Put away your purse & become debt-averse

Baileys_Babe

I'm another who uses soda crystals, I try to have it so we have one open and at least one bag in stock as the shop I do most of my shopping doesn't stock them.

Cheery_Daff

Very impressed with your present sorting! So far all I've done is buy a few stamps, and make a list containing useful things like 'make list of who to buy presents for' 🙄😂

We've usually got soda crystals in, but I've been ignoring the bath plughole draining VERY slowly so I should really get on the case with that.

milann

I’d forgotten all about soda crystals, my mum used them for all sorts. Think I need to buy some 👍

EssexHebridean

Also a user of soda crystals. For plugholes though, lots of bicarb followed by a good glug or several of white vinegar is my preferred remedy. If it's a really grim one (bath, I'm looking at you) then it gets hot vinegar as the chaser - you want to see THAT combination fizz!  Also in the world of bicarb I love it on an old toothbrush for cleaning grout - and for a bit of extra ooomph a paste of bicarb and lemon juice rubbed on the grout and left for a short while before wiping/rinsing makes an amazing difference. The soda crystals get decanted into a plastic tub to avoid them going hard in the under-sink cupboard, and I often chuck a scoopful through the WM with a wash load. 

I'm inspired by your organisation on the present front to make a start on my list. In my defence, I can't do it until this sort of time anyway as we have only just passed Mum's birthday and there is no mention of Christmas before that, in my family! We also do "useful" presents - our traditional stipulation is that it can be a want OR a need - the idea is that by buying something quite ordinary for the person, it frees up their own money to use for more interesting stuff. 

Debsnewbudget

After I got married, my mum and dad always used to buy me a pack of toilet rolls (cash and carry type size) for Christmas- and put them under my tree. I think that might be classed as a need 😂😂

foxgloves

Agree bags of soda crystals are an inexpensive multi-purpose item to have in stock.
Lol at the toilet rolls, @Debsnewbudget! My Dad did once drive over 80 miles to bring me a car boot full of rescued toilet rolls (long story) but they weren't a Christmas present!
@EH - I think my favourite gifts are those which are both useful & lovely. And re vinegar volcanoes...I've tried it with cold vinegar but not hot. My single experiment with boiling vinegar resulted in a truly impressive Mt Etna, the molten foam from which made its way a rather long way across the kitchen floor. If I remember rightly, it was the same week that my soviet block bargain vacuum cleaner exploded, but the two incidents were not connected.
F

foxgloves

Hello Wednesday Readers,
Today has gone wrong & I've not been feeling good. 
Mr F took me to our favourite big garden centre to cheer me up & I chose some tulip bulbs, all of which were reduced to 10 bulbs for 99p. 
Finished knitting first mitten.
That's all.
F x

Four_Seasons

Feel better soon Foxgloves, send you a virtual hug x

Makingabobor2

Oh no, sorry to hear you don't feel too good. Feel better soon. 
The tulip bulbs sound like a great deal though

CRANKY40

Nothing sensible to say, I just thought I'd send you a virtual hug on the way through.