2023 Frugal Living Challenge

joedenise

I used to pick rhubarb well into August and early September but generally left a few stalks on it.  Haven't got any at the moment but hoping to get a piece from my neighbour soon, when she splits it.

earthgirl2

I didn't know this about rhubarb and pick all the stems, every year for ten years, and the rhubarb is amazing, so prolific, so I don't think it matters. I dump some manure on it and cover with a few buckets. To get nice early growth in March. 

earthgirl2

mandy47 said:

Just received an email informing me that my energy DD is going up £18 a month. I'm almost £300 in credit. We can't possibly cut back any more. I read all the hints, tips and ideas on this forum and we try many of them. 
Talking to friends I have discovered that we spend less on grocery,  clothes, transport and going out than all of them. We even grow loads of our own fruit and veg.
We barely used the heating last year relieing on our wood burners.
Haven't used the tumble dryer in over a year. 
The shower is one of our main energy problems. I've cut back from 7 days a week to 4. DH 7 down to 5. DD still on 7 but she's reduced the time she's in there. 
Looks like trying to pick up a bit more overtime at work. 

I am also struggling to cut back on showers, 2 teenagers like long showers but I'm trying to get them to cut back. I am combining my love of wild water swimming and being frugal and showering in waterfalls which I just love! I'm not suggesting this really it's more like a hobby for me! You have to use natural products so I sometimes use coffee grinds.

2Scratters

@earthgirl & @mandy47 out of curiosity I would measure the electric meter whilst DH and teenagers are in the shower. They too need to learn the value of the water and cost to run a long shower (this should be a little bit of luxury) If any shower is over the bath perhaps put the plug in and they can see the actual amount of water they have used/wasted. The visual is a wake up to reality sometimes of the waste. (more so for those on a water meter) Its not about pecking their heads but educating them that that money could be spent else where. Using a timer really does have its benefits I hope neither of you have a massive pile of not dirty towels in the wash basket 

2 Scratters xx

Pollie

If you do decide to put the plug in so they have a visual sign (a brilliant idea from 2 Scratters), use the water to wipe around the bathroom and/or flush the toilet.

Frugaldom

@willow_loulou In my experience, slabs get laid on scraped flat ground over a layer of sand and cement. It usually depends on how many slabs, for what use and where they are being laid. Membrane is usually just a weed suppressant so I wouldn't expect that to be used.

willow_loulou

Frugaldom said:

@willow_loulou In my experience, slabs get laid on scraped flat ground over a layer of sand and cement. It usually depends on how many slabs, for what use and where they are being laid. Membrane is usually just a weed suppressant so I wouldn't expect that to be used.

Thank you! 

earthgirl2

I can't put the plug in the shower, but I do use a timer. I've started showing them the cost of different shower times as well which I think had the best effect. 

mandy47

earthgirl2 said:

I can't put the plug in the shower, but I do use a timer. I've started showing them the cost of different shower times as well which I think had the best effect. 

Same here. I watch the smart meter clicking over obsessively. DH is pretty good tbh. Not so much DD. She has very long thick hair that takes ages to rinse. 
She'll probably get a pixie cut when she has to pay her own bills. 
We can't have a water meter due to a shared supply pipe with one neighbour but I am careful with water for environmental reasons.

Siebrie

@mandy47 "She has very long thick hair that takes ages to rinse." How often does she wash it? A girl I knew had thick long hair down to her knees, and she washed just her scalp once a week; it was a 5-minute job.

I have curly hair until just over my shoulders and wash every 5th day, once with shampoo and conditioner, the other time just conditioner.

[there was text about bullying behaviour at dd2's former primary school here; it was meant for the decluttering thread and I have moved it there]