I have just read an inspirational post by Shoestring Cottage - Frugal Living.
It made me think about a few things I would like to change / do this year. I haven't made any resolutions but rather I think it is great to have aims. So...
Grow some vegetables when we have cleared the right space. We have bigger plans for the future but this will have to suffice for now.
Use my washing machine on the cheaper night time tariff. I've already started doing this and when I read and posted my monthly meter readings just this morning it showed I had taken about £9 off the bill I currently owe them - I do pay by Direct Debit but they put that on my account as soon as the reading had registered which I thought was fab and maybe it is already working.
Turn off lights that I sometimes leave on for ease. I turned back and switched the light off in the cellar this morning when I came back in from taking the Christmas decorations to store away. I leave it on as I go out the back of the house a lot, take the recylcing out of the way up there etc. but think I should really only turn lights on when I need them. (Tell that to my boys who insist on having the landing light on at night - STILL!)
Re-use bread bags for sandwiches or things I put in the freezer. I did manage to make most of the family bread requirements during November and will return to that next week. I use the Rayburn warming oven and the top to prove the bread then ramp it up to bake it. If I bake it at the right time Jon can have a red hot, soothing bath when he comes home from work. (We had oil delivered on Christmas Eve and for 500 litres we paid £160 which was £8 cheaper than the same amount we bought when we first moved into the house.)
Have things made by reusing and recylcing. Jon recently made Jake a new Dawg House and a frame for an old Belfast sink so we can wash him outside after he took down a big wooden store in the middle of the garden. Plus we have a mountain of kindling, the trailer in the picture is 8 feet long, from the same source and are planning on giving some of it away as we have sooo much.
I like the idea of using cerial boxes for notes and lists; I love a list you know!
Buy more clothes from charity shops. I bought a cardigan for £3.69 last week and we have bought furniture and household items from Craft in Aber and will continue to browse there. Love it!
Well, I had better get on with something now, turkey burgers to make for tea. x
I think its great when you can recycle things I never throw away if I can help it I must confess to being a bit of a vintage hoarder but as its harder to find things now I use that as my excuse :-) I remember my dad aways saying to me do you live in a barn so I always try to keep the doors closed now to maintain the heat in and as for the lights my boys are the same for leaving them on :-) Your new home looks gorgeous and I am really excited to see it transform this year. I started a vegetable patch last year and I had a great crop but I am excited to get building and growing and sowing this year with a full years growth ;-) Looking forward to seeing what you grow maybe we can share notes. have a lovely week, dee xx
ReplyDeleteYes, and have a lovely weekend, too.x
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