The commonsense thread

valk_scot

My dad's commonsense tip was to look in the cupboard before you went out and bought anything. By which he meant see if there's a coat or jacket you can get another year out of before you go out and buy a new one, or use up the leftovers in the fridge before you go and buy more food. I think he was utterly right, people often don't get full use out of things they already own, they just go out and buy new and throw a perfectly usable item out. If you only use 75% of the lifespan/capacity of an object that's 25% of the cost price wasted, no?

(Or in my case, stuff it in the attic even if it is worn out. But we won't talk about that here, weve got a Hoarding thread for that.;) )

Popperwell

Justamum wrote: »

I've got a smoothie maker, but didn't use it much because as you say the fruit is expensive. The other week I decided to make iced coffee like they do in the M&S cafe, but I discovered it's got a leak around the bottom of the blades so it looks like I'll have to bin it anyway.

I do want a food processor though I've entered a competition for one on the BBC food website so I'll wait until I've won that one :rotfl:

Justamum,
Hope you are lucky...i went for a cheap one in Argos(there on brand so I don't feel too bad if it is not used)but I won't throw it out...I can do cocktails in it:rotfl:if I can afford the booze or one day perhaps HM soups etc...

Unless I drink cheap cider, the booze I like is expensive initially so it will be something to save up for(Rum, Vodka)mixed with other ingredients. They are the cheapest part(usually a fizzy drink like coke)but I use the shop brands...well I use SM brands for the booze too where possible.Not a big drinker though so I can do without it altogether or have it ocasionally.


As for your leaking SM that happened to me not long before Mum passed away and I replaced it with the one I have now...I also purchased a fruit extractor from the same place not too expensive but you need so much fruit, it is easier/cheaper to buy it in a carton and if I want an extra flavour I can mix two cartons together...

If my income ever improves it may get used again...the word being "May"

Some will say I wasted money but at the time I could afford to use them and they were originally purchased to try and get good nourishment that was easy for Mum to digest and hopefully keep her well so the reasons behind having them was sound.

Justamum

babyblooz wrote: »

One of my most favourite memories is playing with my grandma's OXO tin full of buttons stripped from every single garment that was being thrown out. New woollies were handknitted, with scraps being knitted up into dolls clothes for christmas presents. I would tip the buttons out and look at them, sorting them into sets, choosing which ones would go on my handknitted cardigan or whatever, and then hearing about the items they used to be sewn onto before being snipped off again. It was a lovely, cosy time when I truly felt part of the fabric of our family.

Sadly those days are gone and my daughter in law who is not particularly close to her family can't believe that anyone would go to such a bother. My kids grew up blackberry picking and making jam etc. and have these memories to look back on, fondly I hope!
Despite having the money to never have to do anything at all like I did, I think she is the poorer one, not me, for not having the sense of identity that I have. It's not always about the money, its a sense of reconnecting with the values of the people who made you who you are.

I still take my children to pick bilberries and blackberries. I forgot to get bilberries this year though, so I'll have to wait until next year.

My mum used to knit all our jumpers - she'd often buy jumpers from jumble sales, unpick them and re-knit them. She'd also make all the clothes for my sister and I.

As for the buttons, we used to play with my mum's button tin - it's an old Mackintosh Quality Street sweet tin (from before they merged with Rowntrees). I've got it now, and the buttons really bring back memories. My youngest daughter likes to play with it too, but unfortunately every button is a prisoner and I don't like to part with them There's something wonderfully tactile and calming about buttons.

Jennie_2

Soundgirlrocks wrote: »

My Dad used to call it a bits of tea, because we would have a bit of this and a bit of that:D

That's what we call it! If I say we are having a "bitsa" dinner or a "bitsa" soup, everyone in the family knows what I mean.

If I could double thank Babyshoes' post I would. It really puts things into perspective.

To me it's common sense to always remember "portion control"; whether that be eating wisely or not slopping loads of washing powder in the washing machine, having an overflowing toothbrush, filling your hand full of hair mousse or being generally heavy handed.

To me the ultimate common sense is working out what something costs per 100 ml, kg etc. It can take time standing in the supermarket trying to figure it out but it is so worth it!

Justamum

Popperwell wrote: »

J
Some will say I wasted money but at the time I could afford to use them and they were originally purchased to try and get good nourishment that was easy for Mum to digest and hopefully keep her well so the reasons behind having them was sound.

Then they weren't a waste of money. You still sound so sad about your mum - I hope I'm not being a bit presumptious here, but I know it's only quite recent. I know it's only 'virtual', but you do have friends on here so :grouphug:

Popperwell

Yes I do have friends here Justamum, Thank you for that

even if I have to try and stay OT. Sometimes that can be an advantage of a thread that is allowed to go a bit away from the main theme...

It is quite recent(end of April)and I have been told I'll always have moments that cause a "Wobble" being so close to her, you only get one Mum after all but some say it can take a couple of years to be OK and really I think I am doing better than I thought that I may...there's no right or wrong way or amount of time to grieve...

Thanks again...

By the way the emoticon above is giving a hugI found out it's the thirtieth anniversary of them first being used...

fuddle

Justamum I put boiling water in the SC and put it on low for the steamed puds. I tried it on high but the temp of the crockpot must be too hot on high resulting in the topping sticking to the bottom of the pudding dish. I will add though though that my high setting is very high i.e. my stews bubble a bit too vigorously for my liking.

I do love the simplicity of this thread. I think of it as a true Old OS thread. It's comforting in a way. My take of it is that the thread isn't saying 'you're not OS because you have/do this' but rather saying you don't need to have/do this to be OS. I think it's a feel good thread and not at all out to upset anyone.

I take heed what Kittie says about spending far too much time online. I am guilty of this. I spend a high proportion of my days searching OS in a bid to learn new things when I should be concentrating on doing things. I'm going to not only think pro-actively but be proactive.

It's just nice to be on thread that talks about OS skills and not what we buy that aids our OS mentality.

The_Lady_Sarah

Jennie wrote: »

To me the ultimate common sense is working out what something costs per 100 ml, kg etc. It can take time standing in the supermarket trying to figure it out but it is so worth it!

Most SM have this written on the shelf lable if you look closely enough! I have often saved money by looking at these....including when it's something like 25% free or bigger bottles! is surprising but sometimes it's a false economy!!:j

Miss_Havisham

my mum and I often have the conversation about how the rich celebs probably don't appreciate the little things in life that give us such pleasure. As someone mentioned earlier, what could be more delish on a winter's afternoon than a mug of tea and a toasted tea cake ?

We also look back to the 1950\60's when we were kids. Most things were cooked from scratch because there just wasn't the vast range of tinned/frozen food and ready meals we have today. Nor did we have a freezer. Mum also bought seasonal stuff, so we had strawberries for only a few weeks in summer, lamb was scarce in spring because they were just being born. Apples were an autumn thing.

Food was very simple in those days but tasty and nourishing.

Someone else earlier talked about living on a shoe string - while we do, at least it means we've got shoes.

[Deleted User]

Oh how I wish sometimes that my late Mum or Ma-in-law were around.They always had great advice to give to help streeetch your pennies out Most of which I remember and have passed on to my own children.I have been reading what lots of you are saying and its true its 'commonsense' that's needed
I don't fret about what may or may not happen, I care about what happens now, and in my life my family are the most important to me .
My eldest DD is fairly comfortably off, and has two children one of whom is working, and one at Uni Both her and her OH have good reasonably safe jobs (as safe as anyone's today ) but they worry me as they seem to be living the good life, a bit too much at times. I don't begrudge them their good times and I am pleased that they no longer have to struggle but I wonder how they would manage if they had to go back to struggling as they did 10 years ago iyswim
Whereas my youngest DD and her OH seem to be permanantly struggling to get through the month They are not wasteful by any means and yet is seems even though they both work they have to streeetch to cover their costs.So I have one lot with plenty of cash, and one lot with not enough. I try to think well its not my worry, but as a Mum I don't think one ever stops worrying about their children even if they ar 45 & 43
Myself I only spend what i've got, and do my best to make what I've got streeetch a bit longer to make sure there is enough behind me in case of emergencies .I am quite an optimistic person really and can remember back in the 1970s when life was extremely tough for me and my young family It seemed that the mortgage rate had gone through the roof at 15% and the end of the world was nigh,but of course it wasn't as my friends and I all muddled through somehow and survived it all.
So I think that putting ones commonsense cap on is a great idea yet also its nice to have a goal to work towards .The lady who wants the Kindle, good on her for saving for it. I bought mine when they first came on the market, and its a lot cheaper now, I should have waited a bit longer(by the way they are brilliant and no I still buy books as well :))She will enjoy it even more knowing how she has saved for it.
My ma-in-law was fantastic with cash as she had gone through a very hard time as a young widow during the depression of the 1930s but even when she was an old lady she couldn't give up her ways (she was frightened of dying and folk reading in the paper that she had't left any money ) how daft is that .She, for years had said she would have loved to have had a cruise and her sons all told her to do it and go on one but she wouldn't as she wanted to leaves her 'boys' some cash in her will.My OH said I don't want your money Mum just spend the bl%%dy stuff and enjoy youself, but she was a stubborn lady who denied herself something she had always wanted just for a few pieces of paper in the bank.Well I pay my way, and have a roof over my head, and food in the cupboard, but if I want to do something or go somehwere I will, the kids will get the house eventually, but I want to enjoy my life the way I want to and not worry about what I leave behind I rarely give my grandchildren pocket money, or for that matter much money at all, but I give them my time, and as many cuddles as they want which is worth a lot more than money I think.yep the commonsense way is a great idea
P.S. by the way I used the haybox idea in the 1970s when we had electricity blackouts and used blankets and a sleeping bag around a thick wooden tea chest.You can also use polystyrene blocks like you get in packing around washing machines .It works a treat i'd make a casserole the day before and get it really hot then bung it into the tea chest for next day.