Ashes....
Isn't it good thing recession or no that we are getting bit more frugal and in some cases remembering ways our parents or grandparents did things. We are relearning forgotten skills and long way to go.
We have taken due to necessity to trawling ditches, wood and beaches esp after storms for wood for fire. We had little oil left on bottom of tank but are only using it when its fierce cold in house. We pay our oil bill bit by bit and company even though we have been with them for years and all belonging to us are/were customers and we always paid our bills they will not give any amount of oil until bill is fully cleared. We got five bags of coal at Xmas and its just nearly gone but we are bagging the dust of it and gonna use every last ounce of that on fire too a little bag at a time on red fire. We are using only our timber now. We put ashes like that other guy in steel bucket until its fully cold and bin it. We now also try to burn in open fire any milk cartons that are safe to burn and we flatten every other bit of recycle bin rubbish and that bin will not go out for collection same as other rubbish bin until they are full to the gills. Bin company charges for every lift, so the less times they have to lift then our bill is reduced. I know they have a quartely charge and that seem payable if you never had a bin out all year but are a customer. We are trying to cut costs where possible and will def grow veg this year and we are still to pin of our collar ...overdrawn but just surviving. Its constant struggle. I lost my job cos of recession and have now few days work every two wks and my hubby is out of work on illness benefit due to illness for moment. I have huge admiration for how our parents and grandparents managed their homes and money and I wish I were more like them but am doing my best.