Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Patchwork_Quilt

Primrose wrote: »

Patchwork Quilt - I stir this warm liquid fat into a bowl ful of dry oats and use it to feed the birds. They absolutely love it in this bitterly cold weather as they use up an awful lot of energy flying around searching for food.

Thank you for this and all the other brilliant ideas. Feeding the birds seems such a good suggestion. They're singing their little hearts out in our garden but I've no idea what they can be eating

rosemarym_2

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

Found myself doing something weird on Sunday. I saved the fat from roasting our chicken pieces (reduced), in an old cup. It's sitting in the fridge now, waiting for me to do something with it.

The trouble is, I'm not sure whether I want to eat all those hard animal fats. Equally, I don't want to waste them. Now what?

It's nice for making dumplings in chicken soup and I think you can use it for frying potatoes, although I haven't tried it. I am sure I have read that chicken fat is not saturated and is actually quite a healthy fat.

gentlepurr

Couple of things i do:

Water filter jug. I must admit im the worlds worst for remembering to change the filter, even though i was given five of them with the jug , but i always keep the jug topped up, then when you are filling the kettle, the water is already at room temperature instead of freezing cold out of the tap. I suppose you could use an empty milk container in the same way.

I keep a large jug by the sink and run the water off into it when im running the tap for hot water. Water the plants with the water in the jug (yes, i know its not perfect for them, but they're thriving ) or use it to swill cups, plates etc that arnt really dirty.

Decant washing powder from the giant boxes into an old 4 pint milk container. Its easier to handle than a huge box, takes up less space (i keep the box in the garage) and its easier to decant into the washing machine door.

Buy milk when its reduced at Mr T's, and freeze. It takes acouple of days to thaw out in the fridge, so i take it out of the freezer in plenty of time, helps to keep the firdge cold while its defrosting.

Im sure there must be loads of other things too, but its all i can think of at this time of night!

gp xx

freedom2b

consultant31 wrote: »

Gosh, I hope nobody puts fat down the drain - it'll end up costing a fortune when everything gets bunged up :eek:

No, hope nobody does...Serious blockages!! In fact over Xmas there was a warning in the paper to tell you not to as everyone would be pouring turkey/goose fat down after Xmas dinner. Drain people were flat out.:eek:

Snowy_Owl

Must tell my dad that about using the fat that collects in the foreman grill tray - he likes to watch the birds on his tray. Sneaky ways for me - use to buy shower gel and keep it in my toiletry bag for when going to the gym. Stopped that now and use the stuff they provide in the showers.

tim_n

freedom2b wrote: »

What a fantastic idea..Love feeding the birds but can`t afford too

Food is less of the problem for bird - water however is almost free. Birds desperately need it this time of year because many ponds/waterbaths etc are frozen over.

More birds die of dehyrdation than lack of food. Stick a plate out with water and regularly refill it.

freedom2b

tim_n wrote: »

Food is less of the problem for bird - water however is almost free. Birds desperately need it this time of year because many ponds/waterbaths etc are frozen over.

More birds die of dehyrdation than lack of food. Stick a plate out with water and regularly refill it.

Yes, of course and make sure your fat does not contain salt!!

Artemidoros

Hello:
I have read in the forums about reusing tea bags. How do you store them? I mean:
-left in the cup (to pour hot water next time)?
-dry and stored it someplace?
-other solution?

Thanks for your help!

P.D. And how many times would you use it?

Norfolk_Jim

Instead of people in the family sending each other cards, invest in one very big card, the robust kind that comes in a box or make something similar. As each family even comes around, sign the card with personal messages and give it to family member.
After a few years the kids will have grown up and moved on but you'll have a lovely reminder of anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Might not work too well if you have 10 kids and is better if people write meaningful messages rather than just happy birthday dad in it.
With the stronger cards you could add pages to make it more like a book and stick photos in from each of the anniversaries - Johnnys 5th birthday, Lucys second Christmas, our 12th anniversary etc.
I find it sad that most cards just get thrown away eventually. This could be a little bit of family history in the making

Primrose

Artemidorus - I keep a little "dunking dish" beside our kettle. I place the used teabag in that and fish it out again if I'm having another cup of tea within a couple of hours. It does looks a bit grotty though and I certainly wouldn't do if if we had visitors :rotfl: As I use Darjeeling teabags which make weak tea I wouldn't reuse them more than once but I suspect Strong Yorkshire Tea might just cope with a third dunking! . In the veggie growing season I then dry out the teabags and use them to put in the bottom of flowers pots for my seedling tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, to stop the compost leaching out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. The rest of the year they go onto the compost heap.