Living the Frugal Life (Semi-lighthearted) ?

I have put bags over the hot taps, to remind DH not to use it unless he actually needs hot water and is prepared to wait for it to come through the pipes. There's no point paying to just heat the pipe between heater and tap!

Now beat this one for stingy 'careful', if you can: I reuse the plastic-coated metal bag ties that used to be in with every new pack of plastic bags. I reckon I have enough to see me out, as there are dozens in the kitchen drawer, but I just keep re-using the same one or two

I think make up is the last thing I would cut back on. I’m so vain I put slap on to greet the Tesco delivery man.

I save the paper of blocks of butter are wrapped in to butter cooking dishes.
cut brillo pads in two and it sharpens the scissors at the same time.
I've bought what looks like shower caps to cover things in the fridge wash and use again instead of cling film

use a quicker programme on the dishwasher.
Then all the money I have saved I spend on clothes and shoes.!!!.

Make the staff work longer hours I say.
Midnight until 5am is enough rest for anyone.
They can then double up duties and halve the number needed.
I shall start to cut down on supper or dinner parties ,maybe 4 a week instead of 6.
The cook can then start baking things I can send the butler and a footman to sell these in the market.
The gardener can also join this little enterprise, growing extra produce to sell.
I may allow them all a penny in the pound for themselves out of what they sell.
Won’t want to spoil them though.

Thank you, Maw and annsixty. You can rely on Gransnet for helpful household hints.

MawtheMerrier

I try to repurpose the butler once he is past his sell-by.
He can make a useful doorstop.

Tee hee ? any particular bit of him, Maw….?

“When we open champagne I have a glass ready to catch the first drops of fizz that explode out of the bottle.”

I’ll admit Sago that I’ve licked the work top if it’s been a particularly lively opening…?‍♀️

With regard to toothpaste (and other cosmetic tubes, I have found that these little items an absolute godsend in ensuring I use every last bit,
.CORNERIA 2pcs Toothpaste Tube Squeezer Plus with Long Size 2.8IN - Premium ABS Plastic & Silicone pad Toothpaste Squeezer Rollers Even Tube Cosmetics, Tube Ketchup etc

I’m not using hot water if I can avoid it, washing hands and face and washing up the animals’ bowls in cold. Using economy programmes on washing machine and dishwasher and most washing done at 30 degrees.
Cut right back on using gas cooker, most things can be cooked in microwave.
Using kettle less by saving left over boiling water in thermos.
Cut down on baths and only have minimal water.
What’s this craze for saving soap? I buy about 2 tablets of soap per year and only use it for scrubbing very dirty hands after gardening.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned the old habit from years ago of cutting up newspaper into squares to use as loo paper!

A very elderly aunt did that, and even as a child it seemed a really bizarre idea to me.
I always used to hold on when we visited her and then dashed to our bathroom with proper loo paper when we got home !

I cut all plastic containers (baby lotion etc) in half so that I can get at every last drop.

I cut kitchen roll sheets in half.

I cut dishwasher tablets in half.

I batch cook to make full use of turning on the oven.

I wash everything at 30deg. and always fill the washing machine right up. I don't have a tumble dryer.

I like weak green tea so I reuse teabags 2 or 3 times.

MawtheMerrier

To save water I have compiled a list of “nice young men”,” with whom to share bathing.

And also to save water, brushing my teeth with chilled white wine.

I think this is nearly as money-saving as sleeping with the tree surgeon (another thread!).

The hand baked artisan dog treats have had to go. My dog is now making do with Aldi frozen carrot slices. I think he prefers them.

JenniferEccles

I’m surprised no one has mentioned the old habit from years ago of cutting up newspaper into squares to use as loo paper!

A very elderly aunt did that, and even as a child it seemed a really bizarre idea to me.
I always used to hold on when we visited her and then dashed to our bathroom with proper loo paper when we got home !

That would be hard on the bum with today's online 'papers'. Even less flexible and less absorbant than Izal!

Newspapers are now expensive so we read the News online.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AussieGran59 I'd be wary of re-using aluminium foil after being involved with the cooking of rice. I'd like someone who knows more about bacteria growth to come along and comment as this is only my "feeling" given the toxicity issues with reheating rice if not rapidly cooled. I do reuse foil in some cases myself so in principle I'm in favour. Maybe the solution is to wash it thoroughly with soapy water rather than just wiping it?

Any advice anyone?

Could you put a plate over the rice in the strainer instead? It’s to keep the steam in I guess?

I've started buying quick-cook (fusilli) pasta. It cooks in less than half the time of the normal one.
Admittedly, you still have to bring all that water to the boil first, but every little helps, and actually, I've found that I don't need to use as much water as I was previously using anyway.

Great thread .... Thanks everyone!!

I have two elements on my immersion heater one at the bottom and one at the top. The one at the bottom is econ 7 which heats up overnight if switched on. The top one just heats the top of the immersion, this top one I switch on when I get up in the mornings as its still econ 7 hours for 30 mins and theres enough hot water to last all day, so Im saving on 6 1/2 hours of electricity by not using the bottom immersion.

I am all electric and its costly using the oven so I use my george foreman grill to heat up/cook pizza, oven chips, pukka slices etc, I dont heat the grill up first, food takes between 5-10 mins. I dont cook anything too thick ie meat pies.

make a lot of brown rice at once in my rice cooker, cool quickly on 2 large plates, portion and freeze 10 portions for my ready meals

Batch cook, large amount of eg lamb tagine for single person ready meals, similar slow cooker delicious goulash. Small portions of grass fed meat per dish, yummy sauce and veg

Very large quiche frozen in portions. Made with double cream and eggs so is not watery

xl spelt pizza with eg saute onion and courgette topping , portioned and frozen

Garden charlotte potatoes, haulms cut off in june, storing under the soil. Dig enough for 3 days. Cut small, boil 10 minutes. Keep cold in the fridge and it is now resistant starch, lovely with salads or fried with onion

Pressure cooker beetroots, 12 minutes, keep in fridge

What’s this craze for saving soap? I buy about 2 tablets of soap per year and only use it for scrubbing very dirty hands after gardening.

We use loads, because we gave up shower gel and liquid soaps in plastic years ago. I have a little hessian bag for the last slivers - it’s good for a bit of exfoliating as well.

Shampoo bars last for ever compared to shampoo, and again, no plastic.

Two minute showers are perfectly adequate, as I keep telling the rest of the family, who all prefer ten minute ones that leave the bathroom like a dripping wet steam room.

I keep a flask by the kettle to put in any extra hot water after tea making - if I ever remembered to do this or to take it upstairs it’d save having to use cold water in the basin because I can’t bear to waste water before the hot kicks in.

All my efforts are small attempts to save the planet, not money. Any savings I make go on gin and dissolute living anyway.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

May I say Well Done AussieGran for reading Not Spaghetti's tip about the safety of reusing cling film to cover rice and accepting it so gracefully!