Tighten your belt?

[dbailey]

I have been using compact fluorescent lights (cfl) now for over 5 years.

I average about 3 years per bulb and recycle them with ease at either my local council facility or at IKEA.

I rum with 18 watt bulbs in living areas, 11 watt in transit areas like hallway landing etc and 5 or 7 watt in outside lights on paths and drives.

We throw very little food away, leftovers are eaten within 48 hours.

I cycle or walk where I can.

I reset the thermostat in the hallway, when elderly parental units come to visit they always turned it up until it showed 25 c and my wife got into the same habit, so i opened it up and recalibrated it and leave it at 25 centigrade, knowing that main ares will be 19 to 20 centigrade and everyone is happy.....psychological victory. Once I tested that this worked, I removed all the digital themometers so my deception goes unseen.

I thing people should waer a jumper or a fleece in the home. If you can sit in just a t shirt and do nothing and feel warm then the heating is on too high.

[eelcat]

Nothing really. I'm still working and getting paid for it. Unless during these times you become retrenched then I can't see what difference it makes.
Been using those energy saving bulbs for years now and always buy the 20W at least or else be prepared for some eye strain. I notice there are 2 types ones that radiate white light and ones that radiate yellow light. I prefer the white light but nothing on the packing will tell you this.....or does it?

[widower54]

I still smoke and will continue to do so. But I have stopped eating out, none of that anymore. Have dropped the Jack Daniels from the Buy list anymore. I still drive to work as it is allmost a must here. But on the weekends it is at home. The Furnace is down to 58 to 60 degrees and I wear warmer Clothes in the house. Have redone Auto Insurance and House Insurance...switched. Because of the savings and Value. Do not do any lunch any more either. I have Energy Bulbs and they do take a bit to warm up they are adequate. I would love to Downsize the House...sell...But our Markets are troubled and unless this turns I am there for more years than i want to. Making Gifts for Christmas only the little ones of my extened Family will get store bought Gifts..2..Above all....I THINK BEFORE I PURCHASE ANYTHING!!!

[dbailey]

^^ yeah Widower I agree.

We now eat out once per week, no more, and not every week, perhaps 3 per month, and the check for 4 adults is £26 including tip ( I know how to spoil my family)

I have had no alcohol for 12 days, I used to drink a 1/2 a bottle of red wine each weekday eving with my meal to wind down from work. I havent bought a bottle of scotch or JD in 6 months.

Same here on the deals on insurance, broadband,

We also buy the offers at supermakets when the BOGOFs are on ( US version is toofers). We but food at Costco and freeze it and we have switche to the memebership that pays 2% return so it pays for itself.

I have done 2 car boot sales this year and made over £200 for stuff that I didnt use anymore.

I try and repair stuff rather than buy new, this year I have fixed the food processor, the vacuum cleaner and my bike. I also service Mrs Bs car myself at home rather than pay £120 for what is an oil change plus a visual inspecton at the dealership.

Rather than pay £10 a pop to have my work suit dry cleaned, I steam clean it at home for free and Mrs B then presses it for me.

[Oswald]

When purchasing groceries I always head for the 'reduced for quick sale' products. It's amazing what you can save on your weekly food bill if you do this on a regular basis. For example; I recently bought a whole pre-cooked chicken that was originally priced at £6 for just 35p! The only slight problem is that you have to wait until the evening when the supermarkets are heavily reducing their prices - sometimes you might have to hang around until after 7pm.

[eelcat]

Originally Posted by Oswald

When purchasing groceries I always head for the 'reduced for quick sale' products. It's amazing what you can save on your weekly food bill if you do this on a regular basis. For example; I recently bought a whole pre-cooked chicken that was originally priced at £6 for just 35p! The only slight problem is that you have to wait until the evening when the supermarkets are heavily reducing their prices - sometimes you might have to hang around until after 7pm.

That's how I've been buying my bread for years

[themidlander]

Stopped using supermarkets for meat, fish and veg. Much better quality and vfm at the local shops. Butcher will also cut meat to meet your individual needs.

[MaxJoker]

Am going to try my hand at freegan-ism tonight , not because i follow the hippy way of life and am freaking out at my carbon foot print. But because i`ve always thought free food tastes the best
Also a payment transfer i was expecting has been delayed so i`m broke and it might be fun.

Plus a friend has recently been talking up his determination to try it, but the guys a blow hole and always talking about what he intends to do without ever doing it. So to sort of give that slacker some encouragement i`m going to give it a go, anyway i`m a bit bored and like i say a touch broke.

Will head out around 1am tonight with a back pack two heavy duty bags , strong gloves and a torch. Went for a reconnoiter Tuesday and have scrubbed the three main stores as from what i could tell they lock up or crush their food.
Anyway i`ve plotted my route and it forms a semi circle that`ll take me around what i`ve decided are my best bets , those being Morrison`s ,Iceland , possibly M&S , a small Tesco Express and a couple of bakeries that are accessible.

Not sure how it`ll go or if i`ll get caught (Not that it`s illegal , well apart from tresspass) , or if i find food and bring it back home i`ll actually fancy putting it in my mouth.

But it`s all experience and one of my favourite films is after all fight club , and one of my favourite scenes from it when they steal fat from the liposuction clinic.


Rest assured i will let my fellow members know how i get on

Unless i`m killed in action of course

[widower54]

GeenSkull, That will be a Interesting Adventure, Let us know how iit turns out. Heard about doing that but the putting it in the Mouth thing may get to me...But Right now....I am not Hungry, late tonight is a different story

[dohupa]

1. Quit drinking 10 years ago & smoking 9 years ago.

2. I eat less and started working out 9 months ago at a pretty slow pace.

3. I hate fuckin' cell phones, so I pay nearly zip for them. I use email; alas all the people I know keep sending SMSs although I've explicitly told the tossers not to. Are they totally deranged?

4. Have energy bulbs everywhere at the house, but I'm not certain if maybe that was another trick from the global imperialistic system to give a little boost in an already fucked up economy. So much for global warming yeah.

5. Takeaways; some Sat evening every 2-3 weeks ish if there's anything worth watching on the telly.

6. Don't feel cold in the winters - so I rarely use the central heating system anyway. We don't get snow that often down here either.