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

smileyt_2

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Curses! The profanity filter strikes again - p u s s y s :rotfl:

*sniggers in a very English way* :rotfl:

Ladies, I need your help, please. I have an excessive amount of jam jars and plastic tubs (the perils of OS!!) and I am running out of places to store them. I was thinking of something like this to put on the freestanding shelves I have in the kitchen:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90076364/#/90076364

I just wondered if anyone else had any wonderful ideas? I have searched for these things on ebay but it's difficult as they don't seem to have a particular name, so I have waded through hundreds of pictures of plastic boxes to no avail. Has anyone seen them any cheaper than the ones here in Ikea? I want the front opening ones so that I don't have to faff around pulling boxes off shelves everytime I want a jar or a tub.

Thank you!

Mrs_Chip

I know that pain Smiley!

I collect plastic boxes, all shapes and sizes and and trying to stash them is a real nightmare. Looking at those boxes, tbh I don't think you will get many jars/boxes in them?

I use those collapsable plastic crates, something like these:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Folding-Storage-Boxes-Foldable-Crate-32-lt-Pack-10-/250884814685?pt=UK_Storage&hash=item3a69e6775d

You can get them in lots of colours and different sizes I think. You would have to take them off the shelf to get somthing out, but they are very light in themselves.

smileyt_2

Mrs Chip, thank you, but I forgot to add that I need something closed to keep all the dog hair and dust out! I do try to keep the place clean but somehow the amount of dog hair is always double the amount of energy I have for cleaning :rotfl:

ETA: you know what, I'm thinking .... I have a couple of cardboard boxes from approved foods .... maybe I could cut the front down and attach sticky velcro to make a drop down front. Cover it with pretty paper and hey presto .... the tightwad skinflint MSE OS Toughie's alternative to expensive plastic boxes ...... maybe even stick a window in the box and cover with a plastic bag .....

Must go and lie down .... brain in overdrive .... LOL.

greenbee

They're called 'sortera' smileyt, but I don't suppose they'll be labelled on eBay but may be sold as recycling boxes. Check out the dimensions, as I have them in the shed and I'm not sure they'd fit on any of my shelves...

scrabbles_2

I'm no expert on where to get them cheapest, but I think they are usually called picking bins in places I have worked? I think office and business supply places sell them, but I don't know how much. I wonder if Costco or Makro would do them?

Mrs_Chip

:rotfl: Oh, ok, didn't consider the pooch problem!

scrabbles_2

Ooops crossed with greenbee! I never knew that was their proper name!

Well, after doing a quick inventory I decided we must go to Mr S to stock up on basic provisions. Honestly, while I've been out of action OH has 'stocked up'. It seems we now have five types of cheese, three types of butter and margarine and three jars of jam - but hardly any teabags, milk, potatoes, flour, herbs, pasta or tins. So I made a shopping list him take me to do it properly. It's my own fault. I do a rolling list at mysupermarket.com but never get round to actually placing the order. Initially we were going to go to Mr T as it's closer, but we turned around and left again when we got to the entrance! OMG it was chaos. The queues were worse that at Christmas and people coming out were warning people going in that there was no bread or milk to be had. So we went to Mr S instead, where it was busy but civilised. There was the odd gap but there also seemed to be a lot of people busily restacking shelves. The snow started to come down just as we were finishing but we were close enough to home that it wasn't an issue. We got everything we needed anyway, and also got a big beef roast reduced to £3 :j which OH couldn't wait until tomorrow for, so he cooked it and we had our Sunday dinner today. OH is turning into a pretty good cook, I've told him he can keep on doing it even after I'm well again :rotfl:

Mrs Chip that is great advice, but fortunately, like kidcat, mine takes his comfort far too seriously to venture out in this weather. He has spent most of the day snuggled up to me, purring his head off and looking very pleased not to be an outdoor cat!

BitterAndTwisted

Rosanna79 wrote: »

What a tragic story to read in the Daily Mail! I find it appalling that English/ British people are having to resort to food banks and we're returning to the days of my grandparents when parents go hungry to feed their children. Having been raised on the evils of the Tories and the Jarrow March by a mother whose childhood was literally like Catherine Cookson come to life, I cannot help but agree with those who think this govt will only be happy when we return to those days.

Like GQ I've encountered those who abuse the system and seemed able to afford stuff that even I as a professional woman couldn't buy. It does make one's blood boil.

I haven't read that DM article as that filthy rag offends every principle I hold dear and I haven't got round to reading the one in the Guardian which Mardatha posted a link to yet either.

However, if my own experience is typical and I have no reason to believe that it isn't, living on State benefits is hard but not impossible to do. I am a singleton and not part of a family but it's my understanding that families with children are decently provided for compared to single people. Heating a home with one person in it costs the same as it does for a family. Plus, feeding a number of people benefits from economies of scale. That all works as long as there are no debts being serviced. That's the crippler, but luckily or wisely depending on how you look at it, I have none. I manage to pay what bills I must and feed myself very well, but it does mean some time, energy, self-sacrifice and deferment of pleasure. But I can afford my internet connection and a contract mobile phone I hardly use as well

I believe the reason why some families do so badly on benefits is partly poor shopping and housekeeping skills. It would be a struggle if all you bought were chicken nuggets, pizza, ping-dinners and rubbish like that.

I believe the coming benefit-cap of, what is it, £500 a week is a clear signal to some parts of our communities to limit the size of their families or else. And I'm not talking about those with 3 or 4 but much larger ones with adults who have never worked, ever and probably won't either. Folks like that are mostly only able to get minimum wage jobs and they won't pay anything like what they can get now on benefits. Might say less about the level of benefits than it does about how inadequate the current minimum wage is, I dunno.

Talking of pusscats: I have taken pity on mine, now that the central-heating is on for only about an hour a day at most. It's a bit parky in here sometimes so I've taken to putting my hot-water bottle in his favourite little cat-bed on top of the wardrobe. He seems very pleased with it. He's barely left his bed for more than about five minutes at a time since I started it. Lucky and warm little Stanley-boy

Mrs_Chip

:rotfl:@ B&T - Superior race eh? I know which one is the superior race, and it's got four paws and whiskers!

Byatt

Well, no snow but lots of rain. We are near the coast though so probably snow will miss us. As I was driving over to my DD's (25miles), there was lots of ice about however.

Can't tell you how wonderful it is to be warm. It mentally makes such a difference and I have much more energy and ooomph. The cottage is great in the summer because it stays cool, but awful for winter. Even if I had central heating I'm not sure I would feel warm.

Anyway, signing off for the night. Sleep well and keep safe.xxx