Friday 27 March 2020

Strange Times Week 2, Post 3

A few more ideas and tips for living on less, mainly for my Eldest Daughter who asked me for help. Apologies if this post sounds a bit bossy.
If you've written a list of all the things you spend money on in normal times now you can look at each item to see how to cut costs.
Treat saving money as your new job  - a battle - a war that you have to win.
So you are NOT out of work - you just have a new job - money saving.

Food.
This is somewhere where you really can cut down spending - there are lots of cheaper foods that are just as filling.
You might need to learn to eat a different way, and not buy things just because that's what you would have eaten. Yes that will be difficult.
Plan the weeks meals, stretch meat by adding vegetables, lentils etc. You have to realise that you can't afford meat every day. Most of the world manages with very little meat and waste nothing.

Have a look at websites that give ideas for thrifty food and use what you have.....
Janes Blog
BBC food
Thrifty Lesley
A list from 2015(and I know that's 5 years out of date but it's just an idea)
Jamie Oliver has a new programme, quickly made especially for Strange Times. Called Keep Cooking and Carry On. It started last night and was supposedly thrifty - although his idea of thrifty and mine are different, but his bread dough looked pretty good.
I could find more but that's enough to start with

Water and Sewer Charges
I think if you are on mains sewer ( as opposed to my septic tank drainage here) then you are charged for waste water based on the amount of tap water you've used - if you are on a water meter - please correct me if I'm wrong. By cutting down on water use you'll save in two places.

You might not like some of these ideas but remember you've got a battle to win.

  • Never let water run down the drain without thinking what you are doing - look at it as money. Catch cold water when you are waiting for hot, use it for loo flushing, soaking clothes or saucepans. 
  • I've never had a dishwasher so don't know if they really  do use less water than a washing up bowl, which is what the manufacturers claim but either way - don't use the dishwasher for just a few things. 
  • Rather than using a big washing up bowl - wash-up by filling the biggest thing you have to wash (ie saucepan) with hot water and W-up liquid and then use a brush to wash everything else from the soapy water in the saucepan. I always do this when I've used the bowl of my Food Mixer - it works.
  • Don't put more water than you need in a kettle, and don't then tip it back out again down the drain the next time you want to fill and boil it.
  • Share bath water and bath or shower less - you can't afford to be squeamish about this. If you are at home all the time you're not getting dirty. The majority of the world's population don't have enough water to bath or shower everyday, but they still manage to stay clean.
  • Always use the short flush on the loo and flush less often - as above don't be squeamish. Just use the loo brush more often after flushing.( the rhyme used to be - if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down!)
  • Use the shortest wash on the washing machine and DON'T wash things until they are dirty. If you are at home they're not going to get very dirty. Get everyone out of the habit of putting their clothes to wash everyday. (Obviously I'm NOT including knickers/pants in the wear more than once thing! although even that was quite common until around the 1950s/60s ) Now you are at home you can hang things like bath towels out to air to use again.
I'll think of some more ideas for next week but in the meantime turn off all the electrical gadgets that are normally left on and TURN OFF THOSE LIGHTS (constant shout in our house back when we had 3 children at home) and DON'T LEAVE THE FRIDGE DOOR OPEN. ...ditto and TURN THE TV OFF IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING IT ditto again


Meanwhile......
The cat was due for her routine flu jab this week but that's been cancelled. The vets are emergencies only. The same with my expensive dentist appointment in April - they too are doing emergencies only.
The mower hasn't gone off for repair yet - they are still working as they can collect mowers and deliver without seeing anyone - but their repair bloke has an injury, so off work until next week.
I now have a boiler problem - it's working but smelling a bit odd. I rang the boiler man and he too is still working as he can work...... wearing gloves......on the boiler without getting anywhere near the house owner. I guess they are able to keep working as it would be dangerous for everyone if  boilers or gas or electric couldn't be repaired and were running when faulty. Hope he'll be able to fix it soon as the weather is turning colder.
I was surprised to see the window cleaner turn up - not an essential job really but he is self-employed, works alone, doesn't need to see anyone, has his hands in and out of soapy water all day and said he'd keep going while he could. He was only doing outside windows of houses out on their own not ones close together in town with  people around. He said (we spoke at a distance of  a lot more than 2 metres!) he's been moaned at for doing his job and had other people ring up to ask him when he is coming as he's overdue.......including a care home, full of elderly people,  who wanted him to do inside windows too! Like damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.


Hope it's not too long before I can see the grandchildren again -  this serious little man, nearly 8 weeks old now, is growing up fast.
Back Tomorrow
Sue

43 comments:

  1. You don't sound bossy Sue. You're sharing the wisdom born of experience. A friend commented yesterday "there will be so much work to do when this is over" I think the work starts now, preparing families for the business of managing on much less. Thank you for the baby picture, it really lifted my spirits.

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    1. There are a lot of people now very frightened about the future but like you, I reckon the best time to start in now, while people have time to think about what they can do. In some cases a LOT of changes will be needed and many things are good for the planet too

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  2. Jamie's done another one, has he? I'll look it up. I enjoyed the first one but I agree that his ideas of frugal and 'normal store cupboard ingredients' differ to mine. To be fair, I'm sure mine differ to those of others too!! It's a very personal and individual thing and I did like that he kept emphasising that you can swap in.
    I do want to try the pea pesto using ground almonds (which I have) instead of pine nuts (which I don't have) and something rather than basil because I don't like it. Maybe some oregano (just about ready to cut in the garden) or some mint (definitely not ready yet!)

    Such a lovely photo - thanks for sharing.

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    1. I didn't realise last nights programme wasn't the first. I agreed with him about the use of frozen veg and switching ingredients - I do that all the time without really thinking about it

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  3. Hi Sue thanks for sharing your tips I’ve lived on a very low income since my husband died 3 years ago and we didn’t have any savings. I cut anything that wasn’t essential straight away and as my house is all electric it quite expensive to run. I boil a full kettle in a morning then fill flasks that way I do t have to boil it again. Heather

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    1. Thank you for the flask tip - I'd forgotten that one which was in The Penny Pincher Paper. I was so lucky that when Col died I got the spouses pension from the council and a lump sum too, I get my state pension in 2021 which should mean I won't need to use the savings after that.

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    1. I shall miss them all over the next months, we were due for a get together at Easter....that won't happen

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  5. Sue, your link to a list in 2015 actually brought me straight back here. You might like to check it. (Hope that doesn't sound too bossy either!)

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  6. Not bossy at all, very sensible! The Jamie Oliver programme has been on every night since Monday and can be seen on catch up. I agree that everyone's store cupboard will be different but I hope at least he gets people thinking about using up everything they have. I'd hate to think the things people panic bought weeks ago will be thrown out.

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    1. I didn't know his programme had been on all week. When he started last night with putting all that fish in a pan to cook I thought "blimey, that doesn't look thrifty"

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  7. I suppose I am lucky in that I retired a couple of years ago now, live in a village with good access and can afford to look after my family who live here. In a way I am glad I am not at work now having to worry about were the money will come from and where it will go. Thirty years ago it would have been a different matter. I think the main thing is use common sense when you do things

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  8. One bath a week and the four of us used the same water, one at a time, in an orderly fashion. I don't wash much nowadays anyway since I stopped working. I've reverted back!

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  9. And if you are cold, as most people will be in the house as the weather is cold in the east, dont turn the heat on, put an extra jumper on, two pairs of socks and wear a hat indoors. Treat yourself only to a bit of heating in the evening and go to bed early.

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  10. We practise a lot of that. Same her re granddaughter. Last saw her at 34 weeks, she is now 42 weeks. Probably be mobile when we get to see her for real.

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  11. Thank you for the tips - I need as many as I can for the next few months.

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  12. So very good tips especially but the water into a flask, I have always been carefully with water and electric. I think a lot of voungsters will learn a lot in the next few months.

    I Hope to get out in the garden again.
    🌈🌈 Hazel c uk

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  13. Lots of brilliant tips there that will work for lots of your readers as well as your Eldest Daughter.

    If anyone has missed some of the Jamie emergency cooking programmes they are all being shown back to back on Sunday on Channel 4. It's on around 2pm here in Wales, no doubt it will vary slightly around the country.

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  14. Thanks for the tips - husband's last day is today. I know we can do it. He's never been unemployed before so I know it will be a big adjustment on his part but we are hoping it won't be for long. I'm okay on the cooking and food. We didn't have much money when the kids were growing up so I learned to make do then lol. As long as we can pay the mortgage and the most important bills we'll be fine - a roof over our heads and food are our main concerns!

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  15. All great tips Sue. I am hoping that if anything good can come out of all this, it is that people will start being less wasteful.

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  16. good to hear these tips again Sue. We are okay as we farm and owe nothing. Our oldest son works way up north in the bush so not working yet. DIL thankfully got a job with a newspaper in January to will not be relying on her tourism job which is kaput as Canada has banned cruise ships from the north for a year. Middle son has had his book tour postponed so is selling books from his apartment. DIL's job is gone as the bookstore is closed at this time. Youngest son, the computer geek, has been sent home to work and is okay.
    I agree with Debbie about waste. I so wonder what people are doing with all this flour and yeast when it has never been sold out in the stores before. We have lots of flour in Canada so no reason to hoard it.

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  17. Jack Monroe is doing some good frugal tips. A thing on Twitter (which I dont personally tweet LOL) where you photo your odds and ends and she thinks up a recipe to use stuff up! Brillant!

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  18. Think I would have preferred Jack Monroe to do a cookery series. She is seriously frugal.[ Laura's mum]

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    1. I agree - I think she would have been a brilliant choice for a program like this.

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  19. Sorry to read your family have been affected with their work. I've no idea how people are going to get back on their feet again when all this is over. Must be such a worry for a lot of people even with the help they're getting - although I think having to wait until June if your self-employed isn't very helpful.

    Your grandson is gorgeous. xx

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  20. You have some great practical tips there Sue. One that I would add is to switch OFF at the wall all electrical things in the home when not in use (even washing machines sit in standby and use power, not just things with standby lights like TV, computers and microwaves) - it is really surprising how much electricity can be saved this way.

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    1. Monday will be my energy saving post I think. It's really annoying how many things that didn't use electric all the time years ago now do. (My LPG cooker is one example)

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  21. Some great tips in this post, Sue. I am so sorry to hear about the family being affected so badly. Our son lives in Sydney with his wife and young daughter and is working from home. Son-in Law is a key worker in manufacturing things for hospitals so has to go in. I'm so worried he will bring the virus home to DD and the children who are prone to asthma. At least they don't have money worries unless he gets sick.
    Take care, Angie x

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  22. Your grandson is so sweet.

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  23. Lots of things can be cut in half or even into three or four to make them stretch. Sponge scrubbies for doing the dishes cut into three. Cloths cut in two or recycle old t-shirts, towels, face flannels. Brillo pads (supermarket own ones) cut into four. Dishwasher tablets (not the liquid ones, I buy the cheap solid ones) cut in half. Kitchen towel can be separated into squares, put in a pile and cut in half and stored in a tub. Dog biscuits can be cut in half.

    Learn to sew and mend whatever you can. Also learn to make some things you would normally buy (I made new mattresses for the dog beds from an old duvet and covers from old sheets). Darn socks.

    Use YouTube to learn how to mend things around the house and garden.

    Buy whole milk and water it down to make it go further. Mix your favourite brand of instant coffee with a supermarket own cheaper coffee.

    Close curtains at dusk to keep in the heat and wear more clothes/indoor shoes or slippers.

    Batch cook and freeze portions. Soup is a great, cheap meal. Lentils, mushrooms, pepper, celery, onion, carrot, broccoli stalk etc can be used to stretch meat meals such as chilli, cottage pie, bolognaise etc.

    These are just some of the things I did when we were in a financial pickle a couple of times and husband was out of work/ill. Best of luck to everyone out there; stay safe and well.

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  24. I see that Jamie is doing recipes from his new show on face book too.

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  26. Disclaimer - I will be using yor ideas and I think you know more than me, but apparently most of the cost of washing clothes in a washing machine is heating the water. Most laundry detergent can cope with a lower temperature, so I tend to wash at the lowest temp I can for as short as I can get away with. If stuff is actually dirty, I'll go for a longer wash.

    Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It's really welcome. x

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  27. California had a really bad drought back in the 1970/80ish? and they came up with a slogan to remind people of not flushing the loo so often to save water; "If it is yellow be mellow, if it is brown flush it down"
    KJ

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  28. You have great suggestions Sue. I grew up with many of those. Your grandson sure is growing fast! What a cutie!

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  29. Another great site for frugal simple living ideas is
    Down To Earth by Rhonda Heztel.

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