2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugaldom · 4 February 2021 at 4:41PM

BarbCh said:

@Frugaldom.... really! a ban on collecting rainwater.... what next a tax on breathing fresh air!
For heavens sake.... here in UK we have hosepipe bans when it hasn't rained for a while and resoviors are low.... so we are encouraged to collect rainwater to use on gardens etc.

Yes, I'm in UK, based in SW Scotland. Frugaldom is totally off grid so the only water is off the barn and shelter roofs, the only electricity is off solar charged batteries. I live in the hope that none of these (in my mind) ludicrous laws cross the Atlantic.

5yearsfree · 4 February 2021 at 4:46PM

Afternoon everybody
Off grid in the town that would be fantastic. and wishing your pup a speedy recover Fiwen the wait must be heartbreaking.
Today has been a wash out for me after a dry day yesterday was hoping to get out into the garden as do a bit of clear up, I garden for wildlife mostly the birds so leave the herbaceous until now to clear and have a potted family fruit tree that I need to get into the ground, Its replacing an old blackthorn that "not right" its suffering with something but nothing obvious.
I actually grow a fair bit of edibles that have been for aesthetics Rhubarb for the leaf structure in my mini jungle, Cardoons and fennel for height and a few fruiting shrub/trees for the birds even strawberry's as ground cover. so they may have to share this year, I was planning a guttering set up as a fernary, so may throw some cut and come salad in instead , but I don't think i'll do more than that. I'd make more money selling propagated cuttings at the odd car boot if they start up again this year.

BarbCh · 4 February 2021 at 4:50PM

Frugaldom said:

BarbCh said:

@Frugaldom.... really! a ban on collecting rainwater.... what next a tax on breathing fresh air!
For heavens sake.... here in UK we have hosepipe bans when it hasn't rained for a while and resoviors are low.... so we are encouraged to collect rainwater to use on gardens etc.

Yes, I'm in UK, based in SW Scotland. Frugaldom is totally off grid so the only water is off the barn and shelter roofs, the only electricity is off solar charged batteries. I live in the hope that none of these (in my mind) ludicrous laws cross the Atlantic.

I didnt know that this ban existed in Scotland.... it's still UK. I'm glad Cheshire doesn't have this ban!

Frugaldom · 4 February 2021 at 4:53PM

BarbCh said:

Frugaldom said:

BarbCh said:

@Frugaldom.... really! a ban on collecting rainwater.... what next a tax on breathing fresh air!
For heavens sake.... here in UK we have hosepipe bans when it hasn't rained for a while and resoviors are low.... so we are encouraged to collect rainwater to use on gardens etc.

Yes, I'm in UK, based in SW Scotland. Frugaldom is totally off grid so the only water is off the barn and shelter roofs, the only electricity is off solar charged batteries. I live in the hope that none of these (in my mind) ludicrous laws cross the Atlantic.

I didnt know that this ban existed in Scotland.... it's still UK. I'm glad Cheshire doesn't have this ban!

I must have confused you somewhere along the line. I am in Scotland, UK. The rainwater collection laws are in certain states of USA.

BarbCh · 4 February 2021 at 5:07PM

@Frugaldom... that cleared that up! It doesn't take much to confuse me LOL!
Yeah its ridiculous of such states... not much logic applied there!
I don't have a water butt but it's on my wish list.... sounds mad but I feel that I need one....I'm a scorpio water sign ! Maybe that's why LOL!
seriously though.... I do collect water from my clothes dryer condenser. I use it to swill down the areas where my dog pops! And it smells nice from the fabric conditioner.
But when I don't use the dryer (better weather conditions) I use dish water.
I always try to water plants etc with 'pre used water'
And I even have a cooking method where by I use less water.
I use a steam mop instead of filling a mop bucket .... and I also use a hand held steamer for other cleaning.... so using a fraction of the water that I did in the past.

Frugaldom · 4 February 2021 at 5:12PM

@BarbCh we've definitely no shortage of water here at the minute, everything overflowing in this deluge that's showing no signs of subsiding.

CRANKY40 · 4 February 2021 at 5:57PM

Just a quick one re mumsie's lentil post. I decant anything that will take a while to use such as lentils into glass jars. Best by dates become irrelevant that way

Mummy2cheekymonkeys · 4 February 2021 at 6:33PM

First spend of the month for me today. I was at work and needed milk. I also managed to get a whole chicken for £1.50 and 2ltrs of double cream for 50p both with tomorrows date on. As its a lot of cream to get through I made some double cream scones which are ridiculously rich and delicious!! Tomorrow I plan to roast the chicken and then will use some of the meat with the double cream to make a chicken and pesto pasta which will also use up the jar of pesto open in the fridge. I'm still figuring out what to use the rest of the cream for though. I'm also going to use the chicken carcass to make a batch of chicken soup. Does anyone have any recipe suggestions for using double cream that are freezable?