Whats in your fridge? Turning mine off

maman

jamars wrote: »

Over the past few months we have been trying to find ways of reducing unnecessary leakage and seepage from our income - and one of the things I have noticed is that we have been powering a fridge for no apparent reason.

If you choose to live without a fridge then that's your choice. I'd find it difficult, particularly in the summer months. Years ago, when everyone had daily deliveries and/or shopped almost daily for fresh foods it might have been possible. In those days foods were kept in cold rooms/on ice at the shops and we did the best we could at home with larders and meat safes and bowls of cold water. I don't have the time or inclination to go back to that.


I'm finding it hard to decide whether you're just trying to push self sufficiency and frugality to its boundaries or you're a bit of a troll.


Only last week you were keen on the idea of recycling newspaper in the bathroom. What's next?

[Deleted User]

There is a way of keeping food fresh without a fridge it's a ZEER POT which is two terracotta pots, one slightly smaller than the other fitted into the other one with a layer of sand between and underneath it and the outside one. The sand is kept damp, needs to be re dampened a couple of times a day and a wet clean cloth is used to cover the contents of the smaller inside pot. It's stationed in a breezy place in the shade and keeps the contents cool by evaporation. No electricity needed.

jamars

peachyprice wrote: »

I stand corrected

In which case OP, what kind of a diet do you have that you don't need a fridge at all? I'm intrigued now!

We are very much meat and two veg type of people, veggies tend not to need refrigeration and our rabbits are killed,hung and butchered before wither being eaten fresh, dried or frozen.

What else might we want to put in the fridge?

• Booze? Well, that comes straight from a cask and would not fit in a fridge at any rate.
• Cheese? The flavour of cheese deteriorates when it has been subjected to low temperatures.
• Condiments? We make our own and preserve them in portion sized jars.
• Milk? Neither of us drink it.
• Eggs? they have an unfridged shelf life of upto 4 weeks

maman wrote: »

I'm finding it hard to decide whether you're just trying to push self sufficiency and frugality to its boundaries or you're a bit of a troll.


Only last week you were keen on the idea of recycling newspaper in the bathroom. What's next?

This is a money saving forum, isn't it? Why then would some one discussing saving money on a money saving forum be a troll? Hmm. Toilet paper from news paper - very old style but saves the pennies and good gosh some one who does not need a fridge because they eat fresh food - now that really is pushing the boundaries!

[Deleted User]

It's a brave and interesting experiment JAMJARS and I'll follow your journey with interest. I can remember not having a fridge/hoover/washing machine at home when I was a child and I also remember my mother working very hard to do the things I have machinery to do today. We didn't have hot water or a bathroom, just the tin bath in the yard and water boiled up in the big copper in the corner of the kitchen. We had a gas stove but also a coal fired range with a water tank and an oven. Life wasn't as easy back then but it wasn't as full of deprivations as many younger folks think it was it was just different. Most other folks were in exactly the same kind of homes so it was the norm!

jamars

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

It's a brave and interesting experiment JAMJARS and I'll follow your journey with interest. I can remember not having a fridge/hoover/washing machine at home when I was a child and I also remember my mother working very hard to do the things I have machinery to do today. We didn't have hot water or a bathroom, just the tin bath in the yard and water boiled up in the big copper in the corner of the kitchen. We had a gas stove but also a coal fired range with a water tank and an oven. Life wasn't as easy back then but it wasn't as full of deprivations as many younger folks think it was it was just different. Most other folks were in exactly the same kind of homes so it was the norm!

I semi remember that style of living from staying with my nan, and I think that is partly what we are trying to recreate, a slower yet more meaningful lifestyle. It is a real eye opener when you have to make a real choices, especially when it comes to putting food on the table.

Could not live without the washing machine though, but, I do use a mangle most days.

There is so much material waste, we are / were guilty of committing so much to landfills, but, today the dustmen came and I had not put out our bags, not due to forgetfulness, but as over the past fortnight we had not produced any waste!

I guess we have been analysing purchases and what we use, and asking ourselves "Do we need it?" and usually the answer is no - we just want things.

[Deleted User]

No central heating, no hot water system, washes meant boiling up a kettle and standing at the kitchen sink as did washing hair etc. I remember well only having one room heated with a coal fire, waking up in the winter with 'ice ferns' on the inside of the windows which were only single glazed and 'dragon breath' as the bedrooms were just so cold. It didn't do us any harm, in fact I think we were healthier in those days. We didn't have a car, Dad had a push bike and cycled 15 miles each way to and from his work place on shifts too. Not a nostalgic remembering as the down side was being hungry sometimes and chilblains in the winter and in the heat of the summer rancid butter, oily cheese and floaters from the milk in our tea as we didn't have any other cooling mechanism than a bucket full of cold water. I enjoy modern conveniences, but that's really all they are, if there was a glitch and the power supply wasn't reliable or available I know there are old fashioned ways of living a very good life indeed!!!

maman

maman wrote: »

If you choose to live without a fridge then that's your choice. I'd find it difficult, particularly in the summer months. Years ago, when everyone had daily deliveries and/or shopped almost daily for fresh foods it might have been possible. I don't have the time or inclination to go back to that.


I'm finding it hard to decide whether you're just trying to push self sufficiency and frugality to its boundaries or you're a bit of a troll.

jamars wrote: »

This is a money saving forum, isn't it? Why then would some one discussing saving money on a money saving forum be a troll? Hmm. Toilet paper from news paper - very old style but saves the pennies and good gosh some one who does not need a fridge because they eat fresh food - now that really is pushing the boundaries!

For me I'm happy to take my pick from the best (IMO) of old and new style. Although you do seem to pull your weight, I wouldn't want to go back to the old ways where women spent almost all their waking hours keeping house. I'm all for money saving but time saving is important to me too. I'd rather work and earn money to pay for my meat rather than spend my time butchering a rabbit. That's my choice.


I said you sound a bit like a troll because IMO your views are a bit extreme but if you choose to live that way then that's your choice.

jamars

maman wrote: »

I'd rather work and earn money to pay for my meat rather than spend my time butchering a rabbit. That's my choice.

It only takes twenty mins to kill, skin and butcher a rabbit,it takes a lot less time and is far more productive then watching an episode of Emmerdale Farm. I work two jobs, usually doing over 45 hours a week, plus studying for my doctorate yet can find the time to fit things in, it's just a case of prioritizing and enjoying a more laid back lifestyle.

maman wrote: »

I said you sound a bit like a troll because IMO your views are a bit extreme but if you choose to live that way then that's your choice.

Thank you, I do enjoy breaking the mould.

january_23

Couldn't live without our fridge no. If it ever dies it will be replaced as soon as possible.

Contents right now:

Lettuce
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Peppers
Celery
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Courgettes
Carrots
Onions red and white
Garlic
Kale
Spinach
Spring greens
Okra
Sugarsnap peas
Potatoes
Strawberries
Red grapes
Pears
Soya spread
Eggs
Cheese
Milk
Butter
Cheese
Salami
Salad cream
Peri peri sauce
Water
Apple juice
Wine

jamars

Oh Jan_23 that really is a fridge load.