A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

gardenia101

silvasava wrote: »

I'm going to start the paper logs this year & try to stockpile some

Can you run a log burner on these paper logs alone? I'd love a burner but don't have a wood supply.

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I'm considering putting myself on a very strict ration. The cheapo L!dl recycled ones were £1.30-something for ten rolls quite recently but the price has shot up to £1.70 or thereabouts. I have a blind-spot where loo-rolls are concerned: I have a disinclination to spend 25 to 50 pence a roll on something I use for a mere few seconds and then chuck away. Although the luxury-brand my sister had in at Christmas was streets ahead and felt like being in some fancy hotel or resort where money was no object. I felt myself wavering.....

I hear you on this! I can't bring myself to buy the posh stuff as it seems such a waste of money, but I do feel spoilt when I go to friends' houses & they have some :rotfl:

Fellpony wrote: »

I am catching up with superscrimpers at the minute, the first one of the series, i am glad I recorded it to watch back, it's helping to keep me focused on not spending and saving as much as possible! Don't know if I will be allowed to change some of my curtains (which I seem to have billions of) into cushions, the last time I used a sewing machine I snapped the needle... in my finger which ended up with me in hospital having surgery (a week later coz I was busy...) to have the tip of the needle removed!! Hubby was NOT impressed lol

Wow that is quite a feat. I can always remember my sewing teacher at school saying it was really hard to do that. She was always holding up my sewing as an example of how not to do it :rotfl:

Kidcat - glad to hear you have that piece of paper for you DS, even though it must be hard to see it in black & white. Hopefully he'll get more support now.

scrabbles_2

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Now tell me, why is it when you have a pet, particularly cats, that others think you'd like your house stuffed with cat-motifs on everything imaginable? I even have two pusscat doorstops of unbelievable ugliness which I can't quite bring myself to get shot of because they were well-intentioned gifts from people who think they know me well. Shall I take them outside and burn them?

:rotfl: Burn them? No. But after a decent amount of time I'm sure a charity shop would be grateful for them But yes, if you have a cat people will assume that you like cat-tat. I was given three identical cat calendars by three different people this Christmas!

It extends to other things too. I like the Winnie-the-Pooh books very much, and I have a few prints of the original EH Shepherd illustrations that I also like very much. Unfortunately I also have large amounts of monstrous Disney Pooh tat that people have bought me. I hate hate HATE Disney for what it did to Pooh. And I have non-reading friends who have bought me just any random novel as a gift. "If you like reading you'll love this Barbara Cartland!"

These gifts cause a flurry of emotions; thanks that the gift giver loves me enough to give me the gift (and has evidently put some thought into what I might like); guilt that I am not grateful enough and that the buyer has spent good money on it; and horror that people who know me think I LIKE that sort of thing.

And it's a vicious circle; once your house fills up with this stuff others will assume that's the kind of thing you like. And instead of thinking, well, she's got enough of that tat to last a lifetime, they think, she likes that tat. Lets buy her some more of it.

It's just affluenza really though isn't it? At the end of the day it is the thought that counts! I could never be so tactless as my OH used to be (I remember once he responded to a T-shirt his mother had given him with "great, another work T-shirt" - although he had a point, it was hideous) so now I just try and steer people the best I can.

I've tried: no-gift amnesties (they don't work because we all crack and give 'just a little something' anyway), homemade Christmases (nice in theory, but a cause of major anguish to anyone who lacks creativity) and I've causally mentioned that I have no room for any more... anything. In fact, I have had more than one Disney cull where I have mentioned to the gift giver that I'll be "passing it on, so someone else can enjoy it as much as I have" which seems to please a lot of them. It's more gratifying than "I couldn't stand it, so I gave it to Oxfam" anyway!

Now in the run up to special occasions I casually mention that I could do with a new oojamaflip or that I've just put a thingamajig on my Amazon wishlist. It seems to work, until someone sees something. And thinks of me :rotfl:

modern_millie_2

Afternoon all, lovely to hear how everyone is doing, usually read and then have no time to post! Pets are great, aren't they? Just accept us for what we are. Having said that, have had to supervise mine today - two cats - have re finished wooden worktops with varnish, they were very curious and heading for sticky paws if not diverted. Knew we would be doing this today so made veg stew yesterday for tonight, will have with cheese and maybe pud after.

Ginny your meals sound superthrifty!

GQs post re moneysaving as a science got me thinking, like that idea. Always thought frugality involved a lot of maths - esp in the supermarket - but probably a lot of science too.

Bit annoyed with myself as spent £50 on a birthday meal out recently, had been looking forward to it but in hindsight wish had just had something special at home. Feel like I want to make up by having a frugal February!

Have had a couple of good bargains with whoopsied bread, pannetone, eggs, and cheap greetings cards from The Works, and one not so good - paint much reduced bought for bathroom paintwork, colour can only be described as Old Bandage. Bought two tins, hopefully can exchange unused one. Only £2.50 a tin, so not too much lost.

Still taking myself out for walks most days, good for my mood, stops me turning into a grumpy old woman!
Hope everyone is having a good day and at least getting some sunshine today.

shegar

My little rosie is a chihuahua/cairn and she is 14 yrs old, she had breast cancer 4 yrs ago and the vet took the lump away............5 months ago she now as a nother lump on a different nipple, vet said she is sure its cancer again as its a very hard lump size of a pea, but the vet wont operate this time because she is very old, so while she keeps happy,and in no pain , and enjoys her 2 walks a day and have a very healthy appetite we will keep her the way she is, shes a tiny little thing a proper little lap dog, spoilt rotten indeed..............:D...

Wow how cold is it today? very indeed, I did take rosie for a walk this arvo and I was so wrapped up yet still felt cold, that dam wind as got one helluver bite.:eek::eek:...

I took a look around the garden and ive got 2 pumps on the pond going, and where the wind as blown some water on a plant its totally frozen and also some icicles hanging.:eek:......I really can see some snow coming if these temperatures keep like they are ,we were warned on TV last night that the wind chill will feel -4 and it did...........Never mind its winter................Weve had a super sunny day today.....Well must go and get some tea on the go.................

maryb

Lots of posts about people making paper logs for woodburners. Sorry to be negative but burning lots of those will cause a lot of tar to build up in your chimney which could be dangerous, leading to chimney fires. At the very least, you are likley to need the chimney sweeping more often which would wipe out any savings. They also don't burn very hot - you need well seasoned hardwood for heat (from deciduous trees rather than from trees such as pine which don't shed their needles). They are useful for getting the fire going - it needs to be hot before a very dense hardwood log will catch satisfactorily - and sometimes if the fire is burning TOO hot I will use something that burns cooler to average out the temperature.

But I am afraid they will not give you free fuel.

prepareathome

meme30 wrote: »

Prepareathome - Well done on going six days without a ciggie, Willpower is something I don't have, am in awe of you. :j

Don't be - I have found I am starving a lot, and went to SW and had gained 2 1/2lbs in a week :eek: So trying to work out how to keep myself full without it costing me more in both money and calories not easy.

Byatt

shegar wrote: »

My little rosie is a chihuahua/cairn and she is 14 yrs old, she had breast cancer 4 yrs ago and the vet took the lump away............5 months ago she now as a nother lump on a different nipple, vet said she is sure its cancer again as its a very hard lump size of a pea, but the vet wont operate this time because she is very old, so while she keeps happy,and in no pain , and enjoys her 2 walks a day and have a very healthy appetite we will keep her the way she is, shes a tiny little thing a proper little lap dog, spoilt rotten indeed..............:D...

Wow how cold is it today? very indeed, I did take rosie for a walk this arvo and I was so wrapped up yet still felt cold, that dam wind as got one helluver bite.:eek::eek:...

I took a look around the garden and ive got 2 pumps on the pond going, and where the wind as blown some water on a plant its totally frozen and also some icicles hanging.:eek:......I really can see some snow coming if these temperatures keep like they are ,we were warned on TV last night that the wind chill will feel -4 and it did...........Never mind its winter................Weve had a super sunny day today.....Well must go and get some tea on the go.................

Thanks for sharing that; it does help me to know I am doing the right thing by Bess. Every time I see a vet (it's a large practice so don't always see the same one), I ask what they think! And they say the same as yours.

Mine is spoilt rotten too.

Love all the pet stories and what you all do to make your pet happy and safe. :A

Rubberising a chicken; carcase is in slow cooker for stock/soup. Want to thank 3v3 I think for the meatloaf recipe. I used minced pork however with the stuffing and made a huge one which lasted almost a week in various forms. I added some left over jambalaya soup (YS) to the scraps and it was gorgeous! Will definitely make again. Currently have loads of YS bread and rolls in the fridge as no room in the freezer, so will make a bread pudding too. Find I need lots of carbs in this cold weather.

gardenia101

scrabbles wrote: »

I write down how long the last one lasted and compete with myself to make this one last longer.

I look upon it as a personal challenge - I still have all the enthusiasm of the newly converted I have always done some thrifty things but now my personal obsession is to prove how well I can live for as little as possible. I really don't think I have less than even my wealthier friends and family members - most people I know are up to their eyeballs in debt so lifestyle is not a reliable indication of affluence anyway.

Edited to add: GOOD LUCK! GFN123

Glad to hear all is OK with Bruno - happy birthday!

A lot of the people I know (as opposed to friends) all seem to be hugely in debt - but not bothered about it :eek:. I just don't get it - I'd be unable to sleep if I owed thousands with no idea of how I was going to clear it. Certainly wouldn't be going out shopping :wall:. Ho hum, each to their own I guess.

Byatt wrote: »

Quite excited, bounded round to the garage to top up my electric, and thye had a walking leaflet for the village; asked how much and it was free. Yay. Just looked through it and there are circular walks starting off at a litle over 2 miles. One is part of the Fosse Way, so going to start there and build up.

Any tips on what to take with me? Also any safety tips as will be walking alone.

Blister plasters & a map! & I don't go out walking without this which is also great for not too clean public loos

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Once I've tidied up I'll be doing something with that kilo of plums I snatched at Tesc0 for thirty pence. If I'm going to poach them should I blanch them first?

This pie is lovely - the pastry is so short that I've never managed to keep it in one piece to cover the pie - but it all adds to the homebaked look. Or is just that I can't make pastry :rotfl:.I have some plums defrosting from my summer glut to make a pie tomorrow (if they ever defrost).

Now tell me, why is it when you have a pet, particularly cats, that others think you'd like your house stuffed with cat-motifs on everything imaginable? I even have two pusscat doorstops of unbelievable ugliness which I can't quite bring myself to get shot of because they were well-intentioned gifts from people who think they know me well. Shall I take them outside and burn them?

Absolutely. Far too many hideous things in this world as it is. But in true MSE style wouldn't it be better to burn them inside & use the heat!

Scrabbles - you are far more tactful & diplomatic than me! I wish I could be more tactful, but somehow the truth (my truth ) just seems to fly out of my mouth before I've had a chance to "spin" it! It is a constant source of amusement to the few friends I haven't managed to upset yet :rotfl:

ETA: Well done PAH on not smoking! 6 days is a long time so you should be proud of yourself

prepareathome

smileyt wrote: »

Awww, Scrabbles
It's his 14th birthday today. So there will be a little treat at tea-time tonight, just haven't decided what yet.

Happy Birthday Bruno, my older two ( brother and sister) were 14 last month and baby will be 14 in October.

silvasava

GFN - hope all goes well for your interview on Monday. Dont sell yourself short - if you can do the job it doesn't matter if its a more senior postion. You go girl!
Just a note I read years ago - when men see a job advertised if they can do at least 50pct of it they'll go for it whereas women tend to apply only if they can do at least 90pct. I think that says it all as I've worked with some real dorks in the past & wondered how on earth they got the job!!

Good Luck & let us all know how you get on