The commonsense thread

taplady · 21 September 2012 at 3:49PM

bupster wrote: »

My parents tried to do this to us when we were young and we were having none of it. Value cornflakes back then tasted COMPLETELY different from Kellogs and were horrible, I wouldn't touch them, and I wasn't a fussy eater.

thankfully the value brands have improved over time:) although I find that the Aldi weetabix are awful but we find all the other cereals acceptable.

If its a case of the value brands or nowt then they might have to get used to them. My DS gets through cereals like nobodys business but luckily with him its quantity rather than quality:D

Popperwell · 21 September 2012 at 4:30PM

fuddle wrote: »

A common sense tip from me about children's breakfasts is that you don't need to buy expensive and quickly used cereals. I have a constant selection of muesli, porridge oats, basics cornflakes and basics weetabix. There's choice for the children (lucky children), you get a decent amount for your money and know that your children are not filled with sugar or additives per say. It also is a good selection for adults breakfast too.

Some basic cereals are quite cheap, I wanted to try some Granola but it had not so much in the box and was £3.50 but I found something almost similar but it had more weight wise and was £1.50 cheaper and I can add more fruit myself. I have if I could be bothered found a recipe online to do your own.

You can also mix some cereals and make your own combinations...just as you can with some fruit juices sold in the shops(as I have said before I would make my own from fresh fruit)I have the gadgets but I cannot make them cheaper than what is available in the shops...

We used to have a shop on the town with tubs of various items and you scooped the amount you needed, weighed it and paid quite a good price. Its disappeared and I haven't seen another locally. Bet such a shop would do very well now...

Miss_Havisham wrote: »

A couple of thoughts.

The older I get (just 57) the more I realise I don't need new stuff and I actually value the things I've had for years.

For example, my crockery is a complete mish-mash of dinner plates that have survived old dinner services, the odd cheap mug from Wilko's, Mum's old tea plates which we bought in Woolies in the 1960's and are covered in a crazy pattern. My bowls are freebies from Kellogs cornflakes and shaped like half-footballs. I really don't feel the need to buy everything to match.

As soon as I get home I change into really scruffy old clothes (to keep my "going-out" clothes in good nick). My scruffy clothes are regularly patched and stitched to keep them from disintegrating. I sometimes apologise for my appearance if people come to the door, but hey !

That's pretty much how I am...and I sometimes think s** it! And go out in my knock about clothes...I did last night. It was 9.30pm I had two birthday cards to mail and one of the few mags I buy and can just about afford for now and just kept on what I had. It was dark and I was only going to Tesco's.

So many shops I have no reason to use any more...If my clothes and crockery/cuttlery last as long as they may, they'll last me the rest of my life or be got rid of if I end up in a home(Please God that never happens)That's my biggest fear.

I don't have friends or family to speak of so these two cards were a rarity so I don't see me sending even Christmas cards from now on...I hope the gadgets I have will last me years so my shopping is now mainly supermarkets and CS.

Popperwell · 21 September 2012 at 4:40PM

bupster wrote: »

Stuff, even useful stockpiles (as mine of course is ) won't protect me from being lonely and afraid. But making connections with other people might. That's harder, because it involves going out of my cosy, safe home and making myself vulnerable to rejection etc., but people are the only thing that matters in the end.

Having said all that I have just made a bulk order of medicine from pharmacy direct so I am full of sh*t :rotfl:

That's true...but my home isn't cosy any more watching the cost of heating but...we'll see how that pans out...having a safety net may release money so I can put heating on longer or afford to do more things outdoors as many things are not free or cost money to get there...

CH27 wrote: »

Mix the Aldi & the Special K together into one box

Yep that could work so you get the best of both worlds...;)

valk_scot wrote: »

I never bother with that sort of thing. I point out that they can have three boxes of the Lidl stuff to one box of the brand name, so they can either have 1/3rd size portions of the fancy stuff or decent portions of the other. Their choice!

Lidl Fruit & Fibre is better than the Kellogs stuff anyway. And Lidl muesli is the best muesli ever.

May have to pay Lidl a visit some time when I can justify the bus/taxi fares...

Popperwell · 21 September 2012 at 4:45PM

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you. I'm to eat fruit and fibre. I've got myself the tesco make but it still is more than I would like to pay. My two go crazy for muesili and it's my guilty pleasure so I thank you for your recommendation

Is that the normal Tesco F&F or the Everyday Value brand it seems the same except for the price?

maryb wrote: »

Tried that - the flakes were a slightly different colour. Trouble is, because he has caught me out a couple of times he is now DEEEEPLY suspicious - even when I haven't done anything:D

taplady wrote: »

thankfully the value brands have improved over time:) although I find that the Aldi weetabix are awful but we find all the other cereals acceptable.

If its a case of the value brands or nowt then they might have to get used to them. My DS gets through cereals like nobodys business but luckily with him its quantity rather than quality:D

Most of my cereals are now own brand or purchased when the branded types have been reduced so much that they match the price of the cheaper variety...

trifles · 21 September 2012 at 4:47PM

I bought Lidls bran flakes which I really disliked,so I made choc.crispies from them for friends kids,which they enjoyed.Could do this to use up other cereals which have been unpopular with families.
Another thing I tried recently when my coffee machine died,was to measure out the ground coffee as before,put into a jug and add boiling water,stir and pour into a mug via a cheap 15p tea strainer.Have done this for weeks,got used to it and will use money saved up for new one on something else.Have been using the dried grounds to stuff pincushions,and also a small amount as a cellulite scrub in the shower:D
Using nets from oranges scrunched up together as a pan scourer
Dinner cheaply from home made soup at least x2 week-1 tin toms and 1 tin baked beans blitzed together with stock and herbs is one of my cheaper standbys and very quick.
Cheap hair conditioner to polish shoes/shave legs
Burning cheap candles in front of fire grate keeps me feeling less chilly!Saves heating.
Try to put money saved from commonsense scrimping like this weekly into treat jar for short term benefits eg going to cinema which keeps me from getting too disheartened at gloom and doom around us all.

All money saved goes in jar to pay for treats eg cinema visits-so I am seeing short-term benefits for scrimping.

fuddle · 21 September 2012 at 4:57PM

Popperwell wrote: »

Is that the normal Tesco F&F or the Everyday Value brand it seems the same except for the price?

Oh right, I didn't realise that. Thank you. I bought the normal tesco one, purple box.

Are bran flakes as beneficial (fibre wise) and fruit and fibre? I can add my own raisins and a bit banana if it's cheaper to just buy bran.

I ditto 24p conditioner as shaving gel but also going to try 9p baby lotion (tesco) as shaving gel next time.

I also cleanse with olive oil on a night.

Exfoliate with sugar/honey mix. Not as sticky as you might think.

egg yolk/olive oil mix - fab hair conditioner (expensive if you take into account of the price of egg though)

egg white as face mask - tightens skin.

Wear tights in the day time. Skirts don't need as much washing as trousers and the tights take up minimal space in the washing machine and easy to dry.

Popperwell · 21 September 2012 at 5:04PM

trifles wrote: »

I bought Lidls bran flakes which I really disliked,so I made choc.crispies from them for friends kids,which they enjoyed.Could do this to use up other cereals which have been unpopular with families.

Another thing I tried recently when my coffee machine died,was to measure out the ground coffee as before,put into a jug and add boiling water,stir and pour into a mug via a cheap 15p tea strainer.Have done this for weeks,got used to it

Burning cheap candles in front of fire grate keeps me feeling less chilly!Saves heating.

Try to put money saved from commonsense scrimping like this weekly into treat jar for short term benefits eg going to cinema which keeps me from getting too disheartened at gloom and doom around us all.

These are great ideas, I hope I can still go occasionally to the theatre in the future if I do that otherwise there are no treats and the entertainment will be mainly me and a radio...nothing wrong with a radio but it's not giving you any social interaction.

Don't think it saves any money but I have started using tealights in some lovely glass coloured globes and I just like it

Never had a coffee machine but recently have noticed that ground coffee isn't that expensive so got a cheap one of those glass things with a plunger so I may soon be having "Posher" coffee and B&M's have had something similar to those sachets of coffee that also usually have sugar and whitener included but their's are cheaper than others on sale in the supermarkets and...I can get two or three drinks out of one sachet:o

sonastin · 21 September 2012 at 5:12PM

bupster wrote: »

I just get worried sometimes when I see posters on here who are so busy preparing for a future they're terrified of that they've left no time or energy to improve the present.

I think what I'm trying to say is that for some people, the fear of the future would get in the way of enjoying the present so not planning for zombie invasion wouldn't bring them any more peace/satisfaction/pleasure/call it what you will. But it should be a conscious choice of "I will feel happier if I do this now" that won't lead to "why did I waste my time doing that" regret. Hindsight may tell you that there was no need to waste your time doing it anyway but if you paused to think before you chose that path you can tell hindsight to s*d off - it was right at the time even if it was for a different reason.

I used to wonder why my SIL was so obsessed about how tidy her house was and why she didn't just get on with living life. And then I watched her out "living life" one day while her house was a mess. She didn't enjoy her "day off" one bit because the mess prayed on her mind - and by mess I mean an unmade bed or a cup left in the sink unwashed! I saw a wasted hour of washing up and making beds. She saw a wasted day where she couldn't relax because she hadn't taken that hour first.

Always do what is right for you. Remember that sometimes what is right for you is putting someone else's needs first.

bupster · 21 September 2012 at 5:14PM

Treats are dead important, so is social interaction. Pops, have you thought of volunteering in one of the charity shops you go to? It would get you out of the house, you could make new friends, and you wouldn't be using up fuel to heat the house while you were in the shop. They're always looking for people to help sort clothes etc.

bupster · 21 September 2012 at 5:16PM

Sonastin - I've a friend like that. When I'm at hers, I'm much tidier than I am at home, because mess bothers her, and it doesn't bother me. You're quite right, it's got to be what makes you happy and keeps you feeling right. It's just that sometimes this stuff gets out of hand - it did for me at any rate.