HOUSEHOLD TIPS NOT FOUND IN WOMAN'S WEEKLY

[Stanley]

[Marilyn]

Another of life’s great myths.
You do not need to save Rubber Bands, Buttons, Paper Clips or Plastic/Paper Bags!
Free your drawers and free your life.

You should already be refusing all paper bags and all plastic bags anyway. We have been doing it for 30 years. Just carry a fabric bag when you go shopping and chuck your purchases in there.

I have had a “no junk mail” sticker on my letter box for nigh on 40 years. I haven’t seen a catalogue or pizza offer or any other paper junk since then!
You can live without it too!

[Tizer]

You don't need to engage with Klarna or have even been online to get attacked with this scam....
`Klarna: 'I got a £30 bill - but I didn't buy anything'' LINK

[Stanley]

That is frightening! Perhaps today's tip should be don't worry about things that might never happen. There are some horrible people out there.....

[Tizer]

Don't worry, you and I would just ignore the bill knowing we haven't had any contact with Klarna. But just imagine what happens with those youngsters who are buying on Klarna all the time...

[Stanley]

What worries me Peter is how attitudes to debt seem to have changed in my lifetime. It was anathema to us but today seems to be accepted as some sort of bonus depending on future income growth. The problem arises when that income growth stalls. That's what's happening now....

[Marilyn]

I have always lived to a strict budget. Have never owed anything to anyone, kept up with all bills and have often gone without to do so, yet have still put a nourishing meal on the table each night ( I am a bit of a tyrant of depriving myself of unnecessary heating and cooling)
I cannot understand people who blatantly waste money on creature comforts, especially take-away/delivered food, massages, beauty treatments, clothes they do not need, holidays they cannot afford etc.
We paid our first house off by the time I was 30. Life changing!

[Big Kev]

We didn't start buying our first house until I was 30. We've had frugal times when the children were younger but have always treated ourselves when we could. Good quality takeaway food is fairly regular here, especially now as we're unable to eat out due to the current lockdown, it's Indian buffet today (chosen online and delivered to my door).
What remains of the mortgage and bills always come first, we save little (you only live once) and treat ourselves quite a bit. Live for today, the future isn't set is our Household Tip

[Marilyn]

Different strokes for different folks.
No mortgage payments for us for 30+ years. In our case, that has made it easier to afford holidays etc.

[Stanley]

"Live for today, the future isn't set is our Household Tip "
I'll second that one Kev. I am not going to give all the details but as I write this branch of the Graham Family is in the middle of a big lottery, if I can live long enough I get a very big legacy which I will immediately give to my kids but it is mired in a dispute over a lease worthy of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce. That's the current uncertain future, can I live long enough to collect the loot? If I can't the kids lose out. [One legatee has died already.....]

[Marilyn]

Don’t worry. What’s for you won’t go by you...
( are we talking weeks/months/years?)

[Stanley]

I am not worrying Maz.

[Tizer]

Keep taking the cod liver oil!

[Stanley]

Yes that's one example of how I look after myself. I never applied for the free Vitamins that were offered because I get mine every day from my swig of Cod Liver Oil and furthermore, I'll take a small bet that my natural fish oils are more efficacious than the manufactured chemicals!
Today's tip is to do just that, make sure you get your vitamins from fish oil, fruit and vegetables and plenty of meat. The best source of multi-vitamins!

[Stanley]

Today's tip. If you haven't come across them have a look at the Systema range of plastic kitchen ware. Susan introduced me to it and I use it constantly for everything from storage (in the shed as well!) to what I prefer to eat out of.



Breakfast is ready, just needs micro waving for 4 minutes. Only one dish and a spoon to wash....

[Marilyn]

Nah...I am not ready for food in a cup yet...if they don’t get washed thoroughly, they are germ factories. Too many nooks and crannies...
I like their other products for the freezer though, and use them regularly. I just never reheat the food in them. I certainly don’t eat out of them.
I have the Lettuce keeper too. Excellent product.

Mind you, if I was 84, they are truly excellent. ( and I might be a big user...)

[Marilyn]

Interesting to note that your products have green trim. All of ours have blue trims...
Just pulled a few random things out of the plastic cupboard...

[Marilyn]

Could be that the blue stuff is just for fridge and freezer and pantry, which is how I use them. Have I seen green stuff??? My brain tells me yes...but I don’t own any green stuff
They are excellent for keeping crackers fresh...

[Stanley]

Stop being ageist Maz, nothing to do with age, just an efficient way of feeding yourself if you aren't hooked on tablecloths. If I was on the distance still I'd have these in the cab ready loaded and a microwave handy. Hot meal in an instant.

[Stanley]

Today's tip is look after your kids and they will look after you. Yesterday's trip to Colne went like clockwork and was a pleasure.

[Marilyn]

You have given that tip dozens of times. We ALL take care of our kids.

[Stanley]

No we don't Maz, plenty of examples of neglected children, ask the NSPCC.
Yes I have said this before, it bears repeating and is at the top of my mind this morning.

[Marilyn]

We love our kids but do not “obey their every word”. That would be getting into scarey territory. We are still at the helm, and have control.

[Big Kev]

I trust you mean at the helm and in control of your own life and not your children's?

[Marilyn]

...still at the helm of OUR lives.
We can no longer tell our kids what to do, but they are not yet at any point of power to tell us what to do either. We hope to chart our own course for some time yet.