General Chat

I miss my freezer so much , we havent any room now, I shop at Aldi, they are creeping up pricewise ,but still very good value , I also use Morrisons, but the small local one, dont like the bigger one, try and plan the weeks meals, just bought a magnetic white board for the front of the fridge , you have special pens so you can wipe clean and use over again, I am going to make anote what I have in the fridge freezer so I dont duplicate,we had a meal out last week early bird and it worked out cheaper than if I had cooked it at home saved on the gas too....

I have not used my tumble dryer for years.

When there is a small amount of washing up I put a bit of extra water in the kettle when making a hot drink then use what is left to wash up with instead of putting it in the dishwasher. I then only run the dishwasher every two days. if the load is not very 'dirty' I use the quick wash programme.

I plan meals ahead.

Every so often I decide to 'eat out of the freezer and cupboard' because i am a food hoarder too.

Those who shop in Wikinsons because it is cheaper. OH bought shaving cream in there on Saturday. Found yesterday the same size and make was 2p cheaper in Morrisons!!!

This year I grew baby carrots, lettuce, spring onions, french beans and potatoes all in tubs. all except the potatoes on the patio. also grow my own herbs.

Ann
Glos

If you have to use the car make sure you do all the chores at the same time, save petrol..

The other thing is if you dont grow your own buy it from some one who does ....lots cheaper ....

Seems Claire of yorks is better known as Dave lol

I have 2 apple trees and when they're ready I swap apples for veg with a friend who grows her own. Hubby goes to football so stock up on frozen meals for him when they're on offer.

we have a big surplus on the allotment so have taken it in turns to give the neighbours some and also my sister and when we went away hubby picked what was ready the day before and gave it to mum and dad to take back with them and the children.


do look out for reduced stuff and put in the freezer and one side of my white board in kitchen has all that is in freezer so I can work through it.

Does help having a hubby that will make something out of nothing.

He also saves the bread crusts dries them and makes own breadcrumbs and uses it to make stuffing as well for roasts. Now having a sweet tooth I would rather use it to make bread pudding.

Wish my hubby did that the only cooking he does is when he takes over from me after I start cooking and then takes all the praise

Well I was in Nettos only yesterday - only because OH wished to visit DIY shop next door. I have for about 8 weeks been keeping receips from Tesco/SainsburyLidl - been in Aldi once and now Netto.

Noticed several things were dearer than Tesco - including cappucino at £2.28, Hovis bread at £1.38, and many other things - so it has definitely shot up in price.

Thanks for all your tips.

I am desparately trying to empty my freezers. But everytime I go shopping for basic's, milk bread and veg, I end up getting stuff for the freezer if I see a good offer.

I have to go shopping now, All I need is Veg, coffee, sugar and bleach. Oh and perhaps a colour for my hair.

Will let you know what I come back with

Jenny

Failed miserably on my shopping trip. Came back with 4 large bags of food. Managed to squeeze a pack of Beefburgurs in the freezer.

I really must stop this impulsive buying.

Jenny.

We have also cut down the time the boiler is on and haven't noticed any difference in the availability of hot water. Also try and keep the thermostat lower than we used to have it in the winter for the heating.

Ann
Glos

I'm probably being thick, but doesn't the thermostat just stop the process of heating when it has reach the required temperature, it heats at the same rate..

I meant the room temperature thermostat for the central heating. So the radiators don't have to heat the room to 20 degrees but 19 degrees. That saves money. It is in all the energy saving tips that you see.

Ann
Glos

My s.i.l grows no end in her flower gardens, she tucks in cabbage plants etc all year round in between her flowers. Her garden still looks pretty but has her own veg as well, which is good as veg. is so expensive now. Everyone could do it.
Hilary.

Jenny I can relate to your shopping trips we need to stop buying specials at a faster rate than we use them !Do try to buy items we use when they are on special but I think we carry it to the extreme Two of us ! you think we were still feeding the family If freezer fails would need to invite the whole neighbour hood
Margaret

Our housing association want us to have central heating and we really can't see the need. They have well insulated the loft and had the wall cavities filled and fitted double glazing.

I had the Parkray taken out because it was in the way and so efficient that we would have had to sat somewhere down the garden had we lit it.Ther fireplace is filled in so there are no draughts from anywhere. Two small convectors are more than enough for our entire house. If we don't turn them both off completely at night it is too warm to sleep.

Having grown up in this house when the draught was enough to cut your legs off it seems to me that the best way to save heating costs is to eliminate draughts.

Hi Jenny, the most obvious way to stop hoarding food and believe me, I know all about hoarding lol, is to sell one fridge by using as much as you can out of it and pushing the rest of the food in the others, then unplug it and put it in garage while you advertise it on Gumtree or ebay /whatever. Do the same with another as you adjust to having less fridge space. Two freezers isn't bad but you could eventually aim to have only one. I am sure two fridges is ample, most people only have one. We have a very good fridge/freezer.
I go to our local Somerfield, just 5 mins walk away around 6pm and get lots of bargains to use or freeze.
Will be trying to use some of the older stuff out of the freezer this week and next while I am having to cook for o.h. The week after he is on lates so just needs stuff to pack up which he mostly organises, so I can buy fresh stocks and have salads and things I prefer while I am on my own and restock the freezer as and when I see the bargains.
Good luck with the economising folks,
Lizx

Keep a track of things as they're running out and add to your weekly shopping list rather than waiting until they've all gone and you have to do a special trip for them.

Do ONE big shop a week/fortnight, write a list and stick to it.

If you find yourself buying loads of unnecessary items when all you went for is bread and milk, buy a weeks supply of bread and milk and freeze them. Saves petrol and the money you'd spend on stuff you didn't need/want.

If you find you throw half your bread away because it goes mouldy. Split it in two when you buy it and freeze.

Defrost food rather than cooking from frozen. Cuts cooking time and thus saves energy.

Energy saving light bulbs (straight forward)

Only put enough water in the kettle as you need (if there's only one of you then don't fill it unless you're going to use the water for something else - like with the washing up tip)

If you don't "need" it then don't buy it.

Leave your cards at home and only take enough cash shopping as you need to buy the things you're going for.

Plan your shopping route so that you're not driving back and forth around town. (Not so easy when the town you live in has a stupid one way system with roads closed for roadworks.)

I agree with Liz, if you don't have room to store it then you won't buy it...usually LOL

I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them off hand.

(Oh Jenny... remember our mistaking the big M of the metro for Morrisons LOL)

Oh missed you again, night Mac, sleep well,

Lizxx