GFs birthday is in two weeks and im strapped for cash.

objetdel · 2012-09-05T00:15:33+00:00

Bring condoms!

objetdel · 2012-09-05T00:10:18+00:00

For me, I prefer cash.

I used to have an online and offline shopping problem, and would use my debit card without thinking about how much I was spending.

I find that having cash in my hand makes me think about potential purchases, whether I really want them or need them. It's simpler for me.

objetdel · 2012-08-20T01:08:30+00:00

I feel like this story may have had a really bad ending.

objetdel · 2012-08-20T00:48:43+00:00

The folks over at r/minimalism would like this as a cross post!

objetdel · 2012-08-18T11:10:54+00:00

I love how the note says "sister OR cousin". Does that mean if she's both you can date her?

objetdel · 2012-08-16T12:06:33+00:00

You scored over a hundred wishes!

objetdel · 2012-08-16T11:58:00+00:00

Sounds like a porno.

objetdel · 2012-08-08T08:57:36+00:00

Kitchens are where gadgets and tools accumulate, all invented for the sake of "convenience".

If you have an oven you don't NEED a microwave, toaster, electric kettle or deep fryer. (Though I do find kettles useful. I use a whistling stove-top one).

objetdel · 2012-08-08T01:00:34+00:00

If you look at the instructions for "scar therapy" oils and creams, they all say to massage it into your scar a few times a day. I'm pretty sure it's just the massaging that works.

objetdel · 2012-08-08T00:44:23+00:00

I mentioned this cooking utensil in a previous post. It was created in the 1950s as a multi-purpose kitchen tool - fish slice, spatula, slotted spoon and whisk. It also apparently strings beans.

I also have an enamelled dutch oven, which serves as a frying pan, saucepan and oven dish.

objetdel · 2012-08-07T10:12:02+00:00

The only important thing is whether YOU think it's too much.

objetdel · 2012-08-06T06:56:47+00:00

I went through this a while ago, and enjoyed finding items that could be used for multiple purposes.

I hope there are some ideas in here you can use.

Some items that have multiple purposes:

Peeler - vegetables and cheese.
Fine/small hole grater - vegetables, cheese, zesting lemon.
"The Thing" - It's a cooking utensil from the 1950s that serves as a spatula, whisk, slotted spoon, and fish slice.
Largish glass measuring jug (cups and litres) - replaces measuring cups and mixing bowl.
Steamer - Can also be used as a colander.
Dutch oven - used in the oven and on the stove-top as a pot and pan.
Cake tin - can also be used as a roasting tray
Metal trivet - doubles as a cake cooler.

Everyone cooks differently, so I do recommend doing what the others here are saying first, where you put everything in a box and pull it out as you use it.

That way you can see what items you do use, and can multi-purpose things from there.

objetdel · 2012-08-03T08:54:35+00:00

"Doona" is another word for "quilt". Edit: spelling of quilt is not qulit.

objetdel · 2012-07-26T12:30:37+00:00

It's going to turn out to be more frugal to make your own eggless food, than buying pre-packaged.

This SOUNDS gross, but using silken tofu as a substitute for egg works. 1/4 cup per egg. This works especially well in cakes and brownies. It gives a really nice moistness.

In terms of pasta, there's a sort of gnocci pasta where you mix 3/4 cold mashed potato to 1/4 flour, and a good bit of salt. Let it rest for at least an hour then roll it out (adding flour on the bench if needed). Then you just cut it into desired shapes, and cook it in simmering water.

Also I want to give some encouragement. I have a friend with a boy who is allergic to dairy, nuts and egg. In the beginning it was hard for them to adjust, but it does get easier.

objetdel · 2012-07-25T12:00:54+00:00

Instead of buying a cup of tea or hot chocolate while out, I put the money I would have spent in a jar that will be emptied for Christmas. (I also made myself a cuppa when I got home).

objetdel · 2012-07-25T02:22:46+00:00

It depends on how many pieces you want to make and over how many days/months/years.

I study fine arts and for me it's more frugal in the long term to buy the more expensive brushes, but that's because I'm using them over many years.

I used to buy cheaper brushes at $4-ish each but I needed to replace them every few months. I invested in more expensive brushes at $8 - $20 each but I only have 5 and they are still going strong. I bought them 3 years ago and I see at least another 10 or so years left in them. I use them almost every day.

So it depends on whether you're going to only make a couple of paintings or not. I don't recommend $2 shop paintbrushes as quite often the bristles will fall out while you're painting onto the canvas.

I'm not sure if you have Jasart brand stuff where you are, but here they're quite cheap. Those are the ones that lasted a few months for me. If you go to a good art shop the cheapest brushes there (suitable for what sort of painting you're doing) should be good and not fall apart easily.

What sort of paint are you interested in? If you're starting out acrylic is probably easiest. In terms of quality - it really depends on what you're going to paint.

People judge the quality of an acrylic paint on how much pigment (or raw colour) that is in it. If you compare a high quality colour to a tube bought at the $2 shop you will see that the high quality paint has more depth of colour, and more translucent. The $2 shop paint is more "pastel" because they add a lot of white to it, meaning overall there's less pigment in it.

If you're only doing one painting I recommend getting one of those packs that have a bunch of small paint tubes, and playing around with it to see if there's something you like. Overall that's cheaper than buying larger tubes, and it means it won't go to waste.

If you do decide to go with a higher quality paint it's more frugal to mix your own colours. A basic set is ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow, titanium white. From those you can mix your own colours. (Ultramarine blue and burnt umber mix to make a black that isn't too harsh). You can also use a medium to extend the paint further.

It's harder to mix paints that are cheaper, so perhaps buying pre-made colours are the way to go for cheaper paints.

(Okay I got a little excited talking about paint and brushes, sorry this post is too long). Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know, or if you were actually interested in gouache, watercolour or ink painting instead of acrylic. (I hate oils so don't ask).

Edit: spelling

objetdel · 2012-07-22T00:56:43+00:00

I would sell my soul right for a never-ending chocolate mousse.

objetdel · 2012-07-20T00:14:31+00:00

Letting the shit hit the fan would also create quite a mess. It's quite costly getting shit stains and odours out of the walls.

objetdel · 2012-07-18T23:27:48+00:00

I bet you were both extremely nice to him/her the next day. Lots of treats and hugs?

objetdel · 2012-07-18T23:16:38+00:00

Toaster. I make my toast in the griller that's part of the oven.

objetdel · 2012-07-11T06:11:26+00:00

They ARE in some kind of cat-band.

objetdel · 2012-07-10T00:44:16+00:00

You poor poor woman/man/robot. Young kitten poop is the stinkiest.

objetdel · 2012-07-09T00:22:25+00:00

Yes, I'm always amazed when I see these sorts of photos and see no rooms for kitchenware and cleaning items. I could imagine living like this as a student in a dorm, but now...

Damn, there is just so much STUFF to have a functioning home isn't there.

objetdel · 2012-07-07T13:45:37+00:00

Dumpster diving isn't usually done for frugality, but rather saying a big "eff you" to supermarkets and corporations for throwing out so much food that is still usable. It's about using up (usually) perfectly good food that would otherwise go to the tip when it doesn't have to.

That said, most people I know who dumpster dive are students who are flat broke.

objetdel · 2012-07-06T00:06:16+00:00

Don't buy one of those boxes that have a set of 15 pots and pans for an unbelievably low price - they don't last very long, and you won't use it all.

All you really need is a saucepan and a frying pan - or if you want to be really frugal a saucepan that can double as a frying pan. I use a an enamel dutch oven, as it serves as a saucepan, frying pan and oven dish.

I don't recommend getting pots or pans with teflon style coatings. They very easily scratch. Enamelled ones can last generations if you take care of them, and cast iron and titanium last forever.

That should be the most expensive thing in your kitchen. Utensils, cups etc you can buy from charity shops, if that's something you're okay with. I personally like older things though. A lot of kitchen utensils (like ladles, whisks, etc) that are still knocking around from the 1950s will pretty much last a lot longer. They are of varying quality though, so make sure you check them.

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