Living the Frugal Life (Semi-lighthearted) ?

MerylStreep

I use primark foundation and Poundland blusher. They’re both flipping good.

I also use Primark foundation, it has been rated as excellent in many magazines, their lipstick is good too and their wet wipes are two packs for £1. I also use Wilko mascara which has also been rated as excellent. I used to use Max Factor foundation and mascara which are very expensive and no better.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Do consider turning down the thermostat in the flower arranging and parcel wrapping rooms - after all, it's only the staff that use those rooms and they can always buy themselves a cardigan (embroidered with your family crest naturally).

I really wasn't being critical AussieGran59 - I have just been much more careful with rice these last few years. Previously I wouldn't have given it a second thought.

Hope that Shirkey48s idea works. ?

I tear tissues in half, been doing it for ages. And every container that can be turned upside down, is. I've got sauce bottles, washing up liquid, etc. standing upside down in mugs in my kitchen.
Baby wipes are just as good as facial wipes, and are cheaper, and you get many more in a pack. I like the non-perfumed baby wipes.
And lastly, - I know this one won't be popular, - I use my tea bags twice. After my first cup of tea in the morning I put the tea bag into another mug and use it later for my second cup.
I've had a lifetime of having to be 'careful' so it's second nature now.

RichmondPark1

Do consider turning down the thermostat in the flower arranging and parcel wrapping rooms - after all, it's only the staff that use those rooms and they can always buy themselves a cardigan (embroidered with your family crest naturally).

Well, it is funny. Take the Mick - but honestly. It is a very serious matter currently for many reasons, so perhaps we could stick to great ideas that would help?

We live in the boonies and eat with oil and wood- the current situation is serious. And water is becoming very short- for humans, wildlife, forests, industry, and mainly, farming and livestock. Funny it is not. Sorry.

Fleurpepper

RichmondPark1

Do consider turning down the thermostat in the flower arranging and parcel wrapping rooms - after all, it's only the staff that use those rooms and they can always buy themselves a cardigan (embroidered with your family crest naturally).

Well, it is funny. Take the Mick - but honestly. It is a very serious matter currently for many reasons, so perhaps we could stick to great ideas that would help?

We live in the boonies and eat with oil and wood- the current situation is serious. And water is becoming very short- for humans, wildlife, forests, industry, and mainly, farming and livestock. Funny it is not. Sorry.

Very funny RicmondPark1, that made me laugh ?

Fleurpepper I think you’ve misunderstood, read the original post and it specifically asks for lighthearted suggestions as well? Life’s hard enough for many at the moment without stamping out a bit of humour as well.

And lastly, - I know this one won't be popular, - I use my tea bags twice. After my first cup of tea in the morning I put the tea bag into another mug and use it later for my second cup.

It’s popular with me, Henetha. I like my tea on the weak side anyway and on the rare occasions I made my own, I did use the bag twice. However my butler (DH) usually does the hot beverages, and he looked at me askance when he witnessed this. Reminded him of old man Steptoe, he said.

Though we’ve gone back to loose tea now, so the moment has passed.

Although all of my appliances with the exception of obvious ones like fridge and freezer are switched off, I am now switching items off at the wall because although something is switched off there is a trickle of electricity getting through and adding up kettle, toaster, dishwasher, washing machine to name a few, it all mounts up over a year.

Thanks Maggiemaybe. Someone who understands! I didn't expect there would be anyone . .
I'm sorry it shocked your butler. I'd have to sack him!

I brush the wooden floors instead of using the vacuum. I only use the vacuum to lift up the dirt.
Can't think of anything else. ..I unplug Alexa sometimes.

Oldnproud

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.

I read in a cookery article yesterday that if you soak pasta in cold water for, I think 4 hours, it also cuts down cooking time quite drastically. You could then compare the price if “quick cook” with Regular - particularly if you buy the latter from one of those “fill your own container” shops.
From the DT yesterday

The cost of cooking
There’s no doubt that when it comes to cooking, pasta is a gas guzzler. Italian cooks recommend at least one litre of water and 10g of salt (a rounded teaspoonful) for 100g of pasta for each person. So, supper for four will mean bringing four litres of water to the boil. In my largest lidded pan on my most powerful gas burner (a 5kWh number designed for a wok), that took just shy of 20 minutes. Add in 10 minutes of cooking time, and allowing 7p per kWh, and that’s 17p. Not staggering, I grant you, but not that green, either – and if you are using electricity, it’ll be even more expensive.
The soaking method
It all sounded a bit student bedsit to me, up there with cooking a steak in a toaster (please don’t do this) or fish fingers and chips in a waffle maker. But in the interests of research, I soaked a portion of penne in salted cold water overnight in the fridge. The next day, I drained off the cold water, trying to ignore how depressingly flaccid the pasta looked, and tipped it into a pan. In went a kettleful of boiling water, then I brought it back to the boil before draining it again.
Amazingly, it worked, the pasta brightening and tightening before my eyes. Not as al dente as I’d like it – next time I’ll soak it for just four hours – but this could save time, money and a fugged-up kitchen

Perhaps this belongs on Fleurpeper ‘s more serious thread?
Either way, worth looking at. With a smart meter the “gizmo” shows me exactly what I am using - quite a reality check!

I know this should go in another thread but here it is.
I hate and shudder at the word “flaccid”
That pasta would have gone straight into the food waste bin.
I could not have contemplated eating it.

I cut worn down tubes in half and use the cut edge to scoop from. The cut off top half makes a lid to keep the contents clean.

I am making a lot of risotto . Yesterday 's a really nice one with a lot of onion and some tinned salmon stirred in after cooking. I also made a risotto with a few tinned kidney beans and guests like it too.

Maw! Great advice on soaking pasta. Will try it.

HI, if I am cooking pasta in a big pot needing lots of boiling water, it would take ages to boil on the cooker. I add about an inch of cold water to the pot, and put in on the cooker to heat and at the same time boil the kettle, when it is boiled, add to the pot , refill the kettle and boil again. Within about 5 minutes the pot of water is boiling and ready to use. I know the kettle uses electricity but overall it takes less time and so I think it will save a small amount of electricity.

I'm taking much shorter showers and some days just have a wash down. My fathers comments about daily showers was, "You'll wash yourself away woman". Old school when a weekly bath was the order of the day!

Turn all lights off when not in the room... I used to have the whole house lit up as I liked that.

Make batches of food and freeze. Use my pressure cookers... actually better for the food and saves on gas. I bought big bags of dried chickpeas, kidney beans , lentils at the Indian store. I reckon for £25 I could eat for at least a couple of months!! Very good for heart health as well. A lot less meat too. It's lots more work but I have plenty of, free in all senses of the word, time.

I've stopped buying things at Waitrose deli... so expensive and not really necessary. Stock up on things that I use a lot when I see them on special offer. Currently have LOTS of coffee! My mother had a habit of buying in bulk as she was a war baby and I've inherited it. I'm not 'brand loyal' and will buy whatever is on special... just as good.

If I only have a few undies I wash them by hand and spin in the machine but in the summer just wring them out and pop them on the line. Usually dry by night time if a bit crushed looking. Who cares -the heat of my body will sort that!

Now taking the bus instead of driving places... headphones and Audible or podcasts or music for longer journeys. Much more relaxing that manoeuvring through heavy traffic ( the traffic is horrendous with endless roadworks )

I'm enjoying seeing how creative I can be. My gas and electric were actually cheaper than usual last month, even with the price rise!!

Lets she how I do in winter... its definitely going to be much more of a challenge.

annsixty

I know this should go in another thread but here it is.
I hate and shudder at the word “flaccid”
That pasta would have gone straight into the food waste bin.
I could not have contemplated eating it.

Come on Annsixty
1 - sorry about the word - not my choice
2- we are talking about saving money , here, not wasting,it or wasting food
Does anybody remember how in the 70's and 80's recipes told us to boil pasta sheets before assembling a lasagne?
Not much different - floppy, slippery things! We survived.

My favourite herbal tea - Pukka Tea has gone up from £2.45 per pack to £3.50 or more, I now make my own herbal teas - ginger tea is my favourite a few slithers of fresh ginger steeped in boiling water, mint tea, thyme tea etc add lemon for a different flavour

In praise of Smart meters.

I boiled a litre and a half of water on the gas stove and a litre and a half in my electric kettle then compared the cost. Using the electric kettle cost four times as much as using gas.
Previously I had been in the habit of using my electric kettle to boil water for pasta, rice and potatoes or other veg because it is faster. Yes it is, it is however extremely expensive!

My smart meter has certainly opened my eyes. ?

I have adjusted my cooking to avoiding using my electric kettle, I use my electric oven as little as possible, I am investigating which air fat fryer to purchase and will be buying a kettle to go on the gas hob. I use my slow cooker whenever possible and I time my housework to take into account when my solar panels are generating so laundry is not done in the evening.
Our electric car is now only charged at free chargers so the last 4000 miles have been completely free saving us £100’s.

I am beginning to realise just how much money I would have saved if I had switched to a smart meter earlier.

I soak my lasagne sheets briefly in hot water before cooking as it makes the lasagne nicer.

A Mary Berry tip I think.

But I don’t ‘boil’ them.

Agree absolutely Esspee. I used to run my machines overnight (Economy 7) whivh I may still do in the dark depths of winter, but realise since the arrival of the gizmo, that these sunny days are to be utilised as well as clocking up units on the Feed-in tariff.
I have become quite OCD about my energy usage- no lights left on in the evening any more and no radio in the background unless I am actually listening to it. Toasters and hairdryers are very expensive, so trying to keep down the length of time using them.
Come November I will probably be emulating Charlie Bucket’s grandparents and just staying in bed!
More seriously, there will be some people reduced to that. Makes you think.
On a more cheerful note, all my past impulse cashmere buys - ponchos, jackets and wraps - will come into their own and maybe earn their keep

Calendargirl

I soak my lasagne sheets briefly in hot water before cooking as it makes the lasagne nicer.

A Mary Berry tip I think.

But I don’t ‘boil’ them.

Modern lasagne sheets do not require it, but back in the 70’s and 80’s they were not the same. I cooked in a professional kitchen and “ready to use” lasagne sheets were a huge leap forward.

Calendargirl

I soak my lasagne sheets briefly in hot water before cooking as it makes the lasagne nicer.

A Mary Berry tip I think.

But I don’t ‘boil’ them.

Does the soaking soften them?
If so, I bet it would make them cuttable, and a lot easier to get them to fit in my awkward-sized dishes. I must try it!