NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

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No spend day today. I feel like getting back into bed as it feels so bitter outside.

I was sent a free delivery pass from Mr A so I will use that before the next pay day which is in 11 days time. I'm going to live off the food we have now in the storecupboard and freezer and just get the bare essentials like loo roll and pet food and some fresh fruit and veg.

I can't remember if it was this thread where people were talking about washing pillows but I did mine yesterday as I was grossed out thinking about them. One of my dogs like to lie half on my pillow at night so they probably do need doing more often. I might write a reminder on my calendar.

GreyQueen wrote: »

:eek: I've just finished watching the second Eat Well for Less on iplayer and I can honestly say I have never seen anyone make such a fist of prepping carrots.

I was taken aback by the portion sizes they gave to even the smallest children

LOL. I agree with both points. I watch the show for entertainment really.:p

edwink

Karmacat wrote: »

I like that, Vulpix.

Erm, did I miss the elderflower recipe ... I've collected the detergent and fabric conditioner recipes from edwink, and the washing powder recipe from busymumofthreeplusdog ... I've got to get to grips with this!

Hi Karmacat

Don't panic you have not missed the Elderflower recipe as I have not posted it yet!!!

So here goes shipmates!!!

ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL

30 ELDERFLOWER HEADS (PICK WHEN SUNNY)
6 PINTS OF BOILING WATER
2LB OF SUGAR
1 PKT OF CITRIC ACID (CAN BUY AT A CHEMIST)
2 UNWAXED ORANGES (CAN USE WAXED IF YOU WANT TO)
3 UNWAXED LEMONS (AGAIN WAXED IF YOU WANT TO)
1 LARGE BUCKET

GENTLY RINSE THE ELDERFLOWER HEADS TO REMOVE ANY DIRT OR LITTLE CREATURES - PUT TO ONE SIDE TO DRAIN
POUR THE BOILING WATER OVER THE SUGAR IN THE BUCKET
STIR WELL AND LEAVE TO COOL
ADD THE CITRIC ACID, SLICED ORANGES AND LEMONS
ADD THE ELDERFLOWER HEADS
PUT IN A COOL PLACE FOR 24 HOURS AND COVER BUCKET
STIR OCCASSIONALLY
STRAIN THROUGH A MUSLIN CLOTH OR CLEAN PILLOW CASE
THE MIXTURE IS THEN READY TO BOTTLE AND FREEZE

DILUTE 1 PART CORDIAL AND 4 PARTS WATER - ENJOY!!!

Edwink x

edwink

vulpix wrote: »

Edwink,The flowers froze open and just poor the boiling water straight on them,made no difference in taste to doing them fresh as far as I could taste.
Vx

Hi Vulpix

That's good to know. I had no idea you could freeze the heads. That's brilliant. As the Elderflowers are not out for long I have missed them a couple of times because I did not get time to make the cordial. If I am short of time I will now pick them and store them in the freezer for a later date.

Thank you for that!!! You are a star!! :T

Just out of interest!! I have just posted my recipe. How does my recipe compare to yours?? Ingredients and preparation time??

Edwink x

savingqueen

Well another NSD as DH and I are still full of the lurgies. We usually treat ourselves to a broadsheet on a Sat but went without last week and will do the same today. Saved £5 over a fortnight. I could do without several other things but DH although fairly frugal and not materialistic at all, still likes more than his fair share of treats, especially of the food and beverage variety and things I can't make myself. I am working on him though, softly softly approach.


I am also going to attempt to give up the water filters to save money. I do notice the difference in taste with straight from the tap and the kids and I drink a lot of water. I think once our tastebuds have adapted, it will be fine.


I have some white knickers and have started to bung them in with other colours. They have taken on pale pastel hues rather than grey which is a good result. Also wear odd socks, most are black just with different patterns and doing same with DH. DS8 has days of the week socks and he now wears them on the wrong days often. Let me tell you what big moves these are, I used to be a fusspot about these things. Such a liberation :rotfl:
I love finding the tiniest things to save precious resources .


re: fabric conditioner, I use a glug of white vinegar instead, so easy. Shop bought fcs make me sneeze anyway.

Karmacat

Thank you Edwink

I have a question though, a question for all, really. How necessary is the sugar? I don't actually *like* sugary drinks very much - I love sugary *food*, but my immune system is the wet-paper-bag variety, and starting to eat this much processed sugar extra to what I still eat would be untenable for me. I try to eat as little as I can manage.

Thinking ... in each pint, there's a third of a pound of sugar, call it 5 ounces. And you dilute it again, okay, thats not bad at all. But I'd still really like to find a way of using elderflowers to incorporate into food - flapjacks, loaf cakes, jam, whatever. I realise its a bit off the wall, sorry

rosiepup2000

GreyQueen wrote: »

Rosiepup, I don't own white clothes, not even undies

Very wise! Will make memo to self for future ref.


Everything apart from the bra went in the wash together this morning and I really don't know why I have carried on doing separate loads all these years. I mostly do cool washes anyway! What was I thinking?! Just been conditioned to think I need to wash colours separately.


So I mentally congratulated myself on the savings I was making. Then I went back upstairs and found that one of the cats had been sick, generously so, all over the bedcover, which is too big to fit in with anything else and will have to be washed separately (really wish I could do a rolling eyes smiley here!)


I'm doing well on the eating out of the cupboards and freezer front. I'm really pleased with how low my food spends have been since I came aboard. I buy quite a few basics/value things anyway, (perhaps I am strange; I enjoy the simplicity of them and the lack of choice) but I've been trying out new ones. Yesterday I bought some 20p value pasta to try - it's made in Italy from durum wheat, how different can it be from the ones that cost twice as much or more? Going to use up a couple of half empty packets of soya mince from the freezer and do Bolognese.

edwink

savingqueen wrote: »

I am also going to attempt to give up the water filters to save money. I do notice the difference in taste with straight from the tap and the kids and I drink a lot of water. I think once our tastebuds have adapted, it will be fine.

Hi Savingqueen

I heard some years ago, can't remember if I read it somewhere that if you drink tap water it is better to let it stand for a while before drinking it as this actually makes it taste nicer. Something to do with if you let it stand it releases something in tap water!! Sorry can't think what the "something" is now. If I remember later I will update on it. Or maybe somebody on here knows what I am talking about because I surely don't. :rotfl:

Edwink x

Karmacat

The chlorine? Like letting it stand before you put it into a fishpond

phizzimum

Thank you Edwink and BusyMum for the detergent recipes. In the course of decluttering I've found a box of Borax and two of bicarb that I'd forgotten I had so your posts were perfectly timed

edwink

Karmacat wrote: »

The chlorine? Like letting it stand before you put it into a fishpond

Hi Karmacat

Yes it is chlorine!! Thank you!! I knew someone would come up with the answer before the end of the day!!What a bright bunch of shipmates we all are.

What a team!!!!!!

Edwink x