According to the New Zealand Pet Food Manufacturers Association, New Zealand’s pet ownership statistics are one of the highest in the world. They say, “68% of households own at least one companion animal, with a total pet population of 5 million, they outnumber people. Cats are New Zealand’s most popular pet with 48% percent of […]
Jacqui from Block House Bay was rummaging recently and came across a bunch of old newsletters from ‘Friends of the Home’. They dated back to 1976, but since good oily rag ideas never age, this week we thought we would reproduce some of the tips from those newsletters. We will also be progressively posting them […]
This week we are going to look at the thorny issue of blackberries – that’s the garden variety not the cell phone variety! Blackberries are a very oily rag berry. For one thing they grow in the wild and are free – and they have lots of uses: from pies to smoothies or as delicious […]
The garden is not only a wonderful place for kids to be kids, but at the same time they learn about growing healthy and fresh food. They also get the message about the benefits that come from putting in a little bit of effort. While some children may be disappointed to learn that toffee apples […]
Some people say they don’t have the time to garden, which is why busy oily raggers like ‘easy’ gardening. Frugality is a matter of degree so we would not expect everyone to transform their entire back yard into a food basket, but everyone can do something to enjoy the benefits of a home garden – […]
Superannuitants have the ideal opportunity to indulge in an oily rag lifestyle. They have time on their hands and by some miraculous intervention, money appears in their bank accounts every second Thursday! While the pension is not a fortune, it helps pay for some of the basics that may be a little impractical to provide […]
As a big icy chill grips the country, oily raggers are adopting lots of creative ways to keep warm without high cost, but first some figures about sneaky heat. • Just under half (42% on average to be exact) of all household heat is lost through the ceiling. Modern homes are usually well insulated but […]
Motoring costs have been in the news again recently, but for the right reasons – falling petrol prices. That’s great news for cost conscious drivers, but there are lots of other ways to save on fuel costs, including your choice of tyres. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has made that choice easier by […]
Lil from Whangarei has some omelette making tips for Dee, who has a surplus of eggs thanks to some very happy backyard chickens. “A basic recipe uses 3 eggs, grated cheese, some salt and pepper to taste, and a knob of butter. Bring a frying pan up to a moderate heat and add the butter. […]
Last week a reader from Mangawhai with backyard chickens and an abundance of eggs asked for tips for making great omelettes. Jaysee from Waikouaiti replies, “I don’t have an omelette recipe but I do have a use for spare eggs. Being an oily ragger myself I stopped buying shampoo nearly three years ago and now […]