Preparedness for when

thriftwizard

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I've been thinking about what someone posted, a week or two back, about the neighbours spotting my CFL running during a power cut.

I'm now considering having three panels cut from 1/8" ply, to fit over my LR windows.

Painted with blackboard paint, on the street facing side, they wouldn't be obvious to people outside.

Have them cut in half (or quarters & hinged in the centre to join 2 pieces) and hang them on hinges, then you'd have shutters. Which, when I investigated, turn out to be almost as efficient at keeping warmth in & drafts out as double-glazing is, and an awful lot cheaper.

vivatifosi

Frugalsod wrote: »

They use a range of anti counterfeit markers, I think that the ink changes colour if it is a fake. The actual chemistry of the paper is quite complex and consistent so that it works with these pens. There are also ultraviolet detectors which you see occasionally.

Speaking of banknotes (apologies if this has been mentioned before I dip in and out of thread), did you all see Martin's note that the old style £50 is being withdrawn?

Here's the info from the Bank of England. They cease to be legal tender on 30 April but will be accepted in banks for a bit longer:

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/Documents/houblon50a4poster_gb.pdf

Thought I'd mention this as part of preparation for when the SHTF is having money that isn't in the bank. Not much use if it is no longer recognised as money...

GreyQueen

You can still take old out-of-circulation banknotes to any bank and they will give you the modern eqivalent and send the oldies back to the Bank of England for destruction. Kid Bruv traded in 2 English £1 notes found as bookmarks in a secondhand book recently. Acutally, since the book cost 79p, he came out ahead on the deal.:rotfl:

But yes, good idea to keep rolling over stashed notes to make sure that they're current in case you want to spend them without trading them in for the current versions. And to have a mixture of denominations for maximum flexibilty.

A couple of years ago I got what I thought was a £2 coin in my change from Tosspots but later examination revealed to be from a Middle Eastern country. I spent it back in the same store a few days later. Since then, I've always given coins a scrutiny. After all, one might get one of those rare Kew Gardens 50p pieces which are worth well above face value.

Have been to a neighbourhood booter today. Didn't get much bar some 100% cotton hankies. I don't like paper tissues and, if the SHTF, they'll become unavailable eventually. Good to have the 100% cotton, don't entertain the vileness which is 'cotton-rich' - eww. If my old Grandma (passed in 1970) could see what they're passing off for textiles in these days, she'd have something sharp to say about it, and no mistake.

The Tea Fairy has brewed up, so I shall pop off for a while.

short_bird

GreyQueen wrote: »

Yup. The sweat of their own honest toil.

Anything else is on the market; their souls, consciences, first-born children, elderly parents, you name it, they'll be flogging it.

Coming soon, the Fresh Air Tax.

Ah, but not if they can flog someone else's firstborns, parents, information first...

[Deleted User]

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

What if you were never in a nativity play?

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I think they'd expect you to pretend that you had. Or pay the fine for not dressing up.

Here's a thought.

You could go naked, and say you played the baby Jesus.

[Deleted User]

GreyQueen wrote: »

Kid Bruv traded in 2 English £1 notes found as bookmarks in a secondhand book recently.

Oh dear.

A dealer would've paid a lot more than face value for them.

jk0

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Oh dear.

A dealer wouldn't paid a lot more than face value for them.

Did you mean a dealer would have paid more than face value for old pound notes, Bob?

GreyQueen

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Oh dear.

A dealer wouldn't paid a lot more than face value for them.

I think you've misunderstood me. They were exchanged at a high street bank for 2 x £1 coins. So he came out £1.21 ahead because they were inside a book bought for only 79p.

Most old £1 notes are only worth face value. There are one or two number runs which are worth a fraction more than face to collectors, which numbers I did know and have forgotten. If anyone's desperately curious I can ask my curio dealer pal next week. But these notes weren't the right numbers, hence swopping them for spendable coins.

[Deleted User]

jk0 wrote: »

Did you mean a dealer would have paid more than face value for old pound notes, Bob?

Oops.

Yes, I meant would've.

pineapple

vivatifosi wrote: »

Speaking of banknotes (apologies if this has been mentioned before I dip in and out of thread), did you all see Martin's note that the old style £50 is being withdrawn?

Living on the bottom rung as it were - £50 notes are something I've rarely come across. Though if prices keep going up we'll soon be spending 50 squid on a packet of butter and a small piece of meat.
Oh I forgot - the gubberment tells us our shopping basket is getting cheaper. But only if you have a fridge freezer and a packet of bird nuts in it....