make do and mend for tougher times

MrsCD

Where I work, we've had Christmas cards out since July! It's good retail practice as almost a third of sales are between July and September

savingqueen

ginnyknit wrote: »

They would be perfect katie - they could fire salt

I have been on a fact finding mission the last few days in MR T and Mr A, I think they are rationing the value products :mad: If you go at the right time there are a few packs of each thing on the shelf but no more?? They seem to put out about 10 tins of mushy pea's at the most. Also some lines have been squeezed out already. Im guessing they are encouraging people to grab the more expensive products. I was actually hunting for a certain size of nappy for DGS so visited a few stores whilst we were out doing other things. May be its me thinking this but would love to know if anyone else see's the same thing going on.

I think I need to do some supermarket investigating as well. Haven't done much with the kids on holidays. I am torn between cracking on with all the decluttering/cleaning/painting not to mention winter prep, blackberry hunting and generally making the most of the nice weather we have down south before it changes OR stocking up, CS browsing and other general shopping. Oh and exercise more (well actually just some .) Really I'll just have to get my lazy butt into gear and do it all won't I?!! :rotfl:

On subject of value products - I used to buy 9p value baby bath from Mr T. I use tons for handwash, face wash, kids bubblebath, topping up DH's shower gels (in secret or so I thought, he does know now but doesn't mind), everything really. Its now 46p! I've just finished topping up the handwashes with the last bottle. What's a girl to do? Please someone help me - does anywhere else stock anything similar for pennies? I can't seem to find any - it's really an emergency for me!:rotfl:

goodness didn't realise the time, 5 more mins and then I must hit the sack

night night
sq:)

pennib

Can I just pop in and ask if anybody has read Four Hedges by Clare Leighton? I've seen the 4 reviews on Am*zon and it sounds interesting, although the reviews didn;t go into much depth. I think it's about a woman who makes a garden in a field?

Pooky sounds like your girls are going to be the next generation of MSE'rs!

pennib

Savingqueen; I use the large bottle of T*sco value bubble bath. Last time I bought some it was 80something pence (probably gone up now tho!)

VJsmum

I use Morrisons value baby bath - it is 11p a bottle.

monnagran

PHEW! I missed reading for a few days and it's taken me nearly a week to catch up.

Hope all your children off to new schools settle down happily. My DS1 came home from his first day at school absolutely shattered. When I asked how he had got on, he said,"Well, I didn't enjoy it much. I still can't read and I don't think I'll go again."
I've been retired for 13 years now but September still seems like the beginning of the the year.

Thanks for all the useful recipes. I can't wait to make Courgette Curd. I usually do Courgette Fritters or Courgette Casserole but the curd sounds gorgeous.
I also adore being on my own at home. It doesn't happen often enough but even after half a day I feel as though I've had a holiday.

I remember listening to a radio broadcast years ago where elderly people who lived on their own were describing how they would spend Christmas Day on their own. One lady said bravely that she would get up a bit later and sit by the fire to open the couple of presents she had been given. Then she would cook her simple meal and read a bit or watch TV. She had a nice bottle of wine so she would have a glass of that........... I think we were supposed to feel sorry for her. I was in the middle of preparing for Christmas with 2 lively boys and both sets of grandparents and was insanely jealous of this little old lady.

Good Heavens! Look at the time. I'm out of here.

Sleep tight.

x

jamanda

Thinking of Christmas stocks, the new Quality Street tins appearing at the same price are apparently 18% down on the contents. Still the same "half price" £5 though.

charlies-aunt

jamanda wrote: »

Thinking of Christmas stocks, the new Quality Street tins appearing at the same price are apparently 18% down on the contents. Still the same "half price" £5 though.

Jamanda - You have confirmed what I suspected - having seen these tins in Tesco's last week they seemed to be very rattle-yy as if they were only half filled :mad:

What a con!

The tins are quietly getting smaller and smaller by the year! I am using an old Christmas QS tin for my button box that dates back to when we frst got married in 1984 - the weight back then was 4kgs! No wonder why we only needed one tin to see us through Christmas back then

[Deleted User]

courgette curd!! sounds interesting, I`ll look on the net for a recipe. They are still producing but slower now so I`ll have to make it this week. Am needing 2lb of runners for the relish but they have also slowed down, so am collecting and wrapping them for the fridge until I have enough

It`s amazing how plants know to slow down by daylight hours and not temperature. It must affect us the same way, only we don`t take any notice

I don`t go to sm all that often but went for relish bits yesterday. Yes prices have definitely gone up all over the aisles. Fish was very expensive, I only wanted smoked mackerel and it cost an arm and a leg. I used to get it as a cheap meal when my lot were all at home. I also used to make smoked haddock stretch a lot by making a kedgeree with peas and hard boiled egg etc. Children loved it. Must make that again

Me too shegar, I have all perennials in my pots now, drought hardy stuff and am waiting for a few more plants to arrive, coreopsis gaillardia, dianthus and phlox sublata. I still want colour but not the maintenance

I would like a new dressing gown/housecoat for the cold mornings. I have a good fleece one but get shock after shock when using it during the cold months. I would love wool and thought about sewing one as I can`t find one to buy. I hated the shocks after the novelty wore off

SpikyHedgehog

CRANKY40 wrote: »

My 7 year old son went up to the people in Tesco putting the Christmas stuff out last Friday and said in very stern tones "It's not even the end of the summer holidays yet you know". I think he's beginning to understand commercialism and how advertising is a ploy to waste your money.

Bless him! I tell my boys the reason there are sweets at the checkout is because the shops bosses like to hear children whining because they can't have them ;-)

VJsmum wrote: »

Oh dear.

Thought DDs 1st day at new 6th form went OK but now have had her sobbing her heart out, afraid she's made a mistake.

How do I tell her this is all normal, she's right to be afraid, right to mourn the old school, but still be firm that she is going tomorrow and thereafter? I am hoping that once she has got the dramatic bit (she is very dramatic) out of her system she will settle down.

It is a shame as we have had a lovely evening blackberrying along the canal. Blackberries are few and far between until we got back to the car to find a bush full of the loveliest plumpest berries right next to it!

((VJs mum & DD)) I guess by telling her that so many others are also feeling like this? But out of her hearing, can you make enquires about her changing if it really isn't right? My nephew did change 6th form last year from the local school to the college, & he's done really well. But the quicker the change, the better.

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Jamanda - You have confirmed what I suspected - having seen these tins in Tesco's last week they seemed to be very rattle-yy as if they were only half filled :mad:

What a con!

The tins are quietly getting smaller and smaller by the year! I am using an old Christmas QS tin for my button box that dates back to when we frst got married in 1984 - the weight back then was 4kgs! No wonder why we only needed one tine to see us through Christmas back then

Crumbs, I just thought we were being greedy compared to the amount mum would let us have when we were young!