The commonsense thread

Popperwell

That's a thought, thanks...;)

Seraph123

Hi all.
I tend to be a bit of a lurker on the forums, just saying a bit now and then, but i felt i just had to add that I'm loving this thread. When I first joined MSE i was in a bit of a muddle and looking for some help and advice. I certainly found it but I also found that I started to run round like a a nutcase trying to do everything I read about and trying do hard to be just like all those wonderful people on here who seem to be able to do it all. When I found that couldn't actually do it all I beat myself up about it , became very disheartened and started to think 'what's the point!'. So I went away and thought about it and what I realised is that, as some of you have already said, you have siphon off and use what the bits that work for you. It doesn't matter if I can't manage most of the wonderful things others can do as long as I can do the things I need to do.

So........I menu plan, I batch bake , I only wash clothes that are dirty, I buy things I need and don't feel guilty about it, I put on another sweater if i'm cold and best of all .............all the changes Ive made have meant I've cut down my bills, given myelf some precious free time and saved a nice little pot of money.

So to all the brilliant people on here whose tips and advice have helped me, thankyou. And to all the people who do it better than me, I admire you. And to everyone, take what you need from all the fantastic advice and bend it to fit. It might not be made to measure but it's the best off the peg wisdom you will find anywhere.:beer:

Popperwell

Seraph,
I think from what you say you are doing all that any of us can on a limited budget.

Tawny75

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 live in the middle of a city, I have 16 tescos alone within a 2 mile radius: there is no need to prep/stock up on anything.

I am able to walk to work even if snowing and we don't get snowed in/electric cuts. I have been unable to continue driving my car due to snow one year so I got it to the side of the road, walked home and picked it up a week later when the road cleared, so no need for emergency car supplies. If we did have a power cut, I have enough camping equipment to get by until something else was sorted out.

<snipped for size>

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

I am the same, I love to try some things on here but I too live in a town, in a second floor flat so I will never get flooded. I am trying to batch cook more though, mainly because I hate waste.

I dry inside as I have no choice due to not having a tumble dryer, so during the really cold times I dry it on lines above my bath, leave the window open and shut the door to keep the cold out.

We are loving reading this thread and contributing to it with our little ways. Thank you one and all

Popperwell

Some good common sense tips on cooking here but if you are already a reasonable cook you probably know most of them already...

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/top-chef-shortcuts-to-save-you-time-in-the-kitchen.html

rozmister

I love this thread!!

I had been lurking on the preparing for winter one but was getting a bit stressed that I'd done no preparing for winter or preparing for Christmas (bar buying my wrapping and such in the sale like always) and felt like I'd failed!

I absolutely LOVE christmas but I do feel sad I have no one to share my enthusiasm with. I'm a young professional and all my family live miles away and although I spend the main Christmas period with them in the build up I want to go see the lights and the Christmas market and rink mulled wine and all my friends are miserable and think it's mad (and some say tacky) and won't join in!

I think making Christmas presents is a really good tip. Last year I made cupcakes and cookies for my friends and they were all so pleased to get them; more so than if I'd bought them a gift. It also made it easier for presents for people you only want to get something little for because the cupcakes and cookies were cheap to make but felt worth more because of the effort.

I also highly recommend going to the Sainsbury's Toy Sale which normally happens around half term and getting toys for children then. The mark downs are really good and it's worth getting them early to save so much money - go in the morning though when they have just been delivered and if you want something and they haven't got it don't settle for something you want less go back the next day. I used to work for Sainsburys and they take deliveries every night (late night to be out early morning) for the toy sale!

fuddle

Thanks for the sainsbury's tip The Sainsbury's we've been going to (B A West A pops ) is pretty much empty even on a Friday night so looking forward to seeing some bargains.

Christmas market. It's the word market that tackies the idea I think. If you would say to your friends about going to a christmas exhibition, £10 entry fee and complimentary mulled wine I bet they would jump at the chance to experience the christmas atmosphere

Possession

It drives me mad that the Sainsburys toy sale is always in half term week. Could there be any LESS suitable week for it?! But yes, the prices are good.

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Thanks for the sainsbury's tip The Sainsbury's we've been going to (B A West A pops ) is pretty much empty even on a Friday night so looking forward to seeing some bargains.

Christmas market. It's the word market that tackies the idea I think. If you would say to your friends about going to a christmas exhibition, £10 entry fee and complimentary mulled wine I bet they would jump at the chance to experience the christmas atmosphere

Yes been there but get this...buses are poor to the SM at Tindall/W. Auckland...last time I went to Sainsbury's I had to use a taxi and to go to Aldi's I had to get off the bus as near to it as possible and struggle by walking pulling my trolley behind me:mad:

The Darlington one is now enormous...so you've noticed how quiet places are.

Someone was buying toys for Christmas in Tesco's yesterday one of those scooters every child/teenager seems to have covered in Spiderman pictures...

Well no cards, toys, christmas stuff to buy here from now on...but I will do my best to listen to Christmas Music and have a festive meal and a drink...

Cheapskate

Hi everyone, I'm another sometime poster of the toughie/SHTF/prepping threads, but have to agree with so many on this thread about reading everything and cherry-picking what suits me and mine. I've often spent so long reading ideas that I've then no time left to put them into action! :rotfl:

I love reading the other threads (and indeed am a member of C.R.A.P.R.O.L.L.Z.! ), but I live so high up from sea level that 90% of Britain would be underwater by the time we were so I don't worry about flooding. I have some food stores, also the obligatory loo rolls, tinned tomatoes, etc., but we haven't the space to store loads - if we were confined to barracks we'd be able to feed ourselves for about 2-3 weeks, not including fresh milk, etc., but we'd not starve. We have 2 bakers in the village, one who actually bakes on site, a butcher, general store, chemist, 2 chippies, 1 curry house, 2 pubs, all within 5 minutes walk - we are blessed! They have saved me long trips into town with small people many times.

I've been having a hard time mentally of late, and now my mum's been unwell, and we worry that she may be in the very early stages of dementia, so am currently less worried about zombies than her! :rotfl: Although I'm so tired at the mo that I may qualify for zombie status any day.

A xo