2022 Frugal Living Challenge

MazzieD

MazzieD said:

My car insurance isn't due yet but had an email this morning from existing insurer offering free RAC roadside and recovery breakdown IF I renew my policy with them and only available to existing customers, not available from comparison websites etc.   In previous years I have just had a standard 'your renewal premium is £___ 'with no freebies.   Not sure if this is co-incidence or maybe a concerted effort to retain customers.  I will still do the price comparisons as usual but this did take me by surprise.

Well, this wasn't a tempting offer. My current car breakdown offers home start as well and is much cheaper than even adding an upgrade to this RAC offer!.  I was not impressed with the renewal price, just saved £143 by shopping around so changed Insurer.

Tried the MSE Price Compare+ Car Insurance tool as a starting point. Quite good and easy to fill in.

Jellytotts

With the cost of dye being what it is, if you're not sure on the fabric composition then I'd not risk it.   

We have a mix of colours here, a couple of patchwork throws. Made for the end of the bed are over each footstool for when cats with sharp claws need a lap.  The sofas both have an old kingsized duvet on that I cut in half and purposely bought a duvet cover to match the colours of the room and made that into a cover for each half of the duvet, the pillow cases got turned into a couple of cushion covers.  The duvets are great for cold afternoons/evenings, get used if I need to sleep on the sofa (if DH is having a bad night) and get used as floor padding when grandchildren are around.  There's also a pile of crochet blankets for the bed, office chair, arm chair, kitchen chairs.   

My parents stayed recently and my Mum remarked how cosy it was to sit against the duvet on the back of the sofa with a quilted throw over her lap.  She won't have blankets at home as she feels they look untidy but she's now realised her cold leather sofa could do with a bit of warming up.

gill5blue

hi all,
thanks for the suggestions.
I bought both books from my local book shop in the end.
looking forward to reading them.
gill5blue

Soontobeoap

I have been dying all of my fading clothes. A  jumper that i love and some leggings had bleach marks on them. One of DH's t shirts had marks that i couldnt remove and we both had trousers that had seen better days. They are all jet black now and look like new. I also died a black nylon bra and a cream jumper which has gone a nice shade of grey. So many different types of fabric all successfully transformed. 3 items that were destined for the clothing bank will see another winter! 

Soontobeoap

Determined not to buy new clothes this winter. Have just bought fluff defuzzer (lint remover) and refills to spruce a few bits up.

Have applied for a tesco credit card to replace current one. I always pay it all off every month and am looking forward to more club card points. Also filling in the Tesco surveys to gain 25 points a month. Its only £3.00 a year but it all helps. 

mumof3.12kindebt

Soontobeoap said:

I have been dying all of my fading clothes. A  jumper that i love and some leggings had bleach marks on them. One of DH's t shirts had marks that i couldnt remove and we both had trousers that had seen better days. They are all jet black now and look like new. I also died a black nylon bra and a cream jumper which has gone a nice shade of grey. So many different types of fabric all successfully transformed. 3 items that were destined for the clothing bank will see another winter! 

Does the dye cover the bleach stains please 

YoungBlueEyes

I once dyed some black work trousers cos I got bleach splashes on them. It didn't work. The stains went a queer dark rusty orange colour. I darkened them a bit with a sharpie pen but it took lots of go's and did wash out.

Soontobeoap

@mumof3.12kindebt i have used dylon washing machine dye before on bleach marks and it hasnt worked. This time i just threw a coupke of extra biits in thinking there is no loss if it doesnt work and it worked on cotton jeans and an acrylic jumper. I dont know if they have changed the ingredients but it worked for me. 😊

YoungBlueEyes

Maybe the material you're dyeing makes a difference. My work trousers are that soft jersey stretchy stuff.  Would a natural material take the dye better? 

Siebrie

Yes, a natural material will take the dye better. You can use this to create funky effects, where the natural fabric will take the dye, but the synthetic stitching will remain its original colour, providing a nice contrast.