make do and mend for tougher times

SpikyHedgehog

Popperwell wrote: »

Well, By the time I see them I should have cancelled BG and be with NPower as originally arranged. Not the cheapest but if I am as careful as I have been so far and they give me £100 at the end of the yearand the £45 for going paperless, that brings the standing charge down to approx 20p a day(until I get that it's costing me almost £4 a week)in standing charges before I use any gas or electric but it seems virtually every company charges SC even more annoying that VAT is added.

And yet other people on NPower say their average bill for both gas and electric is £65 a month(I am expecting it to be nearer £100)

I'll just have to see what I can save. Seems funny having Gs CH and electric which is suppose to make your life easier but you are actually trying not to use it. It's quite cold in my home today but I can put another jumper on, some socks and slippers, do a hot water bottle or dive under the duvet.

A hot meal and drink will probably warm me up.

Pops, I can't really see how your monthly bills for both would be £100, unless you've got your heating on high 24/7 - I'm in a 3 bedroom house, & they weren't that high when Errant Husband was here & I did 2 loads of washing every day, he had the tv on all the time, plus surround sound system half the time, & the desktop pc, sometimes with the stereo as well! I was often cooking 2 different dinners as he eats meat & the boys & I are vegetarian. Yes, the consumption has gone down, & I now pay £68 a month & am in credit for both.

By all means, wear jumpers & jogging trousers when its cold rather than shorts & t shirts, but if you need that heating on, get it on!

I don't know how your heating is controlled, we're lucky here in that downstairs & upstairs are controlled by different thermostats, & I can set the heating for 6 different settings a day - because we're out on school days. But 1 of my most useful things is a cardboard room thermometer that I stick to the wall with blutack that gives 3 ranges of temperature - too cold, just right, too hot. I got it free with a magazine when DS2 was a baby, but I'm sure you could find them them in Age Concern.

fuddle wrote: »

The Bon Maman damson plum conserve winks at me all the time. I will buy it one day but the conscience gets me when I can get the rubbish stuff for pence.

I should treat myself I think

I think so too - good jam AND a good jar - win-win!

stiltwalker wrote: »

...and keep the rest of your lunch cool at the same time - my mum used to do this with my yoghurts for my lunch box back when I was at primary school.

When you take a picnic out for the day you can freeze a big (litre) carton of juice instead of using a freeze block - it does the same job and you can have a refreshing, real juice slushie at the end of the day to cool the kids (and you:)) down instead of forking out for one of those nasty, florecent (sp?) slushies out of a machine.

I've frozen malt loaves for picnics too - cut them up, buttered, reassembled & frozen so they're lovely & cool.

Having my family birthday party today, so made my cake last night - vegan chocolate cherry & almond - DS2 is going to help me with the icing so that had to wait till this morning. Made 2 curries too as we're having an indian themed meal - 1 super mild for children & my dad, 1 spicier for adults. Going to cook the rice at mum & dads.

Byatt

I'm a hurtling towards 60, divorced, have an adult DD who has autsim.

Live in a small cottage in the deep south west and cat sit for a living!

xxx

Mrs_Chip

Fuddle - the best thing to have runner beans with is butter (lashings) and black pepper (loads)!

I just string them and slice on the diagonal (there must be a Youtube :rotfl:) then steam until they are done. Either as above on their own, or just serve as a green veg - we have got them tonight with HM Kate and Sidney, trying the SC method so hope it works!

I have frozen some specifically for Christmas dinner as OH wants them.

There is nothing nicer than fresh home grown runner beans!

Shropshirelass

Hi All

Re-intorductiona brilliant idea. I'm 65, live with OH (74) and white terrier Doggins (12 pushing 112). OH took early retirement - its hard to believe they offered it years ago), I retired at 60 to keep an eye on his health problems, e.g. high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, prostate problems, arthritis and deafness. Within 6 months we had cut down on 4 of his daily tablets, and also stabilised BP, so I reckon NHS should have given me a bonus. Still he is not so good at times. 3 children grown and flown the nest, 2 grandchildren we see half a dozen times a year.

Now trying to manage on our limited pensions, but seeing it as a challenge. Luckily we enjoy a quiet life - I sympathise with not enjoying loud music when I'm trying to catch up with people I've not seen for a while. I enjoy cooking and preserving, a bit of gardening, knitting and sewing, (shortish) walks, and volunteering at local National Trust castle, I love dressing up! Also lurking and occasional posting:-)

Fuddle and other preservers, buying the check tops for my various recycled jam jars was an investment - they look so cheerful! But luckily I can get to a Lakeland shop when we have the occasional trip to Chester or Shrewsbury. The postage is too much for mail order.

Just off to give hubby a haircut - it's not a big job! Hope you all enjoy the bank holiday - looks like it will be a staycation here due to weather.

fuddle

Will try growing some runner beans next year Are they fool proof? :rotfl:

Well kids don't want to paint the trough outside (it is chilly) and they don't want to do my preserve labels :eek: I feel a bit cross with them for not having any get up and go but never mind. I guess they're fed up too. So technology is baby sitting them (bad mam I know) while I'm in the kitchen apron on and getting OS jobs done.

Neighbour was able to give me two jars so they're off in the halogen to sterilise soon.

Onions are in the pan for the caramelised onion chutney. Only need to add red wine vinegar and brown sugar.

I can do the banana preserve now I have that second jar.

I have added the Bon Maman plum conserve to my Asda shopping basket (but took my cornflake storage container out, I don't need it as much as that jam!)

Seen a recipe for ginger preserve so wanting to add those ingredients to the basket too, can't get it till DH paid on Sept 15th though.

Bread just out of the halo, not be long before I can have my breakfast of warm bread and yesterday's bb jam.

Oh, raisin and rice wine in the demiohn now as it's been in my stockpot ( I know :rotfl: I don't have a fermenting bucket though) for 2 weeks. Smells lush, looks a bit.. blergh. Hope it's ok. Lost y airlock so has tin foil on the top. :cool:

So, sat here typing to you with my cuppa, at my kitchen table which consists of an old round garden table, painted white with red and white polka dot pvc cover and an ebay farmhouse chair painted white too, apron on, cuppa, you lot, busy and happy - hallaluyah!

Going to do my own labels

Hope you don't think me bad ignoring my kids by the way. I tried, they're not interested so just letting them do what they want to do. :cool:

grandma247

Fuddle sometimes we all need a bit of time to just do our own thing. Kids are no exception and it will not kill them for one day. They may be up for something else later.

Possession

Funny old day today, weather not quite sure what it wants to do.
I'm a 43 yr old living in the west midlands, with an OH and two children 10 & 7. I work part-time, and OH is looking for a job at the moment hence the very frugal living. He has a complicated application form to finish today so it looks like I'm on child-entertainment duty. We might pop out and see what's happening with blackberries - DS found 4 yesterday at Warwick castle but I haven't seen them ripe near us so a little investigation is needed. I also have 2 tins of Mamade to make marmalade for my xmas hampers but I need an extra luxury flavouring - did brandy last year and it went down well, plus it can also be used to spike the xmas cakes, so I need to hunt for cheap or bargainous brandy. I have 2 bottles of vodka ready to make Werthers toffee vodka so I'll do that today and make a really good start on xmas presents.
Edit: I should perhaps add that these alcohol related activities will not form part of the child-entertainment. And anyway we're now making the long journey to Sainsburys so that I can take on Mar at singlehandedly stocking enough basics teabags for the entire neighbourhood.....

Malfiore

Ooh, I love the intros!!

I'm 30, female, living in sunny South Wales!!! My main passion is music, the heavier the better I go to gigs and festivals and love this, I've met so many people this way!

I live with my OH and our insane dog who is like a pup but is actually 10 now! We enjoy home brewing wine and beer (and drinking it) as well as long walks with the dog, foraging and generally enjoying life.

I have endometriosis which is a big part of my life, although I have learnt to live with it and try not to let it disrupt normal day to day stuff I'm veggie and don't eat much wheat if I can help it and no caffeine.

I am learning to be more OS and love it! Cross stitch is my new hobby, I'm half way through a skull pattern :rotfl: and I want to start making jam (I've been reading with interest all the recent jam posts).

All in all, I lead a pretty simple life and try to enjoy every second as you never know when it will be gone

Today is chilling out day, visit the parentals and cook a roast later.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who posts on here, I LOVE catching up when I can and feel like I'm getting to know you

Byatt

Malfiore, I had (have, I don't think it ever goes away), endo, so know how painful it can be. It was back in the 70's when period paid was considered to be all in the mind, so sadly I suffered long term consequences from it as no dr would believe the level of pain I was in.

And I'm from S Wales

Malfiore

Byatt that's awful, so many people have/are suffering with pain because they're not believed, it's ridiculous; I'm sorry you've had to go through that.

You would think it was winter here today, rain, strong wind, just a typical day I guess