It is traditional in January to make promises for the year ahead. For many, these resolutions are more about aspiration than they are fact, but oily rag folk like aspiration so we thought it would be worth reflecting on penny-pinching resolutions, mottos and quotes that never seem to age with time.

• A reader from Christchurch says her Mum’s favourite expression was, "If you can make do with what you have, you will want for nothing".
• Janice from Oamaru says, "Eat it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without."
• "It's never a bargain unless you need it." - S.F.
• If you look after the pennies the pounds will look after themselves.
• A dollar in your pocket is better than your dollar in someone else's pocket.
• Cheap is good but free is better.
• Needs are things that are really needed. Wants are things that are not really needed.
• We don't need luxuries to be h-a-p-p-y.
• More is not always better. - S.J.B.
• "Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor." - Samuel Johnson
• Waste not want not.
• “Many banks have a new kind of Christmas club in operation. The new club helps you save money to pay for last year's gifts.”
• Thrift is not an affair of the pocket, but an affair of character. - S.W. Straus
• Thrift comes too late when you find it at the bottom of your purse. –Seneca

We have received lots of new tips. Here are some we thought would be of particular interest.

• PB from Hamilton says, “Tea bags make great fire starters. After brewing your morning cuppa, flatten each tea bag out and leave in the sun to dry (or in the hot water cupboard). When dry, store in an air tight container, add a little kerosene and give it a good shake. Remove from the jar when ready to use.”

• G B from Kerikeri says, “I have found that cutting the corners off the bottom of an empty one litre milk carton and packing in wet newspaper makes wonderful compressed fire bricks. As the carton fills I make holes in the sides to allow the water to escape. Compress the wet paper into the carton. These paper bricks last about two hours in a low combustion fire and about an hour in an open fire. An entire weekend Herald will almost fit into one container.” And now is a good time to start making fire bricks!

• Heather from, Omokoroa has a great ginger beer recipe to share. “Makes 3 x 1.5 litre plastic screw cap bottles and can be stretched further if you like. You will need:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon tartaric acid (flavour enhancer)
• squeeze lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon granulated yeast

Dissolve all except the yeast in 6 cups of boiling water. While waiting for this to cool, soak the caps in hot water (this helps the bottles seal better) When the mix is tepid put yeast in a cup with some of the mixture, allow to froth a little then add to mix. Add cold water to make up about 16 cups. Pour into bottles which need to be very clean. Top up to within 4cm from top and put lids on. Gently shake to mix up. Leave in a warm place. Ready to drink when the bottles are rock hard - about 4 days. Refrigerate before drinking. Open slowly as the recipe can be pretty fizzy! Altering the amount of sugar can avoid masses of fizz. Only use plastic screw caps that have be manufactured for fizzy drinks - never glass!! Great fun to make.”

The book Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag by Frank & Muriel Newman is available from all good bookstores or online at www.oilyrag.co.nz If you have a favourite living off the smell of an oily rag tips, share it with others by visiting the oily rag website or write to Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag, PO Box 984, Whangarei.

Frank and Muriel Newman are the authors of Living Off the Smell of an Oily Rag in NZ. Readers can submit their oily rag tips on-line at www.oilyrag.co.nz. The book is available from bookstores and online at www.oilyrag.co.nz.

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