Being old-stylers when others aren't

miniondancer

Spendless wrote: »

What about a notice pinned to your fridge saying something along the lines of 'Please do NOT throw ANYTHING out of my fridge away without asking me first. Many Thanks'. Have it there all the time, as you don't know when she'll turn up.

We did used to throw items out of my Grandmother's fridge, but that's because we had taken her shopping, knew how long she had had packets of meat open for and not eaten and would check her eggs as she was elderly. Other stuff we left alone. I do know how frustrating it can be from the other scale. I have teenagers who think things go off at midnight.

Notice is great idea as i have a few other small signs up re other things like dont open the bathroom window and let out the kitten out through it (she will be having her op soon)

i know with my mum she had lost her appetite but she still bought the same things every single week even tho the weeks before stuff was still in the fridge - it was finally a h&s hazard as we wouldnt let us go to the fridge in her house as kitchen was her domain and when she got admitted to hospital before she died (wasnt related) the fridge/freezer hadnt been working in quite a while but she had been stuffing things into it weekly anyhow

My OH once threw out a tub of salt not because salt is bad for you but because it was really old looking and was probably "out of date" - i had to explain about salt mines - i had only used about 1cm of the tub of lo salt but id already had it about 10 years at that stage - he never repeated that without checking 1st

miniondancer

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That notice on the fridge could be something that's held in reserve - for 2nd "line of defence" if telling her doesnt work.

It won't be easy to do so - but needs must.

I know I have friends that, in those circumstances, would smile nervously whilst "saying their piece" and be more "It would be so good if you wouldnt do so-and-so" and phrase it so "softly" that anyone wishing to ignore the request might still feel free to do as they please.

So - "straight face" and "I've noticed that you sometimes throw out food of MINE that is still perfectly usable. I cannot afford this and it needs to stop. Please consult me, in advance, in future if you wish to throw something out" and all to be said in a "firm" tone of voice and no placatory smiles whilst doing so. If she starts making any comments other than "Yes..of course" type lines in response then repeat the message and add "It's MY food and I am the one paying for it - and I cannot afford for other people to make MY decision as to whether to throw it out or no".

Maybe not those exact words - but very much along those lines. Definitely definitely no placatory smiles whilst saying your piece - I squirm every time I watch a friend throw in a nervous smile whilst telling people how to do things for them - and you just know they will be ignored....

big THANK YOU for this moneyistooshorttomention

VfM4meplse

ouraggie wrote: »

- my sister, whom I sent to buy some washing up liquid from the nearby Co-op for me. We were in there again the next day and it was on BOGOF. I said " oh, look. I should have sent you today. It's on offer now." She replied casually "oh, yeah, that was on yesterday as well. We only needed one, though."

That is just plain stupid. Being your own sister you could have spelled this out clearly, the last thing you want is any repeated demonstration of deliberately wanton money wasting.

Washing up liquid I could live with. If it was laundry detergent I would have gone nuts.

VfM4meplse

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That notice on the fridge could be something that's held in reserve - for 2nd "line of defence" if telling her doesnt work.

It won't be easy to do so - but needs must.

I know I have friends that, in those circumstances, would smile nervously whilst "saying their piece" and be more "It would be so good if you wouldnt do so-and-so" and phrase it so "softly" that anyone wishing to ignore the request might still feel free to do as they please.

So - "straight face" and "I've noticed that you sometimes throw out food of MINE that is still perfectly usable. I cannot afford this and it needs to stop. Please consult me, in advance, in future if you wish to throw something out" and all to be said in a "firm" tone of voice and no placatory smiles whilst doing so. If she starts making any comments other than "Yes..of course" type lines in response then repeat the message and add "It's MY food and I am the one paying for it - and I cannot afford for other people to make MY decision as to whether to throw it out or no".

Maybe not those exact words - but very much along those lines. Definitely definitely no placatory smiles whilst saying your piece - I squirm every time I watch a friend throw in a nervous smile whilst telling people how to do things for them - and you just know they will be ignored....

Sonetimes having children helps.

A conversation with them in front of the offending adult along the lines of "mummy works very hard to earn money that bought that xxxx, so if you don't want to eat it, don't throw it away as mummy can have it".

upoiupou

candygirl wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't use kitchen roll?! :rotfl:e

No, I can't make sense of using kitchen roll. People ask me for it when they're at my house and look nonplussed when I give them a cloth. I find that quite depressing. Especially since it's straight to landfill.

upoiupou

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

In my current house I frequently spot a daddy longlegs literally "hanging around" - so that's two pieces of kitchen roll (one to grasp it from each side) and then down the loo it goes.

I have a reusable "spider shoe box". Just a regular shoe box with a separate bottom and lid. t's easy to coax a spider in, put the lid on, take it outside away from the house and release it back to the wild.

lessonlearned

Lindlou wrote: »

I know people smirk when I get out my packed lunch each day and have had comments made about me being careful (not overly unkindly but still pointedly) but I casually remind them I have had 2 holidays already this year and am looking forward to my next break in a few weeks time....... If they choose to spend their money in Greggs each day that's up to them.

Yes but I bet your home made lunches are also far nicer and a lot healthier than any anything purchased from Greggs.

This is me........ I hate waste but I do like a bit of luxury........:D holidays, nice clothes - always in the sales or chazzers, a warm house, decent food on the table etc

I am your classic champagne tastes and a lemonade budget but I have learnt how to manage my money. I can stretch the pennies and make one penny do the work of two.

I save so I can spend on the things that give me pleasure rather than frittering it away on nothing.

I have learned that You can live like a millionaire without spending like one. :rotfl:

Even my once spendthrift DS2 has learned from my example and has mended his ways, with startling results.

He used to get teased at work by his colleagues for taking in packed lunches. I watched this morning as he prepared his lunch for work. Delicious healthy food (and plenty of it because he has a physically demanding job) which is far nicer and far cheaper than the shop bought sandwiches, crisps and fizzy drinks his colleagues take in.

They never have any money, have to use public transport and pay rent. He is buying a little house, runs a little car and keeps a very fussy cat ........ His colleagues don't tease him now, in fact they are starting to ask him for money advice. :rotfl:

Ps I learnt from my aunt. She was once asked how she could possibly afford her cruises and foreign holidays and was always dressed in Windsmoor or Jaegar. She replied "because I manage my money, I go to the theatre or cinema occasionally and thats it. I don't smoke, I don't drink in pubs, I don't waste money on tat. I cook from scratch and I shop wisely".

LameWolf

Lindlou wrote: »

I know people smirk when I get out my packed lunch each day and have had comments made about me being careful (not overly unkindly but still pointedly) but I casually remind them I have had 2 holidays already this year and am looking forward to my next break in a few weeks time....... If they choose to spend their money in Greggs each day that's up to them.

My DH is retired now, bless him, but when he was working and got teased about his packed lunch, he'd reply something along the lines of "But my wife went to the bother of making the bread and cake - and it's much nicer than the cafe offerings".:A

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I'd have said "That's fine, you go ahead, I'll meet you on the platform in 3 minutes time"

Exactly what I'd have said, too! :T I'd probably also have added something about 90p being 18 shillings in old money.

candygirl wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't use kitchen roll?! :rotfl:e

I do keep kitchen roll available, but it's only ever used for really yukky, mucky or horrible things where you wouldn't want to keep the cloth afterwards. Generally one sheet per week is used, when my DH does the weekly check-over of the car, as he uses a piece to wipe the oil dipstick so that he can check the oil level. We don't have a garage, only a carport, so there's nowhere to store "oily rags" for car maintenance.

When I first came to live here (DH had the bungalow already) he was a nightmare, but I pretty well have him trained now - though I notice our consumption of loo roll has gone up considerably since he retired :cool: (and yes, I do squash the rolls).

elona

About thirty years ago DH was working with a certain colleague who was boasting that the three of them had spent about £200 for food over three days (just for them) :eek: from M and S !!!

Dh did not say anything but could not wait to tell me that night as it seemed such a waste. DH had got me a cheap food processor for Christmas and I wanted to try it out the next day so DH made sure he left on time . Colleague then remarked "Oh is Elona making something special? in a condescending tone. When DH replied absentmindedly "salmon souffle and pear and white wine sorbet, I think. The look on the guy's face was a picture.

DH also had an entire pub fascinated when he said I was cooking him pea and ham soup that night. Remarks were "My Mum made that!" and "ooh I have not had that for years!"

It is not how much you spend it is what you do with what you have. DH used to ask "Are we economising?" and when I asked "Why (trying to look innocent)" The reply was that we had been eating better

lessonlearned

Elona ......same here. My Late husband used to love it when I went on an "economy drive" using up the freezer contents and cupboards.

He reckoned we "ate like kings" at such times - probably because I took even more care to make those left overs and dribs and drabs tasty and appetising. :rotfl:

As you say it's not about how much money you spend, its how you make it work that counts. I keep a good range of herbs and spices and usually have some form of alcohol I can add to dishes to give them a bit more "oomph". Sometimes it just takes a bit more effort is all.

As for kitchen roll.......guilty as charged, M'lud. :rotfl: but only the basics range not the fancy ones with pretty patterns on.

I do keep old rags for mucky DIY jobs though.