Websites Lorretta from Auckland suggests a couple of websites to have a look at:
https://www.moneytalks.co.nz/ for budgeting advice.
msd.govt.nz for benefit entitlements.
Mean on clean Lorraine from Hamilton writes
Now that I’m unemployed I’ve become the queen of mean. I spend lightly over $10 p.a. on cleaning products plus dishwashing liquid (single use). This is how I do it:
Cleaning Products p.a.
$3.00 2L bleach
$2.40 homemade laundry liquid (@ .04c per wash x 60 washes p.a.)
$2.00 2 x ...
Making peanut butter Karen from Waikato writes,
I was dismayed to see that Pics peanut butter was $6 at the local supermarket so I decided to buy blanched peanuts and I cooked them in the oven with a little oil until lightly brown then popped them into the small bowl that came with my ...
Batteries Lorraine from Hamilton writes,
I was given a battery charger with rechargeable batteries as a gift recently and thought how convenient I don’t have to buy batteries each month anymore. Then I did the sums – $5.59 spent on 2 AAA batteries per month x 12 months = $67.08 ($65 is ...
Hair washing Fonafrend from Lawrence in South Otago writes,
Hair Washing. I wash my hair with Trade Aid soap. It’s $3 at New World and other places. It lasts for 2-3 months.
Hot water Fonafrend from Lawrence in South Otago writes,
Hot Water – I save hot water in a thermos pump for jobs like cleaning teeth, warm water for bread making, boiling the jug quickly etc. When I do boil the jug I put the leftovers in my pump. Also always have at least ...
Phone plans Lorraine from Hamilton writes,
It pays to check various plans you may have on a yearly basis these days to ascertain you’re getting the best deal eg. broadband, mobile, electricity, financial products, bank fees like credit card rates etc. to name a few.
I used the internet recently and just by googling ...
It’s dishwashing liquid? Lorraine from Hamilton has these homemade dishwashing liquid recipes to share.
Recipe 1
1 tbsp dishwashing liquid
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp baking soda
11/2 cups warm water
In a largish bowl add baking soda and vinegar (it will foam up ). Add warm water then dishwashing liquid. Store in an old dishwashing liquid bottle. Squeeze ...
Baked beans Kool.kats from Dunedin writes,
When I open a large tin of baked beans I transfer any leftovers into a recycled jam jar and keep it in the fridge to add to my lunchtime soup. It adds protein without too many calories.
Wholemeal Bread Lorraine from Hamilton writes,
Countdown have a lockdown price in their in-store bakery on bread called ‘wholemeal and grain sandwich loaf’. Don’t be put off buying it if you like the thicker toast slice. It’s 90% wholemeal and just as filling per slice as toast bread. Good value I think for ...
Generic gift Yvette from Australia says,
Generic gift: purchase 4 plastic key tags in different bright colours and label simply ‘car’ ‘house’ ‘shed’ ‘mailbox’ etc and give for keys and spares with a snap lock carabiner for keeping them all together and to hang up. A key detector could be attached, I used ...
The perfect gift Polly from Auckland has this tip,
The perfect gift for those you find difficult to buy for would be a cotton or canvas shopping bag as plastic bags are being phased out at supermarkets.
Christmas gift chores Gaynor from Paraparaumu writes
The gift that would mean most to me would be “voucher” with someone offering me help with a chore for x hours.
Empty jam jar Janene from Rotorua writes,
When a jam jar is empty, fill it with water and store in the fridge. Use the flavoured water to cook your breakfast porridge.
Appealing porridge Caron from the Waikato has this tip,
Someone asked how to make porridge more appealing. If you think out of the box you can add all sorts of goodies to your porridge. I use my elderly father’s method: before bedtime, in a medium sized Pyrex bowl measure in rolled oats, an ...
New reader questions
Cleaning blood spots Gloria from Christchurch asks,
How would I get blood spots off-white polycotton tablecloth?
Dishwashing liquid? Trudy from Napier asks, “Does anyone have a recipe for dishwashing liquid?”
Too much plastic JO from Waimate writes, “I have been thinking about: ‘Do we really need to use so much?’ This I apply to everything I can think of, especially if it benefits the environment. I have made a serious effort to reduce the plastic I buy. I noticed that nearly everything is ...
Limes Rosiesview from Whangarei writes,
When we are lucky enough to get free Limes we juice them and freeze the juice. We use it all year for cooking – and in drinks. Homemade Lemon Lime & Bitters is a particular favourite, along with Thai recipes.
Porridge A reader has asked for suggestions on how to make porridge more appealing. If you have a favourite tip, please share it here oilyrag.co.nz
Recycling phones Adriana from Auckland asks, “What’s best to do with old broken unusable phones?”
Butter or oil? Laura from Paeroa has a question:
I would like to do some baking however butter is so expensive at the moment. I would like recipes that use oil instead of butter. Unless someone knows how much oil to use to replace, for example, say 250 grams of butter in a biscuit ...
Malt Meal Wafer recipe? Faye from Hastings asks:
“Has anyone mastered a replica recipe for Malt Meal Wafers? They are a large square lain biscuit that was lovely and buttery. You can no longer buy them and I cannot find anything online. I would really like to make some.”
We understand Griffins used to make them but ...