Obvious tips

madmary_2

Steve059 wrote: »

Me again. On AC power, 70% and charging.

I've posted this elsewhere before, but it's such a simple, vital tip that it's worth repeating.

Shop from a list.

You don't forget to buy things you need. You also don't buy things you don't need.

Of course, if you find a bargain, then snap it up.

All it needs now is for someone to come up with a fool-proof system for remembering to put things on the list and then remembering to take it with you.

My foolproof way of doing my shopping list is to use an app on my iphone. I use a simple notepad. As my phone is usually in my pocket or nearby, I regularly just update the list when I've run out of something or something occurs to me. The list remains fairly similar each week so I just cut and past and add and subtract. Against the list I put last week's price or the price I last bought the goods. I find that this will make me think if say the price has gone up whether I really want to buy it now. If the price has gone down eg special offer then I may be able to get something else or just save a bit.

I also transfer my shopping expenditure to a spreadsheet and have a column for each week. I start the next weeks shopping list on the spreadsheet so I can refer back to the prices or add items to the spreadsheet if they are new. I've been doing this for over two months now and I never forget my shopping list and I know if I'm keeping to budget.

Mary

meames_2

rae18 wrote: »

I LOVE this!!!!! I haven't even got a dog, but this has to be the most bizarre tip ever!!!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Can't wait for the day when I hear someone moaning about getting the fox poo smell out of their dog!!!!!! Fab, fab, fab!!!

Once I walked the dog and he rolled in manure and fox poo and we had a good 45 minute walk home, with everyone avoiding us! it took 3 baths to get rid of the smell. This would have been useful.

This_Year

Steve059 wrote: »

Shop from a list.

You don't forget to buy things you need. You also don't buy things you don't need.

Of course, if you find a bargain, then snap it up.

All it needs now is for someone to come up with a fool-proof system for remembering to put things on the list and then remembering to take it with you.

Or not to put the list down in the shop *somewhere* while picking up something and then not picking it up again resulting in getting home without the one thing that you really really needed.

janb5

This might be far too simple but I make a lot of cakes and often use a swiis roll type tin. Use the paper butter liner to line the tin which is the perfect size for it and saves using other liners etc. I find it comes off easily after baking too. HTH

CupOfChai

I would do that, except I've found you have to shake ketchup anyway or else you get that horrible watery separated bit dribbling out first, so that sort of spoils the keeping them on their ends.

Edit to add this was in reply to a post about storing ketchup bottles on their ends which has disappeared. It made sense at the time!

CAT££

To keep washing up cloths clean and germ free, every night place a small squirt of washing up liquid and a small squirt of bleach in your washing up bowl/sink, add enough water to cover the cloth and leave to soak overnight. I saw this tip on 'How Clean is your House' a few years ago and have done it ever since.

Willowpop

Quite often petit filous is on offer and they get to their use by date before my daughter has eaten them all. I stick a lolly stick into the ones that are about to go off and freeze them. Healthy, yummy lollies!

Leaporlepor

Maisie wrote: »

Worcester sauce will clean the copper on copper bottomed saucepans.

Someone told me tomato ketchup works too but haven't tried that.

Must try that, mine are skanky :embarasse

Leaporlepor

I love homemade bread but as I live alone it isn't all used up in time and there are only so many bread crumb dishes that I can make. Mentioned it to mother and she said to reduce the amount of dough I make. Looked at the recipe and realises that as I use 3 tsp of yeast I could cut it down by a 3rd. Always fresh bread. I did feel a bit thick that I hadn't thought about it before.

I find squeezy bottles of brown sauce/honey etc easier to manage than the jars but when they are empty I just fill them up from the bottles (which are often cheaper) using a funnel.

gayleygoo

I've read many of these tips, but may have missed some so sorry if this is repeated...! Don't keep paying for scallions (spring onions), or letting them wilt in the fridge. Pop them in a jar of water on the windowsill and let them grow, they will keep for at least a month, usually much longer, and you can snip away at them.

Hard cheese in the fridge? Grate it and freeze for adding to pizza etc.