Friday 6 November 2020

30 ways to save £1 part 4 and No Spend November

Yesterday was fine and sunny to start with but a bit misty later, then sunny again but no wind so  a load of washing hung limp on the line before I brought it in to drape over the clothes horse. My clothes horse is plastic coated metal and held together by string where the clips are broken but whenever I open it I remember the old wooden one we had years ago......... It was always turned into a children's tent in the summer.

I'm still trying to resign myself to this new lock-down so made cake!
Chocolate Cappuccino squares - from the WI Cakes cookery book. I often make these and they used to sell well at the Country market. 16 squares = 16 days of cake.

 
Still having internet  connection problems sometimes. Telling me to log on, not recognising my sign in or password then I find I can still get onto internet anyway - all very weird

So once again I'm saying that if I disappear that will be why! Hope it doesn't happen

So far this month

(Direct Debits for Council Tax, Phones, Car Breakdown Insurance,Charity Donation Total £260)

1st.        No Spend
2nd        Food  £33 + Cat £6 +  Diesel £18 + Printer Paper £4.          = £61  
3rd         No Spend
4th        Swimming £2.25
5th         No Spend

 

More from the 30 ways to save £1 list from April 2013

16. Poundland and 99p shops are sometimes very good value but not always so know the prices of the things you buy - keep a little price book in your bag. 
       This is still true but probably now that Poundland etc have been around so long we probably know which items are best value without needing a price book.

17. Make Xmas gift tags from old xmas cards or cut an 2 inches off the end of wrapping paper, stick on a piece of card and cut out to make matching gift tags.
         I still do this with my Christmas cards after Christmas every year
          
18. Borrow recipe books from the library and see how many recipes you will actually use before buying the book.
           I'm sure the library has all the recipe books that are published ....and that's a lot, especially at this time of year. Free to borrow, cheap to photo-copy a page. A year later almost every recipe book there is appears in the charity shops!

19. Tip bottles up-side down and leave to drain to get the last bit  of things out.
         This still works obviously and I try to buy sauce and mayo in glass rather than plastic where ever I can. 
                   
20. Cut the end off tubes of toothpaste and creams etc. to get to the last bit.
           This used to be a dangerous process when the edge of the cut off bit was often metal and sharp.    Now tubes tend to be plastic, easier to squeeze to get every last bit out.

So to Friday, another day at home alone, seeing no-one and speaking to no one. Ho Hum
Sue

32 comments:

  1. Morning Sue, it's hard not to get despondent isn't it....worse for you on your own. At least I get out with the dog twice a day, although I usually don't see anyone :(

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    1. A bike ride in the sunshine for me - lots of fresh air and exercise

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  2. Sue, if you ever feel like an online chat, just to see someone else, please feel free to say and we can set one up.

    I remember the clothes horse tents too - my brothers and I used to play in one a lot at one point, whenever Mum didn't need it.
    xx

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  3. I am too frivolous in my spending to keep a daily record but it looks like a good method. At the moment BG has just given me £30 for not turning up for an appointment, so the coffers expand ;)

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    1. No Spend November used to be a Big thing in blogland. I try and usually fail

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  4. I use a bulldog clip on to the folded toothpaste tube its gets every last drop up to the top. I found Poundland had specific sizes specially made and weren't good value on quite a few things.

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    1. Especially their chocolate multi packs - they are much smaller

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  5. Yes you still have to be careful in Poundland, so many of the household cleaners etc are around 89p in places like Aldi and the ones that seem like value for money are usually smaller versions made specifically for Poundland by the manufacturers.

    Sixteen squares of cake might equal 16 days in normal times, but I would hazard a guess at around four days during lockdown ... or is that just me ;-)

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    1. In the recipe the cake is cut into 8 bars - but they are Huge! I'll let you know on the 16 day thing

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  6. I'm increasingly concerned for those living alone during this second Lockdown. The loneliness must be so hard

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    1. I'm OK today, got more sunshine and fresh air but counting down the days!

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  7. G'morning Sue, Lovely day here in the Blackdown Hills, but it could change.

    We were due to have our grand-daughter today, but there are rumours of some people in their village isolating, so until we know for sure we won't be having our little bundle of energy.

    I have used old Christmas cards for tags and I get every last bit of toothpaste out of the tubes until they are totally flat.

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  8. Lots of good tips from you which I do as well. Good memories of the wooded clothes hires.
    It looks like another nice day and hopefully I will get into the Garden.
    Sometimes it is better to have your own company than a partner that keeps moaning, I had a good husband and always thought I would never take a chance on another.
    Hazel c uk ������

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    1. I definitely don't need a new husband - I'd never find anyone like Col!

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  9. Oh Sue I hope you’re not feeling too despondent. I’m crossing the days off on the calendar (like prisoners are meant to do!). 28 days, and one already crossed off - soon we will be free. Although I haven’t commented for ages, I look forward to reading your blog every day so I hope the Internet continues to play ball. Those money-saving tips make interesting reading. I do the toothpaste thing and I also stand the Fairy liquid bottle upside down supported by a plant pot when it is running low. It always surprises me how long it lasts after that! Take care and have a good weekend. Are you a fan of Strictly? It makes my Saturday!

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    1. Love Strictly. and I watch Strictly takes 2 every evening which saves me from watching the depressing local news!

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    2. I was finding the US news very depressing, now less so...but the division is still there

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  10. Lovely ideas some of which I actually remember to use constantly.

    The cake looks scrumptious.

    God bless.

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    1. The cake is delicious. It could have had a couple of minutes less this time - bit crispy on the edges

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  11. Would it be possible to post the recipe for the Chocolate Cappucino Squares. They sound divine!

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  12. The cake looks delicious and should help with lockdown! I keep stress eating sweets with waiting for our election results.

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    1. I think the whole world is waiting for the actual results and worried about what happens next

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  13. Hi Sue, I've just seen your comment about internet problaems. for the past few days whenever i've logged on to your blog my Norton antivirus has flagged you up as a known dangerous web site. I've raised a query with Norton about it - and obviously I'm still following your blog. Has anyone else had problems? x

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    1. Yes I have too, Sky blocked Sue's blog too but tonight it was fine again. Missed reading it.

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    2. I had an e-mail this morning - Norton have re-evaluated the site and declared it safe. So all's well

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  14. I so agree with your suggestion re: recipe books! My collection sits taking up space, and often there are only a couple of recipes I actually use, and after a while I type those out so I don't have to get the book down. And, yes, the books end up at the charity shops.

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  15. Mmmm!! There does seem to be a bit more of me coming out of lockdown in southern Australia! But I still like the look of that cake. The frugal tips stand the passage of time and are still relevant. Hang in there, we are all thinking of you, it's so much harder by yourself, but a plan always helps, and be gentle with yourself as well.

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  16. Those cakes looking very yummy :)

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  17. I still have 2 of the wooden folding clothes horses, one is a really tall one so perfect for towels and sheets - wouldnt be without them x

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