Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

foxgloves

The cheap solar ornaments are rather misleading, aren't they, @Makingabobor2, I agree. Some of them are quite pretty (I have been gifted these in the past) but they are often plastic & don't seem to last very long at all. I've only had the garden-type, but it seems that once rain has penetrated the interior, they soon cease working & without the attractive lights, many of them then become a rather boring plastic shape on a black plastic stick. They initially feel quite sustainable because of the solar element but they also contribute a fair amount of unrecyclable plastics to landfill.
F

badmemory

If we are going to talk cafetierres then - own 4 in 2 different sizes & one of which is microwavable, spare filters several, spare glasses 2.  Matching glasses in holders with cork mats 4.  So that is 2 of the companies I used to work for, importers of normal & makers of microwavable.  I have to say that some friends consider it weird that I keep these for sentimental reasons.  But how many people have a sales manager who comes round with proper coffee several times a day & also a boss who says before your Christmas meal don't worry I've ordered your wine for you.  I still don't know how he knew that red acts like acid & I was the only one with white.

themadvix

Re cables, I’m sure you all know but please do put them (and the solar panels on those cheap decorations) in the waste small electricals bin at the dump - they contain metals and rare earth elements that can be recycled and, as the name suggests, are rare. 😊

Makingabobor2

themadvix said:

Re cables, I’m sure you all know but please do put them (and the solar panels on those cheap decorations) in the waste small electricals bin at the dump - they contain metals and rare earth elements that can be recycled and, as the name suggests, are rare. 😊

Yes, or drop at C*r*ys for recycling

foxgloves

Yes, there are valuable metals to be reclaimed from a lot of tech waste, I know. 

Hello Sunday Savers,
Postponed our planned outing today as too drizzly when we got up, although it did improve as the day progressed. Budget-friendly stuff:
*No-Spend day.
*Divvied up yesterday's roast chicken leftovers. Enough for cold chicken & jackets tonight, stir-fry tomorrow, some frozen for man-stew & 2 filled rolls. Carcass simmering in slow cooker so will also have a few containers of stock.
*Finished my lace panel sock. Just need to get it on my sock blocker & cast on its pair.
*The garden birds tucked into a pot of kitchen scraps to make their seed stretch a bit further.
No other jobs today. Have been reading & we did the Everyman crossword. Am thinking about what I'd like to achieve over the coming week.
F x

Makingabobor2

foxgloves said:

Yes, there are valuable metals to be reclaimed from a lot of tech waste, I know. 

Hello Sunday Savers,
Postponed our planned outing today as too drizzly when we got up, although it did improve as the day progressed. Budget-friendly stuff:
*No-Spend day.
*Divvied up yesterday's roast chicken leftovers. Enough for cold chicken & jackets tonight, stir-fry tomorrow, some frozen for man-stew & 2 filled rolls. Carcass simmering in slow cooker so will also have a few containers of stock.
*Finished my lace panel sock. Just need to get it on my sock blocker & cast on its pair.
*The garden birds tucked into a pot of kitchen scraps to make their seed stretch a bit further.
No other jobs today. Have been reading & we did the Everyman crossword. Am thinking about what I'd like to achieve over the coming week.
F x

I do love a chicken, it stretches so far. We currently have one cooking in the slow cooker. As I didn't want to do roasties today, or make a cake or anything,  I thought it was cheaper to slow cook it, and it just falls off the bone.  We will have it with mash and veggies tonight, then at least 2 more dinners that I haven't decided on yet, plus I will chop some up and mix with diced cucumber, peppers and mayo for a nice sandwich spread for DH for a few days lunches. 
 
Think you should be lucky in the garden this coming week, temperatures are on the rise at last. 

foxgloves

@Makingabobor2 - I like making a leftover chicken-based sandwich filler too. My favourite is chopped chicken with sweetcorn in mayonnaise & I have some mixed up in a little pot ready for today's lunch.
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2Scratters

I've just watched an item on YT The story of stuff. About 20 mins long. Interesting and thought provoking and we have been brain washed. I think the Americans more so.
I have gone backwards with my plastic hoard shall I say. I have been to the car boots and picked up genuine Tupperware. Discarded the single use plastic that I have used more than once which is making more space in my 1960's shallow cupboards. As this product doesn't really go in the microwave - most of it is pre microwaves I am using glass bowls more. 
I too save the rubber bands from the postie  wire twists were never my thing, DM used them for all sorts. 
Well the UU from stock last year generated £115 and I spent £90 on a big shop. With £25 to carry over for this year I'll see where that gets me. I have 2 1/2 bottles of conditioner. These are those items which seem to take forever  to use up and I can see how we would get fed up with using one. However I am determined I expect what I have left without being tight or wasteful will last me 2 years. 
Did I mention I got 2 Nancy Birtwhistle books for Christmas and I have had my nose in 1 and am on a mission to start with the easiest of making washing powder. Also need to locate the evasive green bleach too. Does anyone know of supermarkets that sell it please?

2 Scratters xx

Makingabobor2

@2Scratters, I get my green bleach from a local zero waste refill shop, or there is a lady at local market does refills and she sells it.  Never seen it in a supermarket, but I imagine there are places online you could order it from,. maybe even the Big River site..  
Nancy's books are brilliant and I have been making her cream cleanser and it is amazing for cleaning sinks and bath etc.  Got a big bottle of the glycerine really cheap from Big River and it will last for ages. Also tried her recipe for ginger/lemon shots, and we are having those every morning as our vitamin C to keep our immune system healthy.  I even tried making brown sugar from granulated as she shows, and it was perfect....can't believe I never knew that!

foxgloves

@2Scratters - Yes, like @Makingabobor2 , I also buy 'green bleach' from our local eco-refill shop. I take an empty ice-cream tub in & fill that, as it has a strong tight-fitting lid to keep it dry. I think it is sodium percarbonate. I find it needs a kettle of boiling water to activate it to its full potential but it's useful stuff. 
F