Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

Makingabobor2

Well having read the latest posts on here, I am off to search for bamboo needles  and also going to learn to crochet. I used to br able to do it when I was about 14, but can't remember how. 

PennysIntoPounds

I am sooooo jealous of all you people on PA!

The yarn colours look lovely.

I do now have an image of you and Mr F sitting at Christmas dinner, each with a pair of damp pants on your head, in a mse saving on paper hats scenario

kayannie

I have just finished knitting a dolman sleeve cardi in a super chunky random yarn. The body & sleeves were knitted in one piece so I needed some extra long needles. I thought I'd save money by looking for some in the charity shops. I found a pair for 50p & was well pleased until I was half way along a long row & one of the needles snapped in half! Some bargain, I ended up buying new ones after all!

I completely agree with you about the pump action containers of body creams etc. After trying unsuccessfully to cut open one of these with my scissors, I got my OH to use one of his sharp tools on it. The cream in the bottom of the container lasted me almost a month! 
KA

Cheery_Daff

I was pleasantly surprised when I used a bread knife to hack through the pump tube of my 'finished' HRT gel a few weeks ago 😂😂 Inside was a sturdy plastic bag - which was completely empty! Obviously it wouldn't make sense to waste medication, so this is a good solution - but I suppose it's too expensive to do for hand cream etc. I'm glad we are all merrily hacking tubes to retrieve the final bits!

EssexHebridean

Cheery - a bread knife?!!!  

That yarn is gorgeous! I thought it looed lovely when I looked it up when you mentioned the colour before - almost tempted to consider using it for another crocheted scarf now as I think that would work really nicely. I am also looking for patterns for a jumper or a cardigan at my skill level too - I absolutely love the idea of being able to make something practical for myself that is a bit more adventurous than a scarf, but also currently feel slightly daunted by the idea. 

angela110660

Toothpaste tubes are always a good one to cut off the end too. Recent one still had 5 days worth of paste despite being unable to squeeze anymore out of it.

Cheery_Daff

EssexHebridean said:

Cheery - a bread knife?!!!  

Yes 😂😂 Serrated like a hacksaw but not buried at the back of the garage 😂😂 Worked pretty well but obviously I wouldn't recommend and you'd need to be VERY careful (those tubs in particular ular are very sturdy!)

rtandon27

Glad to know I'm not the only one who cuts the ends off tubes! 

OH said I was a miser the other day when I refused to fish out a new tube of toothpaste from the store cupboard until after we'd chopped off the end of the old one and fished out the remaining paste!  I retorted with a quip about less toothpaste purchases means more wine for you 🤣🤣🤣  He begrudgingly complied!

EssexHebridean

I'm clearly a complete scrooge already with toothpaste as my squeezing is thorough enough that the only bit left by the time I'm done is the bit in the very tip of the "spout" - and half the time I'll dig some bristles in and extract that too! I use the brand that sounds like a combination of a body part and a blunt instrument, and contains baking soda and their tubes are VERY flexible! 

foxgloves

@joedenise - I have arthritis in my basal thumb joints (well, in my fingers too, tbh, but it flares up more in my thumbs) but am lucky in that I only need to have a little rest from knitting if it is particularly bad. I think lots of sock knitting affects it more. I once knitted 4 pairs of size 11 socks for a friend of my sister (knitting for pay, not out of the goodness of my heart, I should add) & I did find that my arthritis complained about that, but I was trying to get them done to a tight timescale.
@Deni_debt-free_dreamer - Yes, I do know Akenfield - I have the book, though haven't seen the film.
@PennysIntoPounds - Well exactly! That's why there will be no laundry hanging around after tomorrow.....though we would save on paper hats!
@kayannie - Yes, it's infuriating. I bought a body cream which used to come in a tube & had been relaunched in a pump-top bottle. Mr F sawed it open for me & there was SO much left. Being a cynic where big business is concerned, I'm sure it's to get us re-buying sooner than is necessary. 
@EssexHebridean - Just find a pattern that doesn't look too challenging & have a go. The thing with yarn crafts is that unless you have chopped it all into tiny lengths for rug-making, you can't really waste it. If you find the pattern is too tricky & want to make something else, then just frog it & re-wind for your next project. It can be your 2024 creative challenge!
@angela110660 - I don't usually snip open toothpaste tubes, though I think I may start doing so. If my hands are feeling stiff, I can't squeeze out the last bit so donate the dregs to Mr F.....who then goes on to get another week out of it for free.

Oh & re comments about bamboo knitting needles. I like them & have them in many sizes. They do feel lighter & are warmer too. I'm glad I did have a metal pair of 4mms though, as my cardi yarn definitely slides along those better than on the wooden ones. 
Well, after all that yakking, I'd better get today's post on!
F x