Living the Frugal Life (Semi-lighthearted) ?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. ?

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).

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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.

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!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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.

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

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.

Great thread .... Thanks everyone!!

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.

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

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?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Newspapers are now expensive so we read the News online.

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!

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.

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!).

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.

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’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.