The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

Possession

Debbie you sound like your head is in a very healthy place. I have the utmost admiration for you.
Well it's got a lot colder here and the poor outside tap that we'd completely forgotten about has frozen. Who'd have thought we'd get to 12th Jan before needing to insulate it? Might need to insulate the giant bunnies too.

candlelight_2013

You are in inspiration Pink, you may not think so, but you are.

Good luck for tomorrow.

Much love
Candlelight x

mardatha

Quite a few people in here are an inspiration. Bravery takes many forms, and one of them is just getting up every morning and facing the day. xxx

PRINCESSX87

Fuddle, I find ours is always appearing empty too. I think its just because we buy less to go in there. But I do often wonder whether I’m doing something wrong “shopping” wise.

Ours is mainly, Milk, Butter, Cheese, Ham, Salad & open jars of pickles, Sauces & jam ect.

Another one here trying to save on the electric. As stated before, We have immersion heater. But do not use the electric heating as its far too expense for such little heat. I found the biggest saving for us is using the SC. In one week we saved £4. Which might not seem a lot, But it made all the difference for us.

I’m looking to invest in one of those electric reader things. Not sure of the name, But I have read up many swear by them. It would be good for us to know what is the biggest energy eater in the house.

Meat is hiked up here too. I try and make meals that we last 2 days to reduce our shopping bills. I know people here like lentils, But neither OH or I like them, Instead I use breadcrumbs. As neither of us eat the cob ends off a loaf, I blitz them and use to bulk out mince meals. So I can make 3 full meals out of a 500g of mince meat.

I understand its not for everyone, But its less waste and more taste as OH says.

[Deleted User]

Morning Toughies, grey and cold here today with a brisk breeze blowing too. He Who Knows is feeling poorly tummied today, he decided he wanted Fish and Chips for lunch yesterday despite me having a healthy chickpea dahl on the menu and I think it was just too heavy for him, it's been a while since we had anything greasy so he's feeling off poor old fella. I'm going to make a corned beef shepherds pie and some steamed veg for lunch and keep it mild tasting so maybe he'll fancy some of it.

We're another pair seeking to try and reduce our power usage, we don't run the central heating any longer as we're used to having just the one room warm with the stove and pretty good at turning things off and lights off when not using them. I was thinking that I hate the word 'consumer' and I particularly hate being part of the 'consumer society' it's precisely what is wrong with this world, that we all consider ourselves to be consumers so I've decided not to play anymore. As much as I can I'm going to use up and wear what I have now and I'm going to wait until things actually are worn out before I consider getting a new one, from my tooth brush to the car. I'm as guilty as anyone else of seeing things in sales and thinking oh that would be useful and then finding it at the back of the cupboard or in the wardrobe 6 months later never having been used so I'm going to stop looking and also unless I really need a new one of anything stop looking in charity shops for useful items. I'm going to see if I can simplify our lives and provide as much of our needs as I can on the lowest amount of income possible. It won't be easy but I'm up for a go!!! Lyn xxx.

Pooky

Morning all

Bright and breezy here with a lovely thick frost that's only just going. This is my kind of weather. I can see the clouds building out to sea so when the tide changes it will no doubt pull in but I'm enjoying the sunshine for now.

Deb - glad you enjoyed the course, what are you aiming to make?

I did something disgusting but satisfying this morning (steady!) and took my window squeegee to my rug.....(I've seen someone post on another thread about it) and oh my! That was truly disgusting and amazing. I vaccuum daily, 5 cats and a parrot make a lot of fluff and feathery dust and this rug was new in September.....the amount the squeegee got out was astounding. I urge any of you to have a go if you have pets. I'm glad I've got hard floors throughout the house as I can't begin to imagine how gross an entire carpet would be.

Anyway, enough excitement on the housework front. We had a sneaky takeaway last night as I had a letter from TC yesterday lunch time with some readjusted figures and a small back payment had hit the bank account! So last nights pasta bake is lunch today

Another cuppa required then off to crack on with a blanket I'm making (will be the first item made for my business)

Mar - I had a spin drier moons ago and couldn't fit much in it, it was a costly !!!!!! to run but needs must at the time. I'm sure your washing machine, just on the spin cycle would be far more efficient, cost effective in running and no additional outlay for now.

[Deleted User]

OK the no waste life has started. I had some mashed potato in a container in the fridge and topped my shepherds pie with it and there was some, but not a lot left over so, rather than just piling more on top of the pie I've added flour and seasoning and made 4 potato cakes, you make a dough and then roll it out 1/4 inch thick, and cooked them on the griddle so that will be a meal with some cheese or ham that cost nothing as I had the ingredients already. They are nice reheated too, Lyn xxx.

PRINCESSX87

Nice start Lyn, I was always under the impression you was like superwomen in the mosey saving world. All the advice you give always seems like second nature for you. Xxx

Nutty, Do you happen to know when the aldi vouchers are starting again chick? x

fuddle

I think you already live a no waste lifestyle Lyn, I think you're just maybe trying to think out the box with regard to what we need as opposed to habits or what we've picked up as the norm. For instance there's nothing wrong with using all the mashed tatty on your meal but by not playing the consumer game and going back to what we really need/frugality you instinctly know that it's enough and to make better use of your resource.

For some reason I think we are incredibly gluttonous as a nation. I know it's something I have to work on. We all love a freebie, I guess we should all be revelling in free potato cakes more often

Sheila I think the tea bags/coffee has to go through a chemical process to get rid of the caffeine which might probably incur costs but that's a hefty increase in price isn't it.

[Deleted User]

I have to report that the corned beef shepherds pie was scrumptious and to be very OS I added in a small tin of haricot beans (plain ones not in sauce) and a couple of beef oxo cubes to the meat and whaddya know? there's enough left for another meal for us both tomorrow!!! the good news is we both feel comfortably full, not overstuffed and it was a smaller portion than I'd normally serve, who says old OSers can't learn new tricks? Lyn xxx.