Household hints & tips to save money

[obbie]

  Has anyone else tried     groceryrun.com.au
i bought from them 2 weeks ago, when they launched.

Heaps cheaper and a $11 cap on freight.

It took 2 weeks to get to me, but I saved over $120 in one order.


Nay Nay,  I have done Bowen Therapy, as I am a Remedial massage therapist.
i always use my essential oils for cleaning too.

Robyn

[fundj&e]

that is a great saving obbie

who cares about 2 weeks, i am sure you can work around that

[jeninwa]

I find when I shop on-line there is no impulse buying, a big saving there for me. I buy so little from the supermarket these days, not worth the effort. I have only used Coles on-line. 

[Nay-nay]

Nay Nay,  I have done Bowen Therapy, as I am a Remedial massage therapist.
Robyn

How clever you are!! 
I love using essential oils for a range of things too - even bugs and pests each have an oil they particularly hate (natural deterrent)

[Cuilidh]

Nay Nay - can you suggest a good oil (or combination of oils) as a mosquito deterrent?  I've tried Listerine and Clothes Dryer 'cloths' as well as the normal run of the mill mosquito creams and nothing seems to deter a determined mosquito.  We lived for a couple of years in Hong Kong and the mosquitos there were so determined they would bite you through your jeans!!

[Nay-nay]

40 drops lavender
40 drops citronella
30 drops peppermint
^1/4cup cider vinegar or witch hazel
^1/4 cup paraffin oil
Mix all together in small bottle and shake to blend. Leave for 4 days to synergise.
Rub on all exposed ares. Don't get in eyes. Reapply every 3 hrs. Paraffin isn't the greatest oil for skin but in this case is better as it holds the oil on the skin for longer and doesn't absorb into skin as quick as grapeseed oil which is a good base for other skin care.  
This recipe comes from my 'Nerys Purchon's handbook of Aromatherapy' Book
I grew up, up in North QLD and mum used to mix up a spray bottle of baby oil and dettol when we went to our fishing hut on the beach for all the bitey things. You could add some citrus oil to that to.  

[fundj&e]

I have read that skin so soft from avon works really well

If a mosquito lands on me, it dies

http://www.beckysbiz.com/skinsosoft.htm

[Very Happy Jan]

Not just accountants Robyn - my DH is a police officer, and he has an excel spreadsheeet with the monthly output from each of the sets of our panels, and compared to what we are charged on our electricity bills 

OMG I thought my DH was the only one obsessed enough to do this. Glad there is at least one other out there 

[andiesenji]

Not just accountants Robyn - my DH is a police officer, and he has an excel spreadsheeet with the monthly output from each of the sets of our panels, and compared to what we are charged on our electricity bills 

OMG I thought my DH was the only one obsessed enough to do this. Glad there is at least one other out there 

I used to obsess about electric bills then we had the energy "crisis" of 2000 - all a hoax, engineered by Enron.  After that I did what so many folks who live in the "sun belt" have done and got solar panels for my roof.  Unless I run the AC - I also have evaporative coolers (known as "swamp" coolers) which work extremely well and very cheaply where the humidity is low and the temps are high, I don't use any electricity off the "grid" and I get money from the power company for producing electricity.  It's not much but it's better than paying.
With all the sun exposure in so much of Australia, I'm surprised it is not more in use there.  I've twice had my panels swapped out for newer technology and more efficient power generation since the initial installation. 
When I got mine the federal government was giving grants which paid for much of it and I also got rebates from Edison.  The initial cost was 15K but with the grants and rebates, as well as the savings on power cost, it was paid for in three years with little cash out of my pocket and in the ensuing seven years I have saved at least 10K that would have been the minimum power cost, and probably more. 
The newer solar panels don't require as much understructure and are tougher and better able to survive high winds and I now have sprayers on the roof to wash the dust off after a dust or sand storm. 

[CreamPuff63]

Skin so Soft was also talked about here

[Cuilidh]

Thanks very much for the mosquito repellent recipe, Nay Nay, I will give it a go.  I've never purchased paraffin oil before - I would guess that you get it at the chemists?

Andie, Australia really is very slow overall on the uptake of solar panels.  For a country that would seem to be a 'natural'  for farming solar energy, we are very much behind other parts of the world, although it is getting better.  We were in southern Germany earlier this year and were really amazed by the number of solar panels almost every building had - many entirely covering the side of their roof, there were 'mini' solar farms as well - a very imperssive sight, especially when you realise that they don't get nearly as much sun as we do here and also have snow in their winters.

CP - I just got some Skin So Soft a month or so ago so haven't had a chance to try it out yet ... but I will!

[Nay-nay]

You can even just get it at your supermarket (faulding brand)in the aisle where you get lavender,eucalyptus,clove oil - bandaids that sort of thing. 

[Cuilidh]

Ah, found it, Nay Nay, thanks (I was checking in the wrong thread!) - sounds like a severe case of Mondayitis.

[Debbiebillg]

Ahh Faulding is a name I haven't heard for a while.  I worked for them for 12 years !! Products are still branded Faulding, but they are no longer owned by Faulding, sadly.  Was a great Company to work for until all the takeovers !  Judy, it was Famous in SA hey ! I lived in SA for a while whilst working for them too. 

[CreamPuff63]

Seeing the kettle in the shopping thread made me remember to add a splash of vinegar every now and then into the kettle and boil with water. Tip out the water. Do this every so often to keep the element and the kettle clean inside, and it should last longer.