It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Lindlou

YorksLass said:

Our energy company have said they will apply the £66 as a credit to our account each month so we'll still be paying the full DD.  I'll be keeping an eye on our balance and if need be will ask for the DD to be reduced once winter is over.

I'm currently compiling a list for my next online grocery order and have lost count of the number of times I've crossed out or added things to it.  I need quite a lot of store cupboard items but am trying to keep it down to a reasonable level and stay within budget.

One thing I am adding though is a universal steamer that will fit on my existing pans so I don't have to use all the rings on the hob.  I've had one of those folding ones for years but it's a bit battered and now one of its little legs has come off, so it's time for a new one.  I'll use some of my loyalty points to pay for it so no cash outlay.  

I bought a steamer a few years ago. One of the best things I've ever bought. Potatoes,  leeks, carrots, peas etc all on one ring. 

Auntycaz

I have decided to fix my gas and electricity for another year from October. It will cost me £10 per month more than the October price cap for the first 3 months but after that I think it will work out cheaper for the rest of the year and there are no exit fees for leaving or I can changing to SVT if the prices come down.  They've also said they will deduct the £66 each month from my direct debit.Let's hope we have a mild winter.

CKhalvashi

ladyholly said:

Electric cuts are more likely than gas but the pressure could be reduced. I seem to remember thats what happened during the 3 day week. I also read an article in the Financial Times saying that the UK may turn of the supply to Belgium and the Netherlands but this would be short sighted as in the depth of winter the supply comes the other way and we could be left short

We need to work with the rest of Europe to share the supply around. This is completely politics aside, it's just sensible, good will and good manners.

Spoke to friends in Poland last night, the communal heating found in many apartments is going to be delayed for as long as possible this year, but normally it's 1 October. This may or may not be a good thing as I always find Polish etc apartments to be too hot in winter.

mumtoomany

@sammy_kaye18, I don't think freezing cucumbers would be a good idea, much to high a water content. They will just come our as mush. If you've too many why not try pickling some. Mumtoomany.xx

linz

Great start to the day today. My uncle bought me some winter pansies yesterday but I don't have any spare pots to put them in. I'd been to the tip yesterday and noticed there was one there by one of the skips. I went back this morning with some garden waste and it was still there so I asked them nicely if I could have it and they said yes it's a nice heavy square one. I cheekily asked if I could take a couple of shoe racks aswell as I've been after one for a while and they let me have those too. So happy as ceramic pots aren't cheap!

Funny thing happened when I was there yesterday. I was scrapping an old chest of drawers that I didn't think anyone would want. 2 women in flourescent vests noticed and asked if they could take them to do up. I asked if they were off that Money for Nothing tv program and they laughed and said no. I told my uncle and he said a lot of councils are doing similar, i.e i think they may have been from a charity or something. Has anyone else noticed this at their local tip? I think it's a good idea. 

ladyholly

As far as I know our tip does not let you take stuff although the men there ate brilliant so they may do unofficially. It is ridiculous that stuff goes to land fill when someone might be able to use it. The number of chidrens bikes is heartbreaking when I am sure with a little bit of work they could be pased on.

slm6002

One of our local sites has a shop.  I guess they rescue anything they think is suitable /they can do up / repair and then sell it on.  We are also not allowed to take things home once they have been left.  You did well to take home the bits you needed.

Katiehound

No chance at our tip- it is illegal to even exchange items with someone- ie another member of the public- on the land never mind asking for something that has already been dumped!
 Totally & utterly ridiculous.

Long ago when the tip really was that- at a landfil site anything that was reasonable was saved and you could buy it. I still have a couple of £1 plastic dog beds. ah, but that was a privately run operation- the man must have leased land from the council.

in_my_wellies

At my local tip I was offloading some glass. A woman was standing there crying, really distraught, I asked if she was OK. She said she was emptying her mothers house. She had the shade and chimney to an oil lamp and couldn't decide which section to put the orange glass in. I think is was the last straw for her, she was completely overwhelmed. I said I had been selling my mothers stuff on ebay (although my mum is still here) and that if she liked I would take them and sell them and donate the money to the local hospice. 
I sold them for £35 and donated the money. I wished I could have told her but in the moment we didn't exchange details. Perhaps she will read this. It was about 6 years ago 

Floss

My local tip has a space at one end where useful items can be left. They are cleaned up & passed onto local charities for distribution / sale. In my previous home town the tip had a shop which sold anything from glassware to wardrobes.