on days when I do not need to be 6 miles away within 10 mins. Havent been on a bike for 10 years so was a shock to the system but managed.
* This weekend we have asked for lifts to Rugby instead of driving 2 seperate cars in 2 directions.
* Listing last years xmas bargains bought at 75% reduction on Ebay for this years pressies.
* went to a friends for Halloween so didnt have to buy all the sweets for the neighbourhood.
* everyone has a fleece blanket on their bed as well as a duvet.
* kids have fleece all in one pj's so if it gets really cold they wear those on top of regular Pj's.
*

Big clearout commenced today so lots to list on Ebay/ Gum Tree to help clear debts.

This forum has been fab and the ideas from others have really given me a kick up the butt to do more. Love the idea of a haybox.
Council are fitting solar panels on the 17th so next years electric bills should be much lower.

kippers

Judi wrote: »

How do you make shampoo? I might be tempted to try it out.:D

1 tablespoon of bi-carb mixed well with 1 cup of water.

It isn't soapy and feels just like you are rubbing in water. I rinse well and repeat and it's cheap and natural..it's the first time in years my hair is clean without the shampoo aggrevating my excema on my head. #

My whole family use it now and it has also helped clear my dh's dandruff (i swear the anti-dandruff shampoos add to the problem instead of help).

This came from the Down to Earth Blog, (i am her number one fan):

http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/

ivyleaf

Thanks kippers, i shall definitely try this - my hair really needs cutting and I'm too embarrassed to go to the hairdresser because of a scalp condition

DebtFree2012

I was thinking about trying this but I have long coloured hair and it looks out of condition easily. Do you use a conditioner or can you reccomend a natural one? Thanks in advance.

This thread makes me realise how far I have come, still a way to go but thank you for your answers to the OP. I am going to have a think about where I was and where I am.