Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Primrose

I think there is something really nice and nostalgic about having old Christmas decorations. They only come out once a year and when they're all pulled out of lofts and cupboards again, especially as the years pass, they evoke all kinds of memories, especially if some of them have been home made by children.

I must have missed the thread about making soup in a flask (presumably a wide necked one) but I guess if you used small red lentils and grated your vegetables such as swedes, carrots, & chopped the others very small, they would cook adequately. As I usually simmer soup for a minimum of 20 minutes, that would be 20 minutes of gas saved, although I normally cook a big pan of it which lasts for a couple of days.

oystercatcher

consultant31 wrote: »

It amazes me that so many people buy new decorations every year. I haven't bought any since my children were tiny and the youngest is 26 in a fortnight. I have always taken them down with care and reboxed for the following year and since the children have homes of their own now, lots of the deccies have been rehomed with them - are ours the oldest deccies around?:rotfl:

My parents are using the same ones they had before we were born and my brother and I are 51 and 48!

I love getting my 25 year old decorations out every year. Am also amazed that people buy new so often! Tinsel and baubles, or wooden decorations don't wear out. We have a few things the children made when they were tiny which are much treasured.

Anthillmob

can i just say this thread os so great and inspirational that ive linked to it on my facebook. hope no one minds. good on you all. x

tara747

My folks still have years-old decs and I love them, they do evoke such lovely memories!! I collect good quality beautiful decorations each year, a few at a time, so that if I ever have children they will still be around.

Anthillmob

i think ive found myself a new fave forum on MSE. why have i never looked before? oh and ive 'stampled' on my toilet roll this evening.

zippychick

Anthillmob wrote: »

i think ive found myself a new fave forum on MSE. why have i never looked before? oh and ive 'stampled' on my toilet roll this evening.

Good for you. Welcome to the "Mob"

Anthillmob

this is an 'in the long run' saving.

a few years back i got a little canon selphy printer free with my contract mobile phone. it prints post card photos, pic on one side and post card on the other. cant remember how much the cartridge is and the cards but i believe about £18 but dont use it that often. it comes in handy though for printing off my own 'thank you' cards for the kids christmas and birthday presents, just send them as postcards with a personal message and picture of your choice.

it pleases others especially as personallised and are much nicer than any thank you card you can buy in bulk.

ceebeeby

Another stumbled across saving ...

I have a mug of "skinny cow" hot choc when dieting. Costs about £2 for a jar :eek: Instructions say use 2 heaped teaspoons. I tried 1 teaspoon of powder and 1 teaspoon of sweetner, still tastes just as good (obviously not as good as the full fat milk cadbury one !) and stays very low cal :A!

ceebeeby

Real Xmas Trees ....

Check on your local council website to see if they do a free Xmas Tree collection service.

I found out today that ours are doing this next week - has saved the petrol for the trip to the tip.

ginnyknit

I personally think the people buying new christmas dec's every year are the ones that sum up our throwaway society. I don't mean like us who may buy something special each year but the whole colour change fashionable tree thing. I have run a charity shop for many years (now retired) and for the last, maybe, 6 years have been inundated with bags of matching dec's, wonderful for the charity but thats not the point. I think many of us on here may have worried ourselves silly just as much at christmas this year but we are safe in the knowledge we have worked our little cotton socks off to save ourselves and the planet! I think we all deserve a round of applause for attempting to be O/S and being successful in may many ways - but hey we are going to do even better next year