make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

She's alright, thank you She did go white with the pain and blood but she's recovered fine. I have permanent markers so thank you for the plaster decorating idea! She's content with children's plasters too so although more expensive than fabric strips at least she's happy. Still, annoyingly so, I didn't buy any children's plasters in the shopping. Hoping the chemist or Coop have some on Monday.

I freeze milk every month. It's not been without it's problems (split cartons upon defrosting) but it's such a cost effective way for me to ensure I have it in when I need it.

Off to go make cinnamon and raisin loaf for packed lunches and bake par baked baguette for broth. Also, the halo has just baked our months worth of jacket potatoes to freeze.

Oh! Please can you tell me which way tin foil goes - is it shiny side up or down?

I'm hoping DH gets in early tonight as would like a trip to Ikea to stock up on fleeces and candles. Fingers crossed.

Mrs_Chip

Fuddle- If I am lining a tin to use under the grill I put it shiny up - to reflect the heat back up. If I am wrapping to bake I put the shiny side inside - so that the heat is not reflected off.

No idea if it makes a difference, but makes me happy :rotfl:

mardatha

I freeze milk in wintertime, haven't ever had any probs as long as you leave it time to defrost right through. If you're desperate for a cup of tea and its still half frozen and you pour off the top into your tea then its creamy at top and watery further down

Pooky

Fuddle - try the LidI window cleaning spray, it's fab, a squirt direct on the window and a wipe with a microfiber cloth (don't wash them with fabric conditioner as they don't work), lovely smear free windows. Will save you a fortune in kitchen towel. I clean my windows, probably every 3/4 weeks, inside and out and I've only just got through a bottle in a year (I've got a lot of big windows and a conservatory too so it's gone a long way)

The branst0n beans are 4 for £1 in lidI, I picked up 5 packs this morning, they're my fav beans. MR T also had some FB pies on offer at £1 (I think someone mentioned it on here yesterday) they had steak and kidney puddings too for £1 so I grabbed a few of them as well. Oh and milk was 98p for 4 pints, in LidI, dated until 24th which seems fine to me.

I freeze my milk in the 1pt sized plastic bottles, that way if one does leak, split, etc then its only 1 pint lost.

I've cleaned the house top to bottom, DH went off on his scooter with DDs and they came back with a kilo of rose hips :T shall get them processed tomorrow.

Have in-laws coming for dinner tonight, they were saying how bland their food has been lately with catering for DHs grandad, now he's passed away they've forgotten what sort of food they used to eat so I suggested they come round for a nice hot chilli and a glass of wine, they're great company so I'm looking forward to it.

lisakay_2

I agree with JPSCLOUD. Aldi milk does seem to go off much faster than anywhere else i've bought it from.

I'm just sat here blowing up balloons for DD1's birthday sleepover tonight. Then I've got to decorate her cake. I've made a giant cupcake and bought a barbie type doll from the £shop. the cake will be decorated like a ballgown. I'm hoping it'll look good, i might even try and post a pic, if you're interested.:cool:
The pizza dough's been rising since early doors.

I might bottle some of my wine in a bit if i get time, could really do with a glass about now...I've had a sh!tty morning

DH got home from work and told me the cars playing up, can you take it to the garage. our garage is shut today. managed to get car to near mums before power steering gave up, abs, airbag and traction control warning lights came on. called aa who took me to a garage but then had to walk 3 miles back to mums with the girls in tow (aged 4 and 7tomorrow) and then another mile and a half home. I've left girls at the craft session on the park with mum, she'll bring them back in a bit. but now we've got no car until monday at the earliest and DH has no easy way of getting to work. public transport is not really an option and taxis will be £25+ each way. hoping he may be able to get a lift from someone.

the only bit of almost good news is that it's probably the alternator that's gone and it's probably covered under the aa policy we have (probably:)).
right, I'd best go and get on with icing the cake! will have 5 extra little girls from 6pm all wanting to have their hair and nails done and to eat pizza and popcorn in front of a film.:eek:

(I'd best get the wine sorted as well;))

fuddle

I'd like to see it lisakay. I'm really rubbish at cake decorating. I really admire those who can do it. Sorry for your rubbish morning. I just hope that car is covered and it doesn't cost you anything to fix.

VJsmum

born_blonde wrote: »

.
When they turned up yesterday it was a group of Policemen but it was a Stag Party!
I have never seen so many drunk Coppers in my life!!!!!!!!

I once worked as a barmaid when the pub hosted a policeman's stag party. They hired a stripper I was rivetted - couldn't believe what I was seeing. Many of the policemen were watching me watching her as I was so gobsmacked and fascinated all at once!! THey wouldn't let me see her third act though :eek:

I got loads of tips that night - and I kept my clothes on!!!

Oh and Korean food - delicious!!!!

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

When you're on Tesco's online P would you see if you can get EV Baked Beans? They're not on mine but they still have EV Beans with sausages available.

Just wondering if they've been withdrawn or just out of stock up my way.

Lots in store but not sure about online. For singles they have added to their range of frozen meals at low prices so some of their range of cheap food is still on sale...

[Deleted User]

I`ve just finished sorting boxes stored in the utility and have resurrected two kg of soapnuts that I forgot I had. They are about £11 a kg on ebay and do a pretty good job on washing that isn`t too stained. I use them in two net bags that you get with washing tablets.
http://www.soapnuts.co.uk/how-to-wash-laundry-with-soapnuts.html

The re-chargeable lanterns came out too and are in process of charging, ready for the dark nights and I also put strings on various torches and hung them on coat hooks by the door. Our village is pitch black, no street lights at all

Am trying to get my act together re christmas presents and am not going hm this year for a change. Dolls and a few clothes bought for the two girls and a furby pre-prdered for dgs. I did buy a dolls clothes making book for me and both dolls are the same size so hm will appear, as if by magic, later. Adults next and the men are the most difficult to get for.

I am hoping to get to costco next week and will have to amble around as it is ages since I last went. I can`t remember what I needed from there and have lost the list, just got to remember to transfer savings into current account as I always spend a lot when I go

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you I am going to hunt my coop down more often for bargains. Not very OS but can't do without them for cleaning my windows but I got kitchen rolls on buy one get 2 free from the coop. They had the same offer for toothpaste too. I always avoid it but I think if you can stock up on things when they're on offer it's a good place to have a look into.

Definitely going to have to up our bargain hunting and detective work to make our pennies go further huh?

My supermarket, some one mentioned it the other day. Is it worth shopping via?

westcoastscot wrote: »

Anyway - am wondering if anyone can assist with how I can find the prices of things like milk, flour, pasta etc in stores like lidl and aldi? I know the others have online sites I can look at - just wondering where would be more cost effective to shop? the petrol distance is negligible due to road conditions, so it's purely down to store prices

Thanks!

Don't know about buying from there but it looks as though they have offers to save money on orders, certainly a good place for seeing what is on offer at each supermarket and keeping an eye on the prices...another good place to compare quality, range of products and prices is http://www.supermarketownbrandguide.co.uk/index.php