Green Aura wrote:Julie, what's an ironing board? I have vague memories of one in Manchester
GA, it's a very valuable tool for use in patchwork, dressmaking and embroidery. I have a vague feeling that you can do something with clothes as well, but can't remember what.
Mine gets used regularly, as a handy spare table in the living room or a cat's climbing frame. It's just the right height as a table if you need to stand and do something.
I still have an iron - and find that very useful for pressing corners and hems when I am sewing - not sure what else you would do with it - but no ironing board - I just use my chopping board with a dish towel over it when I need to iron something (great for sterilising the wooden boards )
In view of the other thread - hanging washing outside - not having to iron stuff is one of best recommendations for putting the washing out to dry - fantastic way to save resources all the way around - no dryer and not ironing.
2010 is my year of projects - 365 days and 365 projects.
Just come to this thread for the first time. Lots of good advice on it and i hope you are coping well.
When my kids were little i used to buy fat ladies tent dresses at the jumble sale and make them dresses with the fabric.
When i had too many hens a couple of years back i put all my eggs into a basket and knocked doors in the village nearby. I sold them quite cheaply and they all sold in half an hour. People just went to fetch a dish and picked their own out of my basket. I must admit, I started with the houses the older people lived in first because I reckoned they needed a bargain more than the working folks. I also took some along to the sheltered housing complex on their whist drive afternoon. They all had their egg boxes ready every week and I would stop for a chat and a cuppa.
I'm thinking of getting shot of some of our soft fruits like that this year, we have far too much. The price they are in the supermarkets is ridiculous after all. Up here, people still know how to make jam, it's like stepping into the past in some ways.
I don't know how much time you have free, but maybe you could put a card in a local shop to do a bit of ironing or housework for cash? There are lots of folks around who are cash rich and time poor.
Milims wrote: I've befriended the butcher in the shop next to my office - he saves the plastic tubs that the coleslaw comes in for me. They hold enough stew/soup/curry etc for a dinner for 4 of us!
I've done the same with the local independant newsagent. I have their old pick and mix boxes, and they hold enough stew and dumplings for a family of 3 (which includes one dumpling-greedy engineer). also great as lunch boxes. some say they're microwaveable, others don't but they've all been fine in the freezer lol. i also get the planks of wood used by FGWR for transporting odd bits of train parts from depot to depot once they've done with them. they're useful. jim#'s depot need to do two more Diesel HST alternator replacements and I'll have enough wood to make soph some new shelves.
as for dropping £600 every month, I'm not sure how we'd manage but I'm sure it's doable; and there's some really good advice on here.
good luck!
oh how I love my tea, tea in the afternoon. I can't do without it, and I think I'll have another cup very
ve-he-he-he-heryyyyyyy soooooooooooon!!!!
MuddyWitch wrote:I just noticed mine's got cob webs attatching it to the wall
And I haven't seen the iron since before xmas....
MW
Oh, we're all such housework sluts!!
Speak for yourself....... I love housework..... well watching the missus do it that is......
Big Al
Member of the Ishloss weight group 2013. starting weight 296.00 pounds on 01.01.2013. Now minus 0.20 pounds total THIS WEEK - 0.20 pounds Now over 320 pounds and couldn't give a fig...
Secret Asparagus binger
I say we need to reclaim the word "slut" I was most astonished when I was a teenager and my beloved Gran called me "sluttish" until I realised that she was talking about by general slovenly approach to house keeping (mea culpa!).
I agree that not ironing would have to help the budget but I feel most things have been covered.
Here are some things we do to cut costs:
Make own bread and yoghurt
Grow some veges
Only buy second hand clothes
libraries instead of buying books, dvds etc (but watch late fees!)
mend and make do!
Bodge it!
"Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
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