The commonsense thread

Frogletina

cuddlymarm wrote: »

Another thing that I've remembered that I do is rotate the freezer once a week (everything moves up and we eat from the top shelf first) The tin cupboard is the other way everything moves down and the new stuff goes at the top.

I wonder how other people store things in their freezers.

I usually have things that I have bought frozen on the top shelf, things that I have made on the bottom shelf and the middle one for things that are partly used and odd slices of bread etc

hunters

fuddle wrote: »

I use the slow cooker a lot whether a stew or a steamed pudding. I loved learning about the hay box in wartime farm last week. Would a cardboard box filled with hay do the trick too?

I have to ask, why would you want to faff about making a haybox when you have a slow cooker?

Interesting programme to watch but we do live in the 21st century and please lets embrace the joys of a washing machine, dishwasher etc. How my Gran loved her automatic washing machine, no more lifting clothes from washing machine to wringer to spinner as she had before the automatic. She was prone to using a pressure cooker, we all stayed out of the kitchen when she did, didn't want hit with the top coming down after it hit the ceiling! The microwave was a blessing to her latterly as she could use it to heat meals my Mum would drop in or ready meals from the freezer.

kittie I really don't see what it has to you how long people spend posting on mse and its really not very nice making fuddle feel guilty for how she spends her time or indeed that anyone else could spend their time more wisely??

No stock cupboard as such as we don't have much room and I work shifts so Mum and I tend to eat at different times but in the winter time thats when the slow cooker comes into its own as we can both just help ourselves to whatever is bubbling away, now that is commonsense.

Well its time to go to work, sandwich made today but its payday tomorrow so we usually go out at tea-time for a bit of a splurge once a month.

fuddle

Aw, nobody made me feel guilty about how much time I spend on MSE. It was a fair point made about spending time wisely and it resonated with me that's all. I have made the decision to cut back for me, not because someone said so.

I'm not saying I'm going to faff about with a haybox when I have a slow cooker, I just saw the idea and thought what a brilliant money saver. MSE and OS in particular is about knowledge. I take all I can from here and store it in case I ever find myself having to provide for my family in an environment that is not as comfortable as it is now or not so easy as it now.

cheerfulness4

D&DD wrote: »

re the kindle you can download a free kindle app thing for the pc from amazon which then enables you download the books to your pc.:D
Then if you go to the top free books and scroll down and hit food and drink it brings up loads you can download free I've got quite a few good ones this week on there HTH

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_ipad_mkt_lnd?docId=1000425503

Brilliant tip! Just done it and so pleased. Thanks D&DD :T

Tawny75

bearcub wrote: »

So am I, and we've always made it a family occasion. That doesn't mean spending a small fortune on presents that most people won't look at again, never mind use. Nor does it mean buying loads of food that we won't have the appetite for. The first has led to two now adult DDs who aren't in the slightest 'brand' conscious, and never were, even in their teens. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I know this is a late reply to this post, but I whole heartedly agree. We have a system where the children in our family buy their presents in the pound shop. We do this for birthdays too, for instance, on my birthday this year, I got some wooden spoons, lipsalve, cake cases and some body moisturiser. My nephews (aged 5&7)were so proud of their presents for me and I loved them all the more because they had thought about what I would like.

My daughter has no brand conciousness either and she is 13. I love Christmas as a Christian for the birth of Christ and as a mum and family member for the joy and togetherness it brings. And yes, I thank God everyday that I have my family.

Tawny75

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 remember playing with my mums button box, I still do sometimes and I am 37. I was lucky enough to be given a button box of my own from my MiL, it was her mums and neither of her daughters wanted it so she gave it to me. I am going to make her a quilt and embellish it with buttons from her box, I hope she likes it.

suburbanwifey

Justamum wrote: »

I don't see why not. The actual haybox system is a bit pricey http://haybox.co.uk/

I'm sure there's someone on a thread on OS somewhere who cooks using a haybox. I can't remember who it is though.

Is it deja vu, or have I mentioned this already? Or am I just going mad in my old age :cool:

Has anyone here bought a haybox from there? it looks quite a new site.

Tawny75

I haven't, but I have used the traditional teachest one at Guides and it is brilliant. Looking up the thread, I think a good quality cardboard box and some blankets would do the trick anyway.

Lavandula

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

It's £50, save your money and do not buy. The whole point of a hay box (as shown in Wartime Farm) was to save money. So make one yourself. It's very easy. Old box, hay, grass, old cushions or whatever.

taplady

I've just enjoyed catching up with the thread - very interesting reading:T

babysteps - what a thought provoking post of yours and how right you are - none of us are "poor" by any means. It puts our worried into perspective.

JackieO - another interesting post as always:T - I wish you'd get on and write that book about you and your family - would make you a fortune:)

DH has just asked if I can make "some of your nice pasta thingy":) he means the HM pasta bake I do that is cheap to make as you can chuck any leftovers in it!

I had a kindle for Christmas - to be honest I'm not that keen on it as I much prefer a book and get a lot of joy searching out books at carboots for pence. The only plus side is if you go away it doesn't take up much space and talso the fact that you can make the print bigger:D