The commonsense thread

Popperwell

lobbyludd wrote: »

hi, have been reading the other threads, which are full of great stuff, but much of it doesn't apply to me:

I now have a network of really nice neighbours all of whom could probably cook a soup/look after a child/lend a hand if something went pear-shaped - I know I would help any of them, and MOST people are like this when you get to know them: most humans are lovely one-to-one once they know you.

I have however found great ideas on this board:

it's all about ideas and finding out what works for what each of us need.

I know that I have chopped your post down but the above is so true and your examples of what to do/not do are much like myself and many here.

mummysaver

Lobbyludd, great post, and a good reminder to all of us that what works for some may not work for others.

For instance, I love baking bread, but there are seven of us so it works out cheapers and we can't eat too much as there are too many others to share it with!

Your point about building up a support network is, in my opinion, the most important thing of all. Friendship and support are both priceless and free.

The commonsense OS stuff I've done today is mealplan, checking through my cupboards, fridge and freezer for stuff that needs using up; I've frozen down some leftover tomato sauce from last night's pizza, ready for the next pizza or pasta night, money saving, but more importantly time saving! I've also chopped some ys beef into my slow cooker, along with veg, toms and paprika to make a stew for tomorrow night, as I work all day Monday and it means the kids have a hot meal ready, plus the beef needed using up!

I've also sterilised some mini wine bottles that we've saved, ready to decant some homemade liqueurs into for Chrimbo pressies for family and friends. Everyone we know is more than happy to receive a couple of bottles of sloe gin or raspberry liqueur, plus pots of jam, jelly and pickle, either that or they're too polite to say

LameWolf

Definitely "horses for courses".:o What is vital for a fit young woman with two small children won't work at all for an elderly old bat with mobility problems and no family. (I fit into the latter category, btw).;)

Just thought you might find my method of meal-planning interesting (just skip this post, if not):rotfl:

I try and keep a plan a few days ahead, but not "set in stone" so to speak, so that if I'm having a bad day health-wise, I can swop out a complicated meal for egg'n'chips or something, which Mr LW can make.

I have it all on one of my beloved spreadsheets - if it's blue it's definite, if it's red it's just a suggestion, and will happen unless something goes not according to plan. When we get Mr LW's rota for the month, I note when he's on shift (he has an Early followed by a Late, but other than that there's no pattern whatsoever) and those days do a meal that will do us two days, so that on Late days we can just nuke it and eat.

So currently it looks like this:
Sunday (today) Nut loaf and roasties
Monday Quorn fillets in white wine sauce and chips
Tuesday Lasagne (early shift)
Wednesday Lasagne (day 2 - late shift)
Thursday Pizza
Friday Mushroom Risotto
Saturday Omelette (Mr LW will cook)
Sunday Toad in the hole
Monday Shepherd Spy (early shift)
Tuesday Shepherd Spy (day 2 - late shift)

The other thing is I get Mr LW's input to do the plan - after all, he's got to eat it!:rotfl:
It also means I can get him to prep veggies the night before and leave them in a bowl of water, as my paws don't cope with this task very well these days.;)

We do have a small emergency kit in the car, because Mr LW has a 30 mile drive to work; in the snowy weather he takes the shovel out of the shed, and I'll give him a flask of hot water to take when it's really bad,so that he could make a cup of hot tea or soup if he got stranded (couple of packets of soup and a few tea bags kept in a plastic box in the car)

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend; Mr LW is back to work tomorrow having been on leave for a week, so I'm going to be struggling a tad, as I get very lonely when he's not here. Thankfully I have a canine guest arriving this afternoon, who will be staying with us til Wednesday.:o

ReformedShopaholic

purplekitten and chirpychick
Not sure if this has already been mentioned (i'm only up to page 6) but if you have a smartphone you can download the kindle app. I have downloaded it to my android. Its not the same as reading on a kindle as obviously the phone is a tiny screen but it has kept me reading until I hopefully get one for my birthday. Its free to download and then you can read whatever you want. I have only really downloaded the free books but some of them are worth keeping as they are well written.

Popperwell

I've loaded the version that allows me to read books on this laptop so I can read the free books but when I try to download books it says i don't have the software and I do! And I have tried to reinstall the software a few times...:(

mrs_motivated

I love this thread, what a great idea.

I have just started and (a bit like I do with a good book ) read the first and last page. Just popping of to finish dinner and then going to settle down and read the whole thread

Popperwell

mrs_motivated wrote: »

I love this thread, what a great idea.

I have just started and (a bit like I do with a good book ) read the first and last page. Just popping of to finish dinner and then going to settle down and read the whole thread

Good luck Mrs M and welcome...:)

fuddle

A common sense tip: keep all birthday/thank you/christmas cards and cut out the pictures to make gift tags and not cards.

Also the scraps go in to the rainy day craft box.

Popperwell

Obviously MSE is great site for information and tips of how to shop/save money and be thrifty but we know other sites exist that are slightly different and My Supermarket comes to mind but they have a new feature heping ypu decide if something really is the bargain you think, see this article.

http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/how-to-beat-the-latest-supermarket-tricks.html

faerie~spangles

Popperwell wrote: »

I've loaded the version that allows me to read books on this laptop so I can read the free books but when I try to download books it says i don't have the software and I do! And I have tried to reinstall the software a few times...:(

Have you asked for advice over on the Techy board?

I'm sure someone there will be able to 'talk' you through a fix.