The commonsense thread

Miss_Havisham

my two-penny worth (or should that be one-pennny worth ?) sorry they're a bit higgledy-piggledy.

Don't put bits of left over food in the deep freezer to use "later" because you'll find them 6 months later, lurking at the bottom, unwrapped and suffering freezer burn - only fit for the bin.

Jacket spuds. I start them off in the microwave, they take only minutes to cook. I then finish them off for a few mins in a hot oven to crisp up the skins. Uses a lot less gas/elec. Unless of course you can bung other things into the oven at the same time such as casseroles, rice pud.

Use up odds and sods of food in omelettes, spanish omelettes, stir-fries etc.

Don't feel you need to have meat or fish every day - eggs can make a tasty and substantial meal and are full of protein. Same with cheese - have it grated on top of jacket spuds and serve with baked beans for a cheapish and filling meal.

Apart from food, I save money by not buying loads of top brand cleaning materials . I use washing soda, bi-carb, bleach, ordinary disinfectant and good old boiling water (drains etc) for most of my cleaning needs. No Mr Sheen, I use a barely damp cloth to wipe away dust.

peckish in the evening ? Bowl of porridge with milk and sugar satisfies.

This might seem very stingey but I never buy newspapers - get my "entertainment" from on-line versions, the radio & telly (BBC News 24 channel is excellent).

If you are tempted by supermarkets, do one big shop or order on line and don't pop in for odd items - you will buy more than you went in for.

Keep a tight rein on spending by using a notebook to jot down everything you buy and check it every month. It's amazing how much you can get through on small bits and bobs.

Defrost the deep freeze regularly so that it runs more efficiently and uses less power.

Don't buy or rent film DVDs. There are loads of films on telly everyday across the Freeview channels, so record and watch them when you fancy a family night in.

Persuade your family not to use loads of toilet paper ! Same with toothpaste - you don't need an inch of the stuff on the brush. Same with washing up liquid and laundry detergent - use too much and you end up with loads of suds going down the plughole.

Don't buy kitchen roll - use a damp dishcloth to clear up, rinse and re-use.

Really its just a matter of questioning what you buy, do and use and if it's actually necessary or could be done more cheaply or differently ?

Popperwell

Tiglath wrote: »

I bought endless food magazines and very expensive ingredients in search of the perfect recipe collection to prove I'd made the grade (even if it was only in my own mind) - and ended up still living on takeaways several times a week. Now the norm is something like meat + 2 veg and the odd steamed jam pudding! My sister is consciously raising her daughters in that nostalgic vein, and we often swap remembered recipes.

Maybe it's because we're all in our 40s and 50s. It makes me feel connected to the past which was for me a worry-free and stable childhood - it definitely has an emotional element to it, and I do think women by and large set the 'tone' of a family lifestyle in a practical sense (ably supported by their menfolk in many cases).

I've done a little of that myself and I think there is something about returning to happier and carefree times. Sadly, as we get older we don't just get the responsiblities but we also see less to enjoy(but we try)and if we did think too far ahead our mortality looming ahead and I have said so many times the thought of being in a home really freaks me out but being alone if I do live to a great age(and having health issues)I see that as being a likely scenario.

There are going to be many more us sadly...many more single people today and of course living longer we see more of our friends/family leaving us...sorry that is so sad...

beedeedee wrote: »

Nor me..........

Yes, join the club...

Lets hope all the tips and support we share mean we can stay independent as long as possible.

Popperwell

OrkneyStar wrote: »

We are Christians and so I like celebrating the real meaning of Christmas, try to avoid the tinsel-brations and consumerism though

I can understand that...

Popperwell

tryingtobethrifty wrote: »

What a great thread to start :T I was thinking last night that I might have to stop reading the Old Style thread, which I love doing. Not because I don't enjoy it but because I was getting more and more down. Or nervous (I'm not explaining it well, sorry) - I think reading the SHTF thread although VERY interesting seeing what people do to prepare was putting WAY to many scary ideas into my head which I can't seem to cope with. Like conspiracy theories, all to scary :rotfl:

I do like the preparing for winter thread, we do get snowed in for long periods of time and our electric goes off a good bit over winter. Our village hall is applying for a grant to get a generator so we can all go there when it happens.

Anyway, thanks again and I hope you don't mind if I swap camp over here for a while.

I help at a charity shop in our church, people donate so much stuff and their time, a lot of the regulars have started helping out too, people buy things including big pieces of furniture for folks who don't have anything. I know times are hard but when I get a bit down it helps to think how nice and kind people are.

Sorry to ramble on. I think all your tips so far are great. Mine is to decide on a number of items of clothes and stick to it. Having more clothes for us meant more washing and some stuff didn't even get worn before the kids had outgrown them.

I agree with your post but especially the highlighted ones and someone on here I think metioned that you don't need to change your clothes every day. There is no reason why that should mean anyone is dirty, if you are not sweating or doing work that gets you dirty(especially if you are at home)I doubt this does any harm and makes much sense.

I so agree with much of Miss Haversham's post too...and a lot of the food advice is right, as I said I'll eat cereal anytime and the same is true of porridge...
I save my clothes up until I have a decent load to wash, rather than waste the energy and put the washer on too often...be different I suppose if I had a family...

chirpychick

I had to tell myself at 3am to stop reading the afore mentioned threads because I was keeping myself awake with worry. Ridiculous really.
Right now we are doing all we can to keep our heads above water, as so many other people are and reading this thread for a bit of a reality check is helpful.

I do want to stock up on a few things for Winter i.e some ready made formula for the baby and a few tins of soup etc but this isn't stockpiling like many mention as it will get used regardless. But currently we have 2 tins of mushy peas, a tin of baked beans and a tin of sweetcorn in our cupboard LOL we live hand to mouth so it wont hurt to add a tin/carton each fortnight just so we have a few bits in if it is too cold to go out with the new baby or if I don't feel well enough and the formula incase of power cut etc.

If i start thinking about "end of the world" scenarios I get really upset because I just think we can only just afford to survive as it is let alone finding money to fill our cupboards or buying a gas stove etc.

I do think preparing for winter is important, it saved us a lot of money last year (£84 in gas and electricity - less than we spent on prep). This year we barely have anything to do in that area which is a god send with money being so tight.

I also do plan way in advance for Christmas, Im not good saving monthly as it gets spent on other things, so I buy things when I see them but I have a monthly budget and don't go over that.

I really hope we can help to keep each other focussed on the here and now and a bit more positive.

Popperwell

I think you are right, we can only live in the here and now the future is full of too many unknowns...

fuddle

I will still read and take part of the other threads because they are crammed full with advice and support. It's because of those threads that I am able to cope with the life we're leading. I'd never knock them or the people who post on them, heck I am one of them

For instance, just this morning I learned to open a tin of beans keep the beans to one side and reuse the sauce for some cooked haricot beans.. double baked beans It's that kind of useful stuff that is lurking amongst the negative/sad/upsetting/worrying stuff. Unfortunately, some days the bad things effect me more than what it should but I have learned to skip through it and try to keep myself in my own four walls.

bearcub

OrkneyStar wrote: »

We are Christians and so I like celebrating the real meaning of Christmas, try to avoid the tinsel-brations and consumerism though

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!

Popperwell

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.

That's the thing that matters...family and if you have family you are so fortunate...

taplady

chirpychick wrote: »

If i start thinking about "end of the world" scenarios I get really upset because I just think we can only just afford to survive as it is let alone finding money to fill our cupboards or buying a gas stove etc.


I really hope we can help to keep each other focussed on the here and now and a bit more positive.

This is exactly why we needed this thread - to stop scaring people and to offer practical advice.:T
Not everyone can afford huge storecupboards full of supplies so tips for all the little things we can do to be prepared for harder times are going to be invaluable.:)

Some excellent tips from Miss Havisham:T

I'm guilty of freezing odds and ends then finding them months later all covered in freezerburn:o so my plan is to use up any leftovers quickly from now on.:)