View Full Version : Unofficial Supposed Credit Crunch Money Saving Tips Thread
douglasb
19-09-2008, 12:55
Starter for 10:
There's just two of us in the house and we don't use that much hot water (shower is electric). So the hot water is on for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. Then I decided to cut that down to 50 mins, saving whatever % 10 minutes is of an hour. Could feasibly keep reducing time to find 'optimum' timescale.
Result? Gas bill for last quarter was about £34. And enough hot water to do the dishes, mop floors, etc.
DanWilde1966
19-09-2008, 12:58
Do one weekly (or even monthly) shop, to a strict plan. No more bumbling around supermarkets two or three times a week, randomly and impulsively buying items not on the list.
Get a better paid job.
Downsize your car or start driving it properly (lighter right foot) and maintain it well, air in the tyres can in fact improve your mpg and also improve the tyre longevity.
Do as the Scottish and dine on Mars bars for main meals.
Ask the boss if he minds if you work from home one or two days a week this will save you a great deal on fuel bills over the month/year and if you can do a car share scheme with people at the office.
plasterman
19-09-2008, 13:01
kill Gordon Brown.
Agent_Cooper
19-09-2008, 13:02
Stop buying named brands and go for store brands and look out for the 2 for 1 offers.
If you want wall to wall carpeting, but can't afford it. Cut to squares of carpet and attach them to your feet, they way you get the real feel of carpet under your feet throughout the house
I actually manage with 1 hour a day for hot water! My tank is so well insulated that if I do not use it the water is still hot 3 days later! I tend to fill the dishwasher too (way too lazy to not use the dishwasher :D ).
Apart from that, if you can working from home can save money commuting, but as you get to winter you will spend more on heating the home etc during the day when you may not otherwise heat it as much.
Changing your food buying habbits can make a big difference too though.
pyrogena
19-09-2008, 13:15
If you have children, take them out of school and send them to work.
On a serious note...
Check all your direct debit plans. I checked my Mum's BT bill and found that she was paying £2 a month for call waiting, not needed so she removed it. It may only be £2, but money saved! Could be savings to be had elsewhere. Call up BT and check your calling plan - are you on the best one for your type of useage?
Shop around at car/home/pet insurance time. Shop around internet providers. Do you need SKY TV when freeview gives a lot of the base channels? If you subscribe to DVD rentals are you using all the DVDs allocated to your monthly plan? If not, downgrade to a cheaper plan.
Hand wash your car, don't pay the supermarket car park stalkers to do. Or, like me, don't wash your car.
Mr Blobby
19-09-2008, 13:19
Do one weekly (or even monthly) shop, to a strict plan. No more bumbling around supermarkets two or three times a week, randomly and impulsively buying items not on the list.
Take advantage of the reduced price sections for items near their sell by dates. Or the dented cans reduced in price. Even the bread can brought at reduced price and then stick iin the freezer for later.
Most fruit has a sell by date which is before it's even ripe and can be reduced in price. I got 3 packets of organic kiwi fruit reduced to 69p for four yesterday, they were still rock hard. I stick them in the fridge and they slowly ripen over the week.
Mr Blobby
19-09-2008, 13:23
Starter for 10:
There's just two of us in the house and we don't use that much hot water (shower is electric). So the hot water is on for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. Then I decided to cut that down to 50 mins, saving whatever % 10 minutes is of an hour. Could feasibly keep reducing time to find 'optimum' timescale.
Result? Gas bill for last quarter was about £34. And enough hot water to do the dishes, mop floors, etc.
Put extra lagging round the hot water tank and pipes to reduce heat loss.
Shower with a friend - very popular this-:n0rty:
Made a cup of tea and got leftover boiling water in the kettle? Stick it in a thermos flask for a hot drink later.
Put a jumper on and cut the heating bills.
Turn off electricals when you're not using them; don't use standby.
Go to the library or swop books (I worked out how much all the books bought new on one of my bookcases is and was stunned).
Found out last night I had overpaid my gas bill by the tune of £65. Instead of letting them earn interest on it I asked them to move it to my account and readjust my direct debits.
campdave
19-09-2008, 13:38
Turn off electricals when you're not using them; don't use standby.
I've been trying to work out where the bulk of our electric use in our house comes from - we have two fridges, a freezer, and a sky+ box and freeview pvr which need to be left on or in standby all the time.
Over the last month or so, I've been recording the meter reading daily, and turning things off to try and see where we can make savings. We've got an old sky box in the bedroom, and we now turn that off at the wall when not using it, turn off the computer when it's not being used and turn the wireless router off when we're not at home. We're using 2-3 less units of electric daily, which will add up to £100-£150 saving over a year
Made a cup of tea and got leftover boiling water in the kettle? Stick it in a thermos flask for a hot drink later.
I'm sorry but :lol:
KennyVader
19-09-2008, 13:54
I actually manage with 1 hour a day for hot water! My tank is so well insulated that if I do not use it the water is still hot 3 days later!
Yeah my parents found this out recently. The transformer in their local substation blew up so they were on a generator for mains electricity for a few weeks, and I guess it kept running out of fuel or people were nicking the fuel or something, so they had a lot of lengthy overnight powercuts. Which meant that although the boiler was gas, it could not fire up (no pump for one thing). Anyway they discovered that even after two days of no boiler the hot water was still perfectly hot enough for normal washing etc. I should imagine that as well as the quality of the insulation it would also depend upon the rate of usage and thus how much cold water was being introduced into the cylinder to replace the hot water taken out (as I think the cold water input would be a gravity-fed thing rather than a pumped function?).
I have a combi boiler so everything is heated on demand - don't really understand why everyone doesn't have combis these days, new builds at least.
Made a cup of tea and got leftover boiling water in the kettle? Stick it in a thermos flask for a hot drink later.
Ok that's starting to go a little bit "Viz Top Tips" isn't it? Why not just put less water in the kettle in the first place, then it will boil faster.
Here's an idea, see if your utility/telecoms companies that you use offer a paperless billing option, often they will give you money off your monthly bill or something like a £5 one-off payment for switching, and you have less paper to store at home, just a load of PDF files which you can back up to CD every so often. Plus they don't get to stuff your bill with a load of nonsense marketing leaflets that just end up padding out the recycling bag in my flat (I'm looking at you, BT, EDF, and various credit card companies).
neilalford
19-09-2008, 13:59
Hire less-attractive, cheaper hookers and leave the lights off, a double saving!
neilalford
19-09-2008, 14:04
I have a combi boiler so everything is heated on demand - don't really understand why everyone doesn't have combis these days, new builds at least.
I have one, but it seems a bit rubbish to me, I turn the hot tap on to wash my hands and the boiler switches on, but the water takes so long to warm up that I've finished washing them before it does, so I'm wasting gas for no benefit, alternatively I can stand there for a few minutes waiting for it to warm up, wasting time and water. Now getting into the habit of just using cold water.
d.boyd1uk
19-09-2008, 14:09
When having a bath, do not drain the water down the plug hole, leave the hot water in the bath to warm the bathroom a bit. :D
If you have children, take them out of school and send them to work.
On a serious note...
Check all your direct debit plans. I checked my Mum's BT bill and found that she was paying £2 a month for call waiting, not needed so she removed it. It may only be £2, but money saved! Could be savings to be had elsewhere. Call up BT and check your calling plan - are you on the best one for your type of useage? .
Get BT Privacy for her if she wants the Caller ID Back but doesn't want to pay for it!
farmroad38
19-09-2008, 14:11
When having a bath, do not drain the water down the plug hole, leave the hot water in the bath to warm the bathroom a bit. :D
Shouldn't be having baths anyway :nono: Showers use much less water!
welshmatt
19-09-2008, 14:20
Not really seen the effects of this credit crunch but I am saving for a new car so have cut down a bit on my outgoings:
1. Gave my washing machine to my parents when theirs broke, it saved me electricity, water and time because they do my washing and ironing now.
2. When a football game is on TV go round my parents to watch it, it saves money on a sky sports/setanta subscription plus i usually get fed too.
3. Got rid of my phone contract as I wasnt using it enough, now saving over £20 a month on payg.
Mr Blobby
19-09-2008, 14:25
I'm sorry but :lol:
Come on, you can make a hot thermos drink for later use at work and save having to buy one or use the thermos for a hot drink when you get home. Or if making a hot drink at night, put the left over water in a hot water bottle and warm your bed.
KennyVader
19-09-2008, 14:28
I have one, but it seems a bit rubbish to me, I turn the hot tap on to wash my hands and the boiler switches on, but the water takes so long to warm up that I've finished washing them before it does, so I'm wasting gas for no benefit, alternatively I can stand there for a few minutes waiting for it to warm up, wasting time and water. Now getting into the habit of just using cold water.
Good point, I have a small flat so the hot water comes through pretty quickly everywhere, I guess in a proper house there is more pipework so the hot water will take longer to arrive - but I would have thought the same would apply to hot water cylinders. Have you tried turning the tap to a slightly slower flow, I know with my combi if I turn the large bath taps to full flow it just can't keep up and the water only comes out luke-warm?
Maybe the answer is to have small scale electric water heaters everywhere hot water is needed, so a combi boiler in the kitchen, a smaller on-demand hot water heater in the bathroom. This is how large shop/office buildings tend to provide hot water these days, both for energy-saving, maintenance-saving and various health+safety reasons - the building has a cold water supply throughout and then they just hide lots of small water heaters under the tea-point sinks or behind the WC mirrors.
Mr Blobby
19-09-2008, 14:29
[QUOTE=KennyVader;8234196
Ok that's starting to go a little bit "Viz Top Tips" isn't it? Why not just put less water in the kettle in the first place, then it will boil faster.
[/QUOTE]
You cut down the amount of time switching on the kettle and re-boiling the water if you do it this way. I make a cup of tea in the morning and the thermos saves me making one when I get home as its all ready to pour out.
Mr Blobby
19-09-2008, 14:31
When having a bath, do not drain the water down the plug hole, leave the hot water in the bath to warm the bathroom a bit. :D
Or to do your washing up in later plus if you put your dirty clothing in the bath when you are bathing, you can wash the clothes as well.:thumbs:
Mr Blobby
19-09-2008, 14:33
Not really seen the effects of this credit crunch but I am saving for a new car so have cut down a bit on my outgoings:
1. Gave my washing machine to my parents when theirs broke, it saved me electricity, water and time because they do my washing and ironing now.
2. When a football game is on TV go round my parents to watch it, it saves money on a sky sports/setanta subscription plus i usually get fed too.
3. Got rid of my phone contract as I wasnt using it enough, now saving over £20 a month on payg.
You may as well move back home then and save even more ££££££s.
pyrogena
19-09-2008, 14:40
Not really seen the effects of this credit crunch but I am saving for a new car so have cut down a bit on my outgoings:
1. Gave my washing machine to my parents when theirs broke, it saved me electricity, water and time because they do my washing and ironing now.
2. When a football game is on TV go round my parents to watch it, it saves money on a sky sports/setanta subscription plus i usually get fed too.
3. Got rid of my phone contract as I wasnt using it enough, now saving over £20 a month on payg.
And how are your parents finding this credit crunch?!
Extra washing, extra ironing, cooked meal and a sports sky subscription! I hope you bung em a few quid!!
Mr Blobby
19-09-2008, 14:49
Paper less on line billing saves money and I do this with EON and Virgin+. Setting up direct debits for council tax and fuel bills gets you a discount off your bill for that.
Do not pay the TV licence by DD as this actually costs more.
DuncanSWardle
19-09-2008, 14:50
Checked my boiler and found temp for taps was 62 degrees (i checked it after burning my hands on the hot water)
Turned it down to 45 - water still really hot for washing and cleaning yet (I guess) cheaper to run
Also we have done the "Big shop" thing - found we used to wander aimlesly around Tesco after going for 4 pints of milk and coming out with twenty quids worth of stuff we dont need. Also other half started going to the cheaper supermarkets and have to say saving a fortune
Trying to work out if we can use online shopping to reduce our shopping bill - not so tempted to buy random rubbish!
Use cashback credit cards (e.g. American Express Platinum Card (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=267) or Capital One) to buy everything with and pay them off in full at the end of each month.
Use cashback websites to your full advantage (e.g. applying for above cashback cards, change gas and leccy suppliers every year, reknewing insurance etc).
Use cashback credit cards (e.g. American Express Platinum Card (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=267) or Capital One) to buy everything with and pay them off in full at the end of each month.
Use cashback websites to your full advantage (e.g. applying for above cashback cards, change gas and leccy suppliers every year, reknewing insurance etc).
I use an American Express Platinum Card (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=267) for everything I can. I do not use cashback sites though as I believe in supporting sites like this!
welshmatt
19-09-2008, 15:05
And how are your parents finding this credit crunch?!
Extra washing, extra ironing, cooked meal and a sports sky subscription! I hope you bung em a few quid!!
As well as the aforementioned washing machine I have given them a 32 inch Samsung LCD, my old PC, multiple DVD players and a Sky digibox so most of the things I take advantage of were mine anyway! ;)
Just noticed that makes them sound a bit pikey, but most of it is like new and it makes me realise how much I have unnecessarily spent on my setup in the past few years. I upgraded all my gear less than a year ago and thought that would be it for a long time, but after seeing my mates new Plasma I am itching to cash in some premium bonds. :(
cjanderson
19-09-2008, 15:54
buy games and then trade them in when finished - on say Play.com (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=2) playtrade and generally gaming costs around £5 per game.
use www.readitswapit.co.uk for books i want - get them for the cost of postage. Or of course library for new books.
No elec tips, i have economy 7 and storage heaters and flat is toasty all year anyway, due to double glazing.
There is always a deal on cable and sky to be had if you ring up each year and say you will be off.
Make sarnies for work - or buy rolls and deli spread at the supermarket and store half in fridge at work -need to get back into that.
Book trains and public transport in advance, am home to the folks this weekend, even buying wed for sat travel means it was £33 rather than £55. A few weeks earlier would have been £18. though could have been even cheaper and got the coach at £10 return, very bargainous.
Do one weekly (or even monthly) shop, to a strict plan. No more bumbling around supermarkets two or three times a week, randomly and impulsively buying items not on the list.
If you live a distance from a large supermarket, then try to do most of it online and get them to deliver. Generally you can find money-off or free delivery discounts over the nets. This way you save money, do not have to waste time "going-shopping" and helps prevent buying things that look shiny!
Dick Long
19-09-2008, 16:03
Aldi and Lidl are your friends (+ Wilkos for anything they don't sell).
Aldi and Lidl are your friends.
Thats what they said about Fannie and Freddie. And we know what happened to them!
KennyVader
19-09-2008, 16:10
Make sarnies for work - or buy rolls and deli spread at the supermarket and store half in fridge at work -need to get back into that.
Good one, I'm well into making smoothies myself now, far FAR cheaper than buying tiny Innocent Smoothies and other makes, I got a Kenwood Smoothie To Go (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=8&url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0014IPIHW/thedvdforums-21) machine from Robert Dyas (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=339) (was £20 in-store but I think the offer has ended now), it's dead easy to clean, and just chuck any fruit plus orange juice and ice in. Can also buy cheap fruit from the frozen sections of Tesco/Asda that saves having to put ice in.
Book trains and public transport in advance, am home to the folks this weekend, even buying wed for sat travel means it was £33 rather than £55. A few weeks earlier would have been £18. though could have been even cheaper and got the coach at £10 return, very bargainous.
I discovered the other day that even on London-Brighton, if you can specify the trains you will travel on and book with Southern Railways the day before, you can do it for £5 each way rather than £21.40 bought in-station on the day of travel, so there are probably other cheap next-day fares on other Southern journeys.
Amazed at how people lived before the "Credit Crunch"
We have always done most of the things people are saying they are doing now, used those savings to overpay the mortage, not buy poosh cars on credit etc when times are hard you can ride out the storm then, it's not rocket science really.
I have been taking sarnies to work for 25 Years for example.
Get your hands a bit mucky and try the simpler DIY and car repair tasks yourself. With a good set of tools (mainly just a socket set!) and a manual, car repairs can be much simpler than you think.
Same goes for jobs around the house - painting and decorating, garden landscaping, simple plumbing etc.
Cook your meals from fresh ingredients - make twice as much and freeze the leftovers for another night.
If you can afford it buy in bulk - bog rolls especially!
Ebay all that old crap that you have been meaning to Ebay for the past year!
My #1 tip for saving money: Stop buying things. Whenever you buy something, ask yourself the question: "will this item make me happier". By asking this question, I buy few things I don't need.
Find things to do to occupy yourself that don't cost anything/much. I spend a lot of time reading, playing the drums, cycling, and watching films with my housemates. I live on less money than the official poverty line for a single person of my age. All you have to do is stop being materialistic and live in cheap accomodation.
"Hypermilling" your life is all well and good, but until you realise you don't need to spend money to by happy, it's difficult to dramatically cut down your cost of living.
d.boyd1uk
19-09-2008, 17:01
Stay away from the bargain forum.
rent games from blockbusters only £5 per week.
rent books and cds from the library.
try not to use a credit card, if popping down for a pint of milk, take just enough.
buy value products or bogof from the shops, try and do your main shop buying offers only.
dont watch the shopping channels.
take the cc off your missus, if you have one. :D
buy a smaller car, ie micra.
only use heating when required
turn everything electrical off before you go to bed.
walk/cycle to work if possible
Use Price Devil (http://www.pricedevil.co.uk/Ref/8) to get your prices at the cheapest amount (shameless plug :D )
Sod it life is to short to skrimp and save - just live within your means and enjoy life.
I've been trying to work out where the bulk of our electric use in our house comes from - we have two fridges, a freezer, and a sky+ box and freeview pvr which need to be left on or in standby all the time.
Over the last month or so, I've been recording the meter reading daily, and turning things off to try and see where we can make savings. We've got an old sky box in the bedroom, and we now turn that off at the wall when not using it, turn off the computer when it's not being used and turn the wireless router off when we're not at home. We're using 2-3 less units of electric daily, which will add up to £100-£150 saving over a year
Buy/hiring an energy monitor will show you the exact energy consumptions of everyday objects, which let's you know exactly what it costs
neverland
19-09-2008, 18:37
If you can afford it buy in bulk - bog rolls especially!
But don't assume buying in bulk will automatically save you money. For example, Asda Smart Price bitter is about 95p for a 4 pack or £4.50 for a box of twelve (which is allegedly reduced from a fiver). :lol:
Oh, and my other tip would be to develop nasal polyps if you can. The dulled sense of taste will make things like Asda Smart Price bitter palatable.
Make sure you have used your insulation grants.
Go to bed early and watch TV in bed, heating can go off early then, if cold just heat the bedroom a little with an electric heater, this helps more the bigger your home is.
Always buy Diesel / Petrol at the cheapest place, but don't drive miles to get it and only put in a Tenner ;)
pyrogena
19-09-2008, 18:56
I'm all for saving money, but I'm not about to live like I'm in poverty until I have too! I'm not going to sit in bed watching TV just so I can save a few pence on the heating or live in cheap accomodation. Life IS too short.
And yes, buying shiny new things does make me happy :D Need...want...need - so close in my book.
Make sure your modem and router are on one plug. That way when you take the laptop up to bed for a browse your not leaving all the rest (tv, amp,sub etc) on in standby all night. Better still use a plug in timer set to go off sometime later.
Go shopping on a full stomach- this really works. Buy some long life milk and bread as an emergency to save you popping out to the shops to get some when you run out, which can lead to frivilous spending
Have two or three crappy evening meals a week (beans on toast- packet soup) That way your nicer meals are much more enjoyable.
Always take packed lunch to work, altho they are nice, those sarnie shops can add up
Best of all for us at least, dont turn the heating on again until november. I think ours has been on twice in the last quarter (obviously we need to heat water for an hour every two days) use the shower.
If you have kids, blag an evening meal with the grandparents each week under the pretence of paying a nice visit so they can see the grandkids.:D
Rip Curl
19-09-2008, 19:24
If you want wall to wall carpeting, but can't afford it. Cut to squares of carpet and attach them to your feet, they way you get the real feel of carpet under your feet throughout the house
That was a Viz top tip years ago!
cjanderson
19-09-2008, 19:29
shopping online is a good one, can just buy what you need and check cupboards before you do it.
Also, try and delay going shopping. Eat up those things at the back of the cupboards. some weird meals ensue, which is always amusing. But its the only way to use up that packed of peas and fish fingers that EVERYONE has at the back of their freezer :D
Rip Curl
19-09-2008, 19:30
Always take packed lunch to work, altho they are nice, those sarnie shops can add up
Therefore putting said sarnie shop out of business :doh:
SheepDip
19-09-2008, 19:32
As already said...try out Aldi and Lidl (Personally I find Aldi to be more varied and quality for a shop though). A lot of people see these shops and think they are some sort of chavvy option, or low quality like Netto....can't be further from the truth. The stuff they sell is in many cases the same stuff they sell in their German branches. I can only speak for my local ones, but the staff are extremely cheerful (I've heard they're miserable gits in some though - so it depends).
There's been a few newspaper features on these two stores, more shoppers you might think of as "middle class" are turning to them. They sell not only basics, but such as brioche, feta...seen whole goose and marlin steaks there.
£3.29 for a pack of 6 bottled beers (German remember), and it doesn't taste cheap - tastes to me like any medium quality lager, and way better than some well known brands :lol:
And the prices - definately cheaper than Tesco. Grief, sounds like I'm advertising for them, I'm not...just want to pass on a tip I've discovered :lol:
Therefore putting said sarnie shop out of business :doh:
Tought ****! Im not here to fund their villas.
Another tip, if you have kids buy cheap ice cream and cornets at farmfoods and when they ask for ice cream van money give them a homemade one instead, they may cry a bit, but youll save £££££'s
splobber
19-09-2008, 19:46
Aldi and Lidl are horrible places, you couldn't do a weeks shop as it is pants and I don't find them any cheaper at all overall. Tesco has moved into that area of the market with their unbranded kak and promoting it cheaper.
I can't stand being tight for the sake of it, so as has been said just live within your means and enjoy yourself in doing so. It's not rocket science. If you have to make serious cutbacks then you were already living above your means imo.
Downsize your car or start driving it properly (lighter right foot) and maintain it well, air in the tyres can in fact improve your mpg and also improve the tyre longevity.
Pussy!
I bought some paracetamol from lidl, took a tablet and they gave me a headache.
hookbeak
19-09-2008, 19:53
the way some people are treating this supposed "credit crunch" (total effects so far to me : about £50 a month worse off than before i guess; so **** all) you'd think they were preparing for the end of civilisation.
Some of things i 've read of people doing make me think they are mentally ill rather than just frugal.
the way some people are treating this supposed "credit crunch" (total effects so far to me : about £50 a month worse off than before i guess; so **** all) you'd think they were preparing for the end of civilisation.
Some of things i 've read of people doing make me think they are mentally ill rather than just frugal.
Example?
SheepDip
19-09-2008, 19:57
I bought some paracetamol from lidl, took a tablet and they gave me a headache.
Sorry but :lol:
I can't talk - I buy it from Wilkinson and Home Bargains. Yes, I'm a tightwad
hookbeak
19-09-2008, 20:04
Example?
I don't want to quote examples as people will then think i'm directly insulting them. But here's a few "what the **** ?" examples in the "are you cutting back on your spending ?" thread and certainly at least one in this one.
splobber
19-09-2008, 20:06
Stick your dirty bathwater in a thermos and use it to make Cup A Soup from sawdust shavings and discarded leaves (the croutons will already be present).
It can also makes a mean frappe too.
I also think aldi and lidl are crap, mainly, they dont do bogof's as they think they are much cheaper than anywhere else, and they food is garbage youve never heard of. Nettos are ok as they have good brands and some deals.
Tesco are the best when it comes to value IMO, with multi buys, bogofs etc.
I don't want to quote examples as people will then think i'm directly insulting them. But here's a few "what the **** ?" examples in the "are you cutting back on your spending ?" thread and certainly at least one in this one.
Well I can't really see any that indicate subnormal intelligence. Would help, I'm sure, if you would point one out.
Some are very obvious and should have been implemented long ago but that's our society and culture and we have been groomed to live out of our means and it's so easy to do. Which is why we are where we are now.
Anyone else feel like a pauper when shopping at Sainsburys lately, with all the 'feed your family crap meals for a fiver' signs up everywhere?
the way some people are treating this supposed "credit crunch" (total effects so far to me : about £50 a month worse off than before i guess; so **** all) you'd think they were preparing for the end of civilisation.
Some of things i 've read of people doing make me think they are mentally ill rather than just frugal.
To quote Viz again, it recently gave the definition of 'Credit Crunch' as 'an apocalyptic global meltdown of unprecedented severity which means that a multipack of oranges that used to cost 26p now costs 29p'.
splobber
19-09-2008, 20:14
Well I can't really see any that indicate subnormal intelligence. Would help, I'm sure, if you would point one out.
Feel free to quote mine hookbeak. :thumbs:
Feel free to quote mine hookbeak. :thumbs:
You cheat :razz:
pyrogena
19-09-2008, 20:21
Well I can't really see any that indicate subnormal intelligence. Would help, I'm sure, if you would point one out.
Some are very obvious and should have been implemented long ago but that's our society and culture and we have been groomed to live out of our means and it's so easy to do. Which is why we are where we are now.
Where did he say it indicated subnormal intelligence? He used the phrase mentally ill.
Bloody hell, I've just wasted electricity setting that straight :(
Where did he say it indicated subnormal intelligence? He used the phrase mentally ill.
Bloody hell, I've just wasted electricity setting that straight :(
My mistake :thumbs:
Wasting such power, you fiend!
Just Passing
19-09-2008, 20:23
Sod it life is to short to skrimp and save - just live within your means and enjoy life.
Well said. I am sick of everyone advising me that I should turn all the lights off and creep around in the dark or put on layers of clothes and sit in the cold. I happen to like sitting naked in a well lit room thank you.
I can't understand people that actually unplug every single appliance when it isn't in use and then boast about saving a couple of units of electricity. You will probably wear your appliances out quicker than me and / or wear out your sockets.
pyrogena
19-09-2008, 20:26
My mistake :thumbs:
Wasting such power, you fiend!
It's ok though, I'm sat in bed writing this thus saving on central heating. :thumbs:
anephric
19-09-2008, 20:29
Leaving TVs and such on standby is a horrific waste of lekky and terribly bad for the environment, old bean.
£50 a month worse off may not sound bad to some people lighting cigars with wads of fivers and gnawing on the bones of the proletariat, but I've had some pretty crappy jobs circa £12-14k where that was the difference between keeping your head above water or not.
Rip Curl
19-09-2008, 20:39
Tought ****! Im not here to fund their villas.
That sandwich shop you just put out of business by not buying their product sack people.
They used to buy product from a "third party".
"Third party" are employing people, but they can't employee people any longer, as sandwich shop is no longer buying sandwiches to sell.
"Third party" sack people.
An Indivdual works in a factory making bread.... there is no demand for bread as the sandwich business is flawed! As consumers will not buy sandwiches.
Sack the factory workers in the bakers!
Now no need for grain as bread isn't in demand.
Farmers can't sustain crops as they arn't paid enough.
Factory workers flood the work force, thus diluting menial jobs. Taxes rise to fund the unemployed...etc
Happy now?
:lol:
neilalford
19-09-2008, 20:57
Amazed at how people lived before the "Credit Crunch"
We have always done most of the things people are saying they are doing now
Yep, some of it does remind me of Money Saving "Expert", I sadly signed up and every week I get an e-mail with a headline like "Save £500 per week", which then says "Surveys show that the average family sets fire to almost five hundred pounds worth of used bank notes each week, to save money, stop burning your money!" plus a few tips on how to try and weasel out of your debt.
ArthurDent
19-09-2008, 20:58
I also think aldi and lidl are crap, mainly, they dont do bogof's as they think they are much cheaper than anywhere else, and they food is garbage youve never heard of. Nettos are ok as they have good brands and some deals.
Tesco are the best when it comes to value IMO, with multi buys, bogofs etc.
The BOGOFs are at the expense of the supermarket suppliers, and have nothing at all to do with Tesco / Asda / Sainsburys doing us a favour. I'm guessing the main reason that the likes of Aldi / Lidl don't do BOGOFs is because they don't have the same leverage against their suppliers like the aforementioned stores. Saying that stores are crap because they don't do BOGOFs is :nuts:
Lagerlout
19-09-2008, 21:06
but I've had some pretty crappy jobs circa £12-14k where that was the difference between keeping your head above water or not.
Am only on 16k now, but can afford to live fine. I still go out, run a motorbike, eat well - just not an idiot while shopping. £12k isn't really that bad to a lot of people, although I suppose it depends on who else you're supporting. Certainly I know a fair few people on less than 15k.
Always buy Diesel / Petrol at the cheapest place, but don't drive miles to get it and only put in a Tenner ;) Check www.petrolprices.com (http://www.petrolprices.com/) for the lowest price in your area. Also don't fill up your car completely. By filling up more often and putting less in, your car will run more efficiently.
neilalford
19-09-2008, 21:10
the way some people are treating this supposed "credit crunch" (total effects so far to me : about £50 a month worse off than before i guess; so **** all) you'd think they were preparing for the end of civilisation.
I seem to be a bit better off each month TBH, the Governments 10% tax rate cock up kicked in a while back, which was nice, now their fix for the cock up is just kicking in, which is also nice, interest rates are up, dividend payments seem to be up, Tesco Double-Up vouchers and Virgin Wine Bank are reducing my wine costs (which is about 20% of my monthly spare money), plus I earn a little bit more due to inflation.
So, as long as mortgage interest rates don't go insane (10%+), I feel fairly confident.
Saying that stores are crap because they don't do BOGOFs is :nuts:
Why? Should I shop at aldi out of sympathy?
pyrogena
19-09-2008, 21:52
Why? Should I shop at aldi out of sympathy?
First you single handily bring down the sandwich business and now you're going after aldi. Shame on you!
:lol:Reminds me when I was on the dole and living in a grotty damp flat in Jesmond (for those who dont know, its 'allegedly' a desirable area, but its not really most of its a dump) and this idiot knocked at the door selling dishcloths and other tat. When I said no he said 'aah howay mate, Ive been unemployed and Im trying to get back on my feet' I said 'Im still unemployed, how about I sell you some of my old crap I dont want?'
He didnt buy nowt tho.:(
Rip Curl
19-09-2008, 22:18
First you single handily bring down the sandwich business and now you're going after aldi. Shame on you!
Don't underestimate tizza! :suspect:
SheepDip
19-09-2008, 22:23
Funny mentioning shopping around for petrol/diesel.....my ex neighbour a few years ago when I was learning to drive/getting my first car, was telling me I should get a diesel.
He went on and on about reliability etc, then he said how fuel is so cheap - and he saves a fortune by buying it in bulk. He then showed me these containers of diesel in the back of his garage - thing is, it was sorta....red :suspect:
So ok, guess he shouldn't be buying/running on that stuff, but really - how often do we get stopped and the fuel tank dipped? Not often in a town. Wonder how many more people do this. Must be way easier than filling it with waste chip fat, if you're that way inclined.
KennyVader
19-09-2008, 23:04
Another tip, if you have kids buy cheap ice cream and cornets at farmfoods and when they ask for ice cream van money give them a homemade one instead, they may cry a bit, but youll save £££££'s
:cry::lol:
Or just make them watch Assault on Precinct 13 (the proper version) and they'll never ask for ice cream van money again :thumbs:
Funny mentioning shopping around for petrol/diesel.....my ex neighbour a few years ago when I was learning to drive/getting my first car, was telling me I should get a diesel.
He went on and on about reliability etc, then he said how fuel is so cheap - and he saves a fortune by buying it in bulk. He then showed me these containers of diesel in the back of his garage - thing is, it was sorta....red :suspect:
So ok, guess he shouldn't be buying/running on that stuff, but really - how often do we get stopped and the fuel tank dipped? Not often in a town. Wonder how many more people do this. Must be way easier than filling it with waste chip fat, if you're that way inclined.
I should imagine that despite what happens in TV soaps and dramas, in reality the HMRC cops probably only dip peoples' tanks when they need irrefutable evidence for court on someone they've already been tipped off about or have found about and already investigated some other way.
anephric
20-09-2008, 00:45
Am only on 16k now, but can afford to live fine. I still go out, run a motorbike, eat well - just not an idiot while shopping. £12k isn't really that bad to a lot of people, although I suppose it depends on who else you're supporting. Certainly I know a fair few people on less than 15k.
When I was an Asst Manager at Blockies I made £12k. Just. With no possibility of any overtime, just time off in lieu. Derby isn't an expensive place to live, and I certainly struggled paying rent on a pretty crappy flat, council tax, food, bills and transport to work. Literally, I had £30-50 "spare" a month to actually kinda do something apart from eat, **** and go to work. And I didn't run a car or anything - there was no way that I could afford to. Couldn't save. Couldn't do anything that wasn't NHS. Didn't go on holiday.
Fine, I lived alone (in a tiny flat! There was no way I was sharing that). I could have shared with someone (indeed, I probably should have) but if you don't know anyone that wants/needs to share, it means doubling up with random people off the street.
I can't imagine how people raise kids off single incomes not much higher than that, and plenty of people do. So when you're on the breadline crunches are a pretty big deal.
...there is no demand for bread as the sandwich business is flawed! As consumers will not buy sandwiches.
Sack the factory workers in the bakers!
Now no need for grain as bread isn't in demand.
Farmers can't sustain crops as they arn't paid enough.
of course there would be demand for bread. We'd all be making our own sandwiches using up loads of loaves ;)
dvds2000
20-09-2008, 03:38
I should imagine that despite what happens in TV soaps and dramas, in reality the HMRC cops probably only dip peoples' tanks when they need irrefutable evidence for court on someone they've already been tipped off about or have found about and already investigated some other way.
Over about the past year I've seen it done 3 times up here, twice was roadside checks, and once was at a car boot sale where they went round all the sellers checking their cars then round the car park as people were getting back in their cars. They took 3 cars from the boot sale!
campdave
20-09-2008, 07:53
Good to see that old fashioned snobbery hasn't been affected by the credit crunch :lol:
kohoutec
20-09-2008, 08:23
Do one weekly (or even monthly) shop, to a strict plan. No more bumbling around supermarkets two or three times a week, randomly and impulsively buying items not on the list.
I started doing exactly that a couple of months ago and it's made a big difference, I go shopping once a week on a Sunday now and limit myself to a set figure.
Also taking sandwiches to work and not buying from the tea lady (yes, we still have one). Was spending £24 a month on tea alone (3 cups a day at 40p a pop), which is bonkers when you think about it.
Over about the past year I've seen it done 3 times up here, twice was roadside checks, and once was at a car boot sale where they went round all the sellers checking their cars then round the car park as people were getting back in their cars. They took 3 cars from the boot sale!
Seems dipping is very area dependant, I live in a town but work in the country and I have never seen any dipping in 25 years, I have heard that at times they have dipped at agricultural shows, but I have never heard of any randam checks at the road side.
A proplem with running on red is where do you buy it without arousing suspicion, unless you're in a trade where it can be justified it's not that easy.
Just Passing
20-09-2008, 09:40
A proplem with running on red is where do you buy it without arousing suspicion, unless you're in a trade where it can be justified it's not that easy.
That's easy. Just have a heating oil tank installed at home and get it filled every few months. I know heating oil works in Diesel engines because I've seen it used to run Diesel ride on lawn mowers at a large estate I worked at.
Bapapapa
20-09-2008, 10:19
Made a cup of tea and got leftover boiling water in the kettle? Stick it in a thermos flask for a hot drink later.
You cut down the amount of time switching on the kettle and re-boiling the water if you do it this way. I make a cup of tea in the morning and the thermos saves me making one when I get home as its all ready to pour out.WTF!?
:nuts::lol:
Checked my boiler and found temp for taps was 62 degrees (i checked it after burning my hands on the hot water)
Turned it down to 45 - water still really hot for washing and cleaning yet (I guess) cheaper to run
Not sure if you're saving anything really as you'll now need *more* hot water to fill the basin/bath to the same level as before. And if it is for a bath it'll be cold by the time it's full up..
That's easy. Just have a heating oil tank installed at home and get it filled every few months. I know heating oil works in Diesel engines because I've seen it used to run Diesel ride on lawn mowers at a large estate I worked at.
Gas oil is used for heating and is the same stuff people call red diesel, most home Oil Heating use Kerosene, but some do use Gas oil so it is an option, but how many people are going to go the the expense of having a tank fitted at home? Also if you buy well above the normal amount you will again be arousing suspicion.
I'm sure if you already did have a home heating system running on gas oil a fair few gallons could be used without arousing suspicion though.
Lagerlout
20-09-2008, 10:44
When I was an Asst Manager at Blockies I made £12k. Just. With no possibility of any overtime, just time off in lieu.....
How long ago was this? I lived on £8,600 a year in '98 down in Southampton, and still went abroad that year, but again I was sharing. I've pretty much always shared, its usually not too hard to find someone and it decreases costs a lot.
As for how people afford to bring up families, its tax credits. Wish we'd had them when I was a kid!
Bapapapa
20-09-2008, 10:59
As for how people afford to bring up families, its tax credits. Wish we'd had them when I was a kid!lol_wat?
I think our tax credit is about £30pw..
As for how people afford to bring up families, its tax credits. Wish we'd had them when I was a kid!
I wish that was the case
Leav ou th las lette of eac wor i a sentenc. Thi save o keyboar wea an i stil readabl (jus).
Also, don't buy the 'Best of Ibiza Rave 2008' cd. Instead put a few random scratches on your Best of 2007 copy. The random jumps and repeats will make it sound like a fresh new recording.
AdamBrunt
20-09-2008, 11:31
lol_wat?
I think our tax credit is about £30pw..
Is that tax credit or child benefit or both ? - you are entitled to claim for both but may not get tax credit. Child benefit (if you have two kids) is about £30 pw.
Bapapapa
20-09-2008, 11:39
That's just tax credit.
I think our child benefit is similar though..
Totally enough to raise a family on.. :nuts:
One of the best money saving tips I read was to take advantage of BOGOF's but ignore the "buy 2 get one free" things, if you only need the one. Seems to work if you used to get hoodwinked into buying 3 fresh things that end up going off like I did.
Turn off all hot water facilties as hot showers and baths are just luxuries anyway.
KennyVader
20-09-2008, 13:13
cut/shave your own hair! Resultant styles may be limited!
AdamBrunt
20-09-2008, 13:29
cut/shave your own hair! Resultant styles may be limited!
Indeed but it definitely saves money.
Round these parts, a regular cut for men is £12-15. Clippers cost about £40 so practically saving money once you've used them twice. And how much style can you get from a "grade 2 all over" anyway ;)
DuncanSWardle
20-09-2008, 13:39
WTF!?
:nuts::lol:
Not sure if you're saving anything really as you'll now need *more* hot water to fill the basin/bath to the same level as before. And if it is for a bath it'll be cold by the time it's full up..
Not sure if understand
No matter what the temp the sink and bath still hold same amount of hot water
At the new (lower temp) you can fill the bath to required level and get into it still at a nice hot temp (and which stays as such long enough to have good soak if needed)
In actual fact thinking about it on the much higher temp when running a bath we also ran cold water at same time
The new, lower, temp is plenty hot enough to wash and clean etc
In actual fact thinking about it on the much higher temp when running a bath we also ran cold water at same time
Keep thinking on this point ;)
The mrs cuts my hair, shes better than the last barber cut I had about 10yr ago, they made right arse of it. Plus If she gets too close I can grope her (to her protests)while she cuts it, cant do that at the barbers.
AmazingTate
21-09-2008, 14:52
My mother and sister went to Aldi yesterday taking my cousin with them, he apparently walked out aftr 10 mins claiming he is a snob and that places like that are beneath him.
pyrogena
21-09-2008, 15:17
My mother and sister went to Aldi yesterday taking my cousin with them, he apparently walked out aftr 10 mins claiming he is a snob and that places like that are beneath him.
I did the same in Lidl a few years back. Didn't claim I was a snob, but it was a horrendous place and I couldn't wait to get out.
campdave
21-09-2008, 15:19
I did the same in Lidl a few years back. Didn't claim I was a snob, but it was a horrendous place and I couldn't wait to get out.
Give me Lidl or Adli over Adsa any day. As far as I'm concerned, Asda is the pits.
Maybe it depends from place to place, but our local Aldi is probably the nicest supermarket in the area.
Give me Lidl or Adli over Adsa any day. As far as I'm concerned, Asda is the pits.
:thumbs: I refuse to go to Asda and have not been there for several years. Aldi and Lidl always seem ok to me (I only shop there for the non-foods stuff) and my local ones tend to be full of pensioners rather than any chavs!
pyrogena
21-09-2008, 15:25
Give me Lidl or Adli over Adsa any day. As far as I'm concerned, Asda is the pits.
Maybe it depends from place to place, but our local Aldi is probably the nicest supermarket in the area.
To be fair, this Lidl was on the Oxford Road in Reading - anyone who has ever been there will understand :D
There's a two Asda's in Reading (or at least near) and they are polar opposites of each other - one an utter hell hole, the other fairly decent.
douglasb
21-09-2008, 16:33
Supermarket shenanigans: you may have seen Tesco have started to introduce "budget label" items onto their shelves that give the impression of being from obscure brands you might find in Lidl or Aldi. They're actually Tesco products but tarted up so you don't have to be ashamed of having "value" stuff in your trolley. How can you tell? It may say "Golden Valley" on the front but the labelling information is in exactly the same font/format as all the other Tesco stuff.
basegreen
21-09-2008, 16:48
Supermarket shenanigans: you may have seen Tesco have started to introduce "budget label" items onto their shelves that give the impression of being from obscure brands you might find in Lidl or Aldi. They're actually Tesco products but tarted up so you don't have to be ashamed of having "value" stuff in your trolley. How can you tell? It may say "Golden Valley" on the front but the labelling information is in exactly the same font/format as all the other Tesco stuff.
Yep - well spotted. Morrisons are also doing this as well.
Bapapapa
21-09-2008, 17:25
The uniform you have to wear before you're allowed to shop in the Asda in Beddington/Croydon seems to be a wife-beater... young or old, male or female, makes no odds it seems!
I'd be less embarrassed to be seen in the poundshop sans disguise.. :nuts:
My mother and sister went to Aldi yesterday taking my cousin with them, he apparently walked out aftr 10 mins claiming he is a snob and that places like that are beneath him.
I felt like that after visiting Waitrose.
NicolaUK
21-09-2008, 17:43
Supermarket shenanigans: you may have seen Tesco have started to introduce "budget label" items onto their shelves that give the impression of being from obscure brands you might find in Lidl or Aldi. They're actually Tesco products but tarted up so you don't have to be ashamed of having "value" stuff in your trolley. How can you tell? It may say "Golden Valley" on the front but the labelling information is in exactly the same font/format as all the other Tesco stuff.
A few days late ;)
http://thedvdforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8234050&postcount=215
Shamaniac
21-09-2008, 17:51
I felt like that after visiting Waitrose.
In our circles one has one's food grown exclusively for oneself.
At least have your shopping done. What are servants for, after all.
AmazingTate
21-09-2008, 17:52
I felt like that after visiting Waitrose.
oh i know the feeling :P only joking.
problem with shopping at the moment is that we live in the middle of nowhere between peterborough and huntingdon, the only food shop close to us is co-op which charges through the roof because they can because of our location, so even if we did buy cheap, what we make up for in saving money on food goes on petrol going to buy the food - ketch 22 :) closest to us is Tesco.
The sainsburys near where my mum lives did a wee experiment in which they had one trolly filled with name brands and one trolly with sainsburys stuff in it, not the basics range but the sainsburys stuff. The branded came to like £150 and the sainsburys stuff came to about £70 - seems silly to pay so much more just for a name.
cjanderson
21-09-2008, 18:22
if you do it all online you avoid the plebs :suspect:
its handy though, when you know your shopping won't arrive for 2-3 days, the tempation to buy snacks as your hungry goes. And you can see all the offers in one place (and its always branded expensive goods). Though its good if your happy to just switch each month to whats on offer or stock on on stuff like soap powder when they have it on offer. also saves petrol or bus fares.
pyrogena
21-09-2008, 18:24
if you do it all online you avoid the plebs :suspect:
When you online shop with Lidl they deliver it by attaching it to rocks and chucking it through your front window.
Shamaniac
21-09-2008, 18:25
if you do it all online you avoid the plebs :suspect:
For which purpose one has hired an IT butler. Who also surveys the purchasing of class-compatible non-food items, such as aeroplanes and yachts. One needs to go with the times.
Phoenixetta
21-09-2008, 19:10
My landlady is one of these super-women who never wastes a single ounce of food. Anything that's not eaten for dinner becomes lunch; if it's not eaten for lunch it becomes soup!
Personally, despite my inner guilt, I'm making the most of Asda's 3 bottles of wine for £10...
whats all this about asda?
Sure - it's a wretched place - but my wife does the shopping so I never have to go there.
Sure - it's a wretched place - but my wife does the shopping so I never have to go there.
Some of us seem to be eternally single though so have to do our own shopping ;)
Personally, despite my inner guilt, I'm making the most of Asda's 3 bottles of wine for £10...
Mmm, I bet that is top quality stuff ;)
i just moved my phoneline over to tiscali, who now have my line rental, broadband and has free anytime phonecalls. Is saving me about £25 a month!
And def plan what your going to eat during the week. Then you know exactly what to buy when youre out shopping. My weekly shopping is around £30-40 for the three of us.
Masanevre
22-09-2008, 06:11
only flush the chain on a number 2
only put the dish washer and washing machine one on when full
Mr Blobby
22-09-2008, 08:42
Tought ****! Im not here to fund their villas.
Another tip, if you have kids buy cheap ice cream and cornets at farmfoods and when they ask for ice cream van money give them a homemade one instead, they may cry a bit, but youll save £££££'s
Better still, tell them the music from the van means it's sold out of ice cream.
Mr Blobby
22-09-2008, 08:47
That sandwich shop you just put out of business by not buying their product sack people.
They used to buy product from a "third party".
"Third party" are employing people, but they can't employee people any longer, as sandwich shop is no longer buying sandwiches to sell.
"Third party" sack people.
An Indivdual works in a factory making bread.... there is no demand for bread as the sandwich business is flawed! As consumers will not buy sandwiches.
Sack the factory workers in the bakers!
Now no need for grain as bread isn't in demand.
Farmers can't sustain crops as they arn't paid enough.
Factory workers flood the work force, thus diluting menial jobs. Taxes rise to fund the unemployed...etc
Happy now?
:lol:
Wrong. More people making sarnies at home means more bread brought from supermarkets means more bread made by bakers means more grain needed from farmers means new jobs for unemployed sarnie makers.:thumbs:
douglasb
22-09-2008, 08:49
I created a monster. I am sorry.
Mr Blobby
22-09-2008, 08:54
only flush the chain on a number 2
only put the dish washer and washing machine one on when full
If you combine the two in one machine you make a saving on electricity and water AND soap.:thumbs:
And use your employers loo for number two's to save more water.
Mr Blobby
22-09-2008, 09:17
:thumbs: I refuse to go to Asda and have not been there for several years. Aldi and Lidl always seem ok to me (I only shop there for the non-foods stuff) and my local ones tend to be full of pensioners rather than any chavs!
Well if you want to support the krauts your grandparents and great grandparents fought so be it.
mburton2
22-09-2008, 09:34
As the credit crunch continues to bite, consider this:
If you had purchased £1,000 of Northern Rock shares one year ago it would now be worth £4.95.
With HBOS, earlier this week your £1,000 would have been worth £16.50.
£1,000 invested in XL Leisure would now be worth less than £5.
However, if you bought £1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank it all, then took the empty cans to an aluminium re-cycling plant, you would get £214.
So... based on the above statistics the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and re-cycle.
I have a combi boiler and as was said before the time it takes to get hot through to the tap is ages,with clean water going down the drain so now we fill a large container till the water gets hot then that water goes into the kettle.
I have a combi boiler and as was said before the time it takes to get hot through to the tap is ages,with clean water going down the drain so now we fill a large container till the water gets hot then that water goes into the kettle.
to be used for.....?:shrug:
Lagerlout
22-09-2008, 12:27
Tea?
EDIT: No, wait, coffee! Its coffee isn't it? Weasel regurgitated coffee.
campdave
22-09-2008, 12:27
then that water goes into the kettle.
to be used for.....?:shrug:
:shrug:
pyrogena
22-09-2008, 12:44
On the subject of water...get water butts in your garden if you have flowers to water. Collect the rain water and use that instead of filling up a can from the tap. Save money AND save the planet!
Lagerlout
22-09-2008, 12:46
Forgive my ignorance, but how does that save the planet? I presume treatment costs? Not that it matters to me, concrete garden and not on a water meter :D
campdave
22-09-2008, 12:50
I presume treatment costs?
Yep - plants don't to drink water fit for human consumption.
GF's dad has rainwater collection tanks which are used for showering and bathing and toilet flushing too
:shrug:
My confusion is that he uses hot water to go into a kettle - i fill my kettle up with cold water - maybe thats just me from experience with older systems where the hot water supply comes from a tank and not supposed to be used for consumption.
I guess it's just stayed with me, in that I only use the hot water in my house for cleaning and dishes. I hadn't thought that there's nothing wrong with the hot water in a combi-boiler being put in your kettle as I guess the supply comes from the same place as the cold water.
pyrogena
22-09-2008, 12:55
Yep - plants don't to drink water fit for human consumption.
GF's dad has rainwater collection tanks which are used for showering and bathing and toilet flushing too
We just water the plants with it...:suspect:
neilalford
22-09-2008, 12:56
On the subject of water...get water butts in your garden if you have flowers to water. Collect the rain water and use that instead of filling up a can from the tap. Save money AND save the planet!
One additional connected tip from my mum that I should pass on, don't store your containers of rain water alongside an identical looking container of battery acid, the plants don't like that, they don't like that a lot.
pyrogena
22-09-2008, 12:56
My confusion is that he uses hot water to go into a kettle - i fill my kettle up with cold water - maybe thats just me from experience with older systems where the hot water supply comes from a tank and not supposed to be used for consumption.
I think he puts the cold/warm water into the kettle - the stuff that comes out before the boiler has heated it up.
campdave
22-09-2008, 12:57
My confusion is that he uses hot water to go into a kettle - i fill my kettle up with cold water - maybe thats just me from experience with older systems where the hot water supply comes from a tank and not supposed to be used for consumption.
Seems fairly clear to me that he runs the cold water into a container while he's waiting for the water to turn hot. We do the same thing, but straight into our kettle - we have an "eco" kettle which allows you to fill the kettle, but then turn a nozzle to let a certain amount of the water into the section used for boiling.
pyrogena
22-09-2008, 12:57
One additional connected tip from my mum that I should pass on, don't store your containers of rain water alongside an identical looking container of battery acid, the plants don't like that, they don't like that a lot.
Why does your mum have a large container of battery acid? :eek:
neilalford
22-09-2008, 12:59
Why does your mum have a large container of battery acid? :eek:
It was my dad's (and only a small container), as for why, I assume, for batteries, or possibly inconvenient evidence.
45 is a borderline temperature for preventing legionella, ok if you have a combi with no storage, but I wouldn't risk it if you have a hotwater tank, or hybrid-combi.
Lagerlout
22-09-2008, 13:01
You should get pigs instead of battery acid, apparently they do the same job of inconvenient evidence but also double up as a sandwich filling.
Supermarket shenanigans: you may have seen Tesco have started to introduce "budget label" items onto their shelves that give the impression of being from obscure brands you might find in Lidl or Aldi. They're actually Tesco products but tarted up so you don't have to be ashamed of having "value" stuff in your trolley. How can you tell? It may say "Golden Valley" on the front but the labelling information is in exactly the same font/format as all the other Tesco stuff.
Er no they are not Tesco products. They are bought from the same markets that Aldi and Lidl buy from. They just package them up in differing boxes to keep the nutritional labeling uniform across all products.
However, if you bought £1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank it all, then took the empty cans to an aluminium re-cycling plant, you would get £214.
Lets take the example of Fosters 24 pack for £9.99. That equals 100 packs, or 2400 cans. I some how doubt that you'd get 9p per aluminum can - scrap can't be worth that much.
douglasb
23-09-2008, 14:13
Er no they are not Tesco products. They are bought from the same markets that Aldi and Lidl buy from. They just package them up in differing boxes to keep the nutritional labeling uniform across all products.
Which, I presume they do with the value range as well? The point is that they've bought low-grade foodstuffs but packaged them in 'fancy' packaging to make the consumer feel like they're getting something a tiny, tiny grade up from the benefits and single mums products.
mbuckhurst
23-09-2008, 15:02
On the subject of water...get water butts in your garden if you have flowers to water. Collect the rain water and use that instead of filling up a can from the tap. Save money AND save the planet!
Only saves money if you're on a meter, and even then, if you actually work out the saving vs the amount used during a typical british summer and you'll never pay back the cost of the butt in the first place.
However it is a great idea environmentally, I've got around 500litres capacity in my garden, connected together so I don't even need to use a pump to move it around.
mike
mbuckhurst
23-09-2008, 15:06
Seems fairly clear to me that he runs the cold water into a container while he's waiting for the water to turn hot. We do the same thing, but straight into our kettle - we have an "eco" kettle which allows you to fill the kettle, but then turn a nozzle to let a certain amount of the water into the section used for boiling.
We use an instant tefal kettle which supplies only what's required, and keep a jug with cold water nearby, allowing it to warm to room temperature and thus save a minute amount of energy, but nevertheless it does save some.
I've now got a solar heated, pressurised water tank i.e. connected directly to the water mains, so wonder whether it would be safe to drink the water since it's going to be largely free hot water.
mike
Shamaniac
23-09-2008, 16:18
Er no they are not Tesco products. They are bought from the same markets that Aldi and Lidl buy from.
And what mysterious markets would that be?
There are only that many large food manufacturers, and they supply the whole retail market under different manufacturers' and retail brand names. Same stuff, different box.
I saw an advert on a car saying you can fit solar panels to cars now. Is that for real?
SheepDip
23-09-2008, 19:23
All this about Aldi and Lidl stuff coming from the same cheaper Tesco source, I'm not convinced.
Had loads of supermarket own brand, loads of Aldi/Lidl stuff - and it varies from best ever to crud.
Tesco value is almost always crud, Aldi etc wouldn't dare sell that.
Tesco own brand often beats top brands.
Doesn't mean because it's cheaper it's crap.
Bapapapa
23-09-2008, 19:27
The new Tesco budget lines looks more like the Happy Shopper stuff you'd buy in the local corner shop.. :nuts:
Bapapapa
25-09-2008, 10:29
As for how people afford to bring up families, its tax credits. Wish we'd had them when I was a kid!
lol_wat?
I think our tax credit is about £30pw..
Is that tax credit or child benefit or both ? - you are entitled to claim for both but may not get tax credit. Child benefit (if you have two kids) is about £30 pw.Correcting my earlier post to say that our child tax credit is actually £10pw.. :nuts:
NicolaUK
25-09-2008, 10:33
More money than sense :p
Bapapapa
25-09-2008, 10:46
FFS Nicola! It's not even enough for two packets of fags.. :(
NicolaUK
25-09-2008, 10:51
******* government :mad:
vBulletin® v3.7.0, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.