2022 Frugal Living Challenge

kayannie

I'm stocking up on granulated sugar as it's still 62p a bag in S@vers. 

Primrose

kayannie said:

I'm stocking up on granulated sugar as it's still 62p a bag in S@vers. 

Good idea for anybody who's a January Seville orange marmalade maker!

willow_loulou

I had to flush my loo by bucket for ages, my tip it’s to get an oval mop bucket with spout. The handles are stronger and the oval shape allows gravity to help pour the water as it tips to the spout. 

I glued pipe lagging (split open - inside glued to bucket) at the bottom of the bucket so I could lean it on the toilet to tip without it slipping. I also glued lagging to the handle for grip. 

I went to Aldi last night, then got home and looked at my store of bits and decided I needed better organisation. So I’ve ordered a new shelving unit that should arrive next Friday. No shopping for me this week as I’ll only have to move what I buy! 

gill5blue

2Scratters said:

I am continuing to use the water butt for reducing the water used, especially the loo. You really do not realise how much water is used to just flush it. I estimate for now have saved about 500 litres. We'll see how far I can continue this through the winter. I would love to halve the half yearly water bill by about £80. We are on a water meter and there is only the 2 of us at home now. It's also more exercise for me walking up and down the garden
The CH is not on yet and the fire is only lit in the evening DH didn't light it last night till turned 8pm, just before I got home from work.

Have a good week Peeps
2 Scratters xx

hi,
I am currently using a lot less water, at the moment reducing water down the toilet and showering after my swimming session.
I have save loads.
I never run a tap and let it go go down the sink, I catch it in a jug for a second use later, ie flush the toilet, rinse out food cans, water house plants and put it down for my dogs.
I am calling it being mindful as my family groan when I say I am being green, lol.
gill5 blue

Primrose

As I've previously said we,d all be more economical with water if we had to walk five miles across the desert sand with a heavy pot of water on our heads.    

The invention of the tap was probably the worst invention ever when it comes to water preservation ! 

willow_loulou

It’s great being frugal with water, but bare in mind reducing it too much could cause smell and blockages. We found this over the summer particularly, I spoke to a water company rep at an exhibition I went to. He said particularly older buildings struggle with this as they were designed to have larger high gravity cisterns flushing and baths full of water draining. He recommended still being mindful but to ensure enough is being flushed and run down to keep pipes clear. 

gill5blue

cw18 said:

Glittering_M said:

My main concern is whether it would have the power to clear things sufficiently if you get what I mean. We used grey water in the shower and seemed to use loads of water to flush the toilet.

If I collect water from elsewhere to use for flushing the toilet, I turn off the water inlet to the cistern (mine have these in case of an overflow situation - I can isolate a toilet without having to turn off the water to the whole house), flush the toilet using what's in the cistern, and then refill the cistern with the grey water (whether I've collected it while the shower warms up, or brought it in from a water butt).    That means it flushes exactly the same as if the cistern had refilled from the mains.

Hi, cw18
ive just checked, and I also can turn off the water to the cistern via an isolator valve.
thank you for the tip. Now to place a screw driver to live in the bathroom.
gill5blue

Primrose

willow_loulou said:

It’s great being frugal with water, but bare in mind reducing it too much could cause smell and blockages. We found this over the summer particularly, I spoke to a water company rep at an exhibition I went to. He said particularly older buildings struggle with this as they were designed to have larger high gravity cisterns flushing and baths full of water draining. He recommended still being mindful but to ensure enough is being flushed and run down to keep pipes clear. 

Yes I think sewer blockages are much more likely too if large quantities of toilet paper are allowed to build up in the toilet bowl between flushes.   You do need a certain volume of water to push everything through the sewers, otherwise the system clogs up..

willow_loulou

Started my Christmas makes plan today, anyone else make gifts? 

QueenJess

willow_loulou said:

Started my Christmas makes plan today, anyone else make gifts? 

I don’t have lots of people to cater for presents, but I do make shortbread for my parents (my dad loves it). I have a really nice M&S tin I put it in that I bought cheaply second hand. Each year he gives it back when he’s done and I reuse it for the next year.

I also regularly make little bags of chocolates for the kids (and adults!). I have a few ice cube trays in different shapes that I melt chocolate into and then once they are set in the fridge, I bag them up. Everyone loves them as I have acquired shapes they love over the years (eg cars) and they are cheaper than buying something. I often layer different chocolates for some variety such as white chocolate and dark chocolate. I have made chocolate truffles in the past, but just don’t have time to do that right now.

I love the idea of making chutney/flavoured spirits as gifts, but the only person I know that would like them is me!