Getting through the austerity in an Old Style, practical way.

FrugalFranny

Radiator reflectors cost £s when you can make your own for much less.

1.Use the cardboard from old cereal boxes, carefully taped together with my old favorite fix all 'gaffer tape' to the right size for the radiator in question (this adds extra insulation to the wall)

2.Attach to the wall in the desired position with sticky tape and adjust until you are happy with it.
Then fully stick to wall behind the radiator with what ever you see fit (if you want it 'forever' use a good fast drying glue, bare in mind if you plan on selling up at any point you should put them about 3-5 inches below the top of the radiator so it can't be seen at a glance...some people don't like the look and it makes it more 'tidy' anyway). Use at least 3 inch of glue (length not depth lol) at the top and bottom for a firm hold, make sure the cardboard is as flat to the wall as possible.

3.Add sheets of tinfoil from top to bottom (shiny side out) all along until cardboard is covered, stretch CAREFULLY (don't want to rip it) until foil is uniformly flat, wrap a clean duster around a long stick and CAREFULLY smooth over the tinfoil to finish.

A little effort goes a long way and saves a lot of pennies

cutestkids

Could you use the instant mash in things like potato cakes, bubble and squeak or even in fish cakes so that it is disguised a bit.

jackel

Hi All- Loving this useful thread thanks for all the tips. The only one that comes to mind at the moment is use a teapot. We get four mugs out of one teabag ! Brew as usual, put pot on top of a piece of polystyrine (used pizza package) put a "cosy" on and leave about ten mins.
Jac xx

Patchwork_Quilt

My tip would be to get a crochet hook and learn how to crochet on UTube. I've made a granny-square blanket for each of us from random scraps of wool bought in part-balls from our local 0xfam. It kept me quiet for a while and the blankets are useful on chilly nights when you don't want to turn up the heating. I'm also crocheting a scarf for a friend for a Christmas present.

My second tip is to use the freezer. If there are veg hanging around in the fridge that are not going to get used before they turn wrinkly, peel and chop them as if for a casserole and put them in the freezer. Next time you're making a soup or casserole, you can just tip them in.

monnagran

Fuddle: I use mashed potato pastry when we do a 'forties night'. I usually make jam tarts with it but it goes down a treat. It's a bit softer than the usual pastry but well worth doing. I use the 'We'll Eat Again' recipe. Good luck.

fuddle

Lyn gave me We'll Eat Again. I shall have a look. Cutest I could make fishcakes with it too huh?

I must admit I didn't try it out the other night. By the time 4.30 came around I just couldn't be bothered. Bad OS lady

Butterfly_Brain

fuddle wrote: »

A bit dubious as whether to try this but I'm going to try potato pastry - wartime rationing for the pastry of my mince and onion pie for tonight.

The reason being is I have instant mash that isn't going down too well but I want to try to use it up in a way that they're not used to.

Potato Pastry (for savoury dishes)

8 oz mashed potatoes.
4 oz flour.
1 oz cooking fat.
½ teaspoonful salt.

Method-Mix the flour with the salt. Rub in the fat and work into the potato. Mix to a very dry dough with a small quantity of cold water. Knead with the fingers and roll out.

http://www.recipespastandpresent.org.uk/wartime/?p=313

Fingers crossed it works and if it does do you think it would be a money saver with only 1oz of fat? I'm thinking possible not due to having to use 8oz of potatoes.

You can make potato scones from this mix, shape into a round and score into quarters or eighths put in the oven until brown and serve with fried egg and beans

FrugalFranny

Loving this thread, I'd totally forgotten about potato pastry yum!
A little tip I got from super scr*mpers was to stuff your freezer with newspaper if it has gaps anywhere to reduce the electricity it uses. An added benefit of which is things seem to freeze faster when 'packed in' with paper and it also keeps the ice from building up around the edge (I really 'pack' my freezer now) I'll let you know it it does something awful but so far the motor runs a lot less so it may even be increasing its life span
I usually fill the gaps in my fridge with empty plastic freezer tubs, old squash bottles and cleaned out butter tubs with there lids on (which I've start marking so the OH doesn't open six empty tubs looking for the full one). Usually just putting the butter tubs and so on in upside down will be enough for anyone venturing in to the fridge to be able to see what's what. I start from the back and work forwards as spaces appear.

tori.k

fuddle wrote: »

Aw, stained glass window biscuits. I must do! :j

Saving my yoghurt pots from now on to begin growing seedlings come March. Although I have learned that my new garden is in the shade for a lot of the day :cool: I'm going to struggle growing anything I think

your be surprised how much veg will cope with shade, leafy veg does the best broccoli, carrots and colly's will all do fine, as well as lettuce and cress and don't forget mushrooms.

fuddle

Would corgettes grow in a partial/mostly shaded area? My BIL said it's really easy to grow and you're rewarded with a glut. I have them ear marked for courgette cake

What do you think?