Hello. Wow, it's blustery outside, hope Storm Doris passes over by the end of the day. The lengths I go to, to save a few pennies, a lot of people would laugh and think I am bonkers.
I'll tell you how I saved 34p by buying a dented tin of condensed milk. It was reduced from 55p to 25p, so I have saved already. But I look at this differently. I normally buy soya milk at 59p a litre carton. I always look for cheaper alternatives to keep my spending low, and I will sometimes buy a similar product to save money. I quite like condensed milk but I don't buy it at normal price.
No fancy tin openers here, a bog standard stab it and lever it around the edge. These openers last hundreds of years, ha ha.
The measuring jug tells me it is almost half a litre. Now what, not much saving at 50p a litre. Aha, now here's the trick, I am going to dilute this with water, giving me double the quantity. I will keep it in the fridge, put half the amount I normally put on my cereals, and top it up with tap water. Bingo, saved 34p. I shall be spending some of my savings soon on a trip. I have a train ticket, and one night in a hotel booked.
Another look in the skip revealed a set of curtains, just need a wash, and a metal ornate lampshade. Good eh! I've had a word with the owner and she said I could have anything I wanted. The skip is full with mostly garden rubbish at the moment, it is due to be collected in the next few days. I do hope they bring it back empty because I shall be watching it if they do.
Progress report on the Woodland picture. Not giving much away at the moment, a lot more stitching to be done, but because it is a smaller picture it shouldn't take months like the big ones do.
That's all for now, thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip
Your not bonkers at all Ilona, I am getting more and more like you, saving any way, we like our holidays too, so all these little savings help.
ReplyDeleteIlona, I love many aspects of your art - the originality, the textures and brilliance and brightness of the colours, to name but a few. Suppose your work became collectable, but not in your lifetime, like Van Gogh, for example, would you feel proud, or would you think, I could have done with the money? Or would you have entirely different thoughts? Valerie
ReplyDeleteI look out for the chance to save a penny or two here and there, it all adds up to a tidy sum. Since I followed your lead and do the bulk of my shopping on the RTC counter I have saved more than half my food budget. This has allowed me to buy good quality wool to knit gifts for my family and friends, as well as my charity project. The knitting gives me pleasure and using softer, more colourful wool makes it even better for me and the recipients.
ReplyDeleteI prefer those can openers as they are more reliable. We had one for years (I don't know what happened to it)and I found it easy to use, but my daughter didn't as she's left-handed. Ours had a wood or plastic hand grip which didn't dig into the hand like the one you're displaying. I've been looking for another one for a long time, but so far have not had much luck.
ReplyDeletejoan (Wales)
Like the lampshade.Your picture looks wonderful.I wish I had'nt gone to the woodland today.Only saw 2chaps out with their spaniel.Soon after there was a huge crash A tree behind us.My 3 dogs and me ran. I remember trying to remain calm and sang ''lions tigers and bears.Then back at home the gazebo roof blew off shattered,then most of the garage roof caved in.Fence looks next.I'm exhausted.- Glad you've booked your hols.That's what I like to do.Make the money go further to get away.Keep safe x
ReplyDeleteAfter following your blog for quite awhile now, what I do do is dilute fruit juice half and half or even more, so many drinks from a bottle or carton and now I find undiluted far too sweet: job done, saves on the sugar and saves on the pennies. Looking forward to see your next trip pictures and narrative. Amanda
ReplyDeleteI love your textile works! They are so lovely. Can't wait to see the finished project.
ReplyDeleteIs that picture is hand sewing? Hope you will do a simple project with video soon. Don't have a machine. Like idea for embroidering by hand.
ReplyDeleteYes, mainly hand sewing with some machining. Very simple running stitch. You can copy any of my ideas.
DeleteI love your retrieved items from the skip! They are awesome. Condensed milk is a staple in Canada and especially in the far north. For years it was the only way to get a store of milk in the pantry because of isolation. People still stock up on it as a back up item. Many substitute it for cream in coffee, tea or cooking. Many a mother mixes it half and half with water, and stores it in the refrigerator. It is then used like regular milk for cooking or drinking. Mary Jane in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI always get condensed milk and evaporated milk mixed up. But I suppose condensed just means concentrated! Great idea Ilona, as always. Karen.
ReplyDeletejust beautiful- I wish I was able to create art like you do. Thank you also for more money saving advice- am at present trying hard to keep going and reading your blog not only gives me inspiration but hope too. Thank you. Wanda xx
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling quite chuffed with myself today as I've just seen the comment I sent to you yesterday. You see I have been following you for ages. I don't have a computer, just a smart phone and have yet join facebook or find out how to interact with bloggers. I then found that I could communicate with you without all that! So you see yesterday was my first interaction, I was the one who wrote I brief comment and used the word "escapades". I so wanted to reach you when you lost Bugsy, and tell you how I cried reading your words and how I felt for you, but didn't know how to communicate with you. Well, now I do, so "Hello" Iona," you can now count me as a follower. Jean.
ReplyDeleteHello Jean, at last we can speak to each other. Hello.
DeleteThat's a really nice lampshade. I've never found any freebies, but then again I've never really thought about looking for them in a skip! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cooltipsideas.life/archives/2289. Saw this and thought you might find it helpful. thanks fro all you do and share love your blog rachel
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel. Thanks for the link. I've had a look, some good ideas, but the site is a nightmare to navigate. Too many adverts and lots of clicks just to read a few words and see a video.
DeleteHi
DeleteNever paid attention to any of the adds. I never do, lol so didnt look any further. Love shopping out of skips charity shops anything like that as if i buy anything its rarely ne. Happy rummaging
Many babies lived when condensed milk became available. I would have bought it too. Mostly I used it for my coffee, my grandpa called it " canned cream". We make pumpkin custard pie throughout the year and keep canned milk in the pantry. Your trip sounds like fun. I'd love to come walk the UK someday.
ReplyDeleteLoving the lampshade Ilona!
ReplyDeleteHi there X so enjoy following your blog after first seeing you on The Shed of the Year programme X I am learning such a lot from you about saving money X Col
ReplyDeleteThat woodland picture looks really nice, I like this kind of things!
ReplyDelete