Bargains in Food

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 25

Bargains in Food

Housekeeping Economy IT pavs to give a glance at the daily papers —especially the evening ones—to see if there is anything particularly suited to our needs and of keen value and deliciousness, to be had at bargain prices! It is only in recent times that even our food,stuns are offered to us, from time to time, at special sale prices, and even the grocers’ polished counters have attractive little bowls filled with “much reduced to clear , goods.

answers load up a tiny place with heavy quantities of the more substantial groceries—such as rice ana other cereals, dried peas and beans, etc., even if they are a little cheaper than usual. On the other hand, it is always wortii while to make sure of a good supply of odd things like preserving sugar, olive oil for salads, and so on, well before we need them. Such a simple thing as salad oil, for instance, is absurdly dear in small bottles compared with the price one pays for the pint or quart size, and often one can obtain an excellent brand (and salad oil must be first rate) quite reasonably. Stored in a cool place, it keeps perfectly; and capers also keep well if their liquor is first poured off into a cup and then used to fill up the partly emptied bottle before recorking. Often the "dressing” seems to cost more than the greenstuff if we buy it in small quantities. BARGAIN ODDMENTS When buying "bargain oddments.” it will usually be found that they are either goods sent out by unknown makers or sometimes packets of things that are only, most likely, "unfresh” looking. There must always be a few casualties on the grocers’ shelves, and an experienced eye soon knows the difference between stale-looking goods and those that are merely a little less than spiclc-and-span. Often starch, salt, mustard, etc.. spices. custard powder, etc., can be picked up cheaply —in perfect condition within —at the big grocers’ from time to time.

Some gay cushions for garden or punt are now made of coarse curtain net darned with gaudy wools. The stitch is a simple running darn, one way only, in large stitches, and the design, as simple as possible, is worked on a greater part of the cushion surface, which is mounted over some gay silk or cotton, which shows through the part left unembroidered. Fine raflia cloth, with appliques of some v'ivid-hued linen sewn on with the raflia, is also effective and hard-wearing. The next thing is to get it to look gay, as gardens are not always full of flowers, and on the river the sun sometimes fails to shine, and the cushions must make up for both discrepancies.

Physique has an enormous effect on j type. All girls should beware of making themselves over into types for . which they have no physical qualifica- j

It is always prudent never to risk buying unknown canned meat, fish or biscuits as ••bargains.” For one thing, > a store-shelf fails in its main object if it is not a reliable and appetising stand-by in emergencies, and it is extraordinarily annoying to find onei self with bonv sardines, sour, undersized fruit, or tasteless potted sandwich meat just for the sake of a small economy! BE CAREFUL Those living in suburbs often have a good opportunity of acquiring something very nice and cheap if their wiy chances to take them past some enterprising shopman who caters for a •‘train trade,” but it is always necessarv to notice which shops are specialisin'-' in this, and to avoid the many others who seem to turn out their fish, fowls or fruit at the moment it .3 but just “sweet,” for it is very easy to find our over-night purchase cnu.e uneatable by the morning, or even possibly a little “niffy" that very same evening: Very nice little “special offers” are set before us in the big stores —as they are designed to draw ; permanent new customers to that particular department the value and quality are sure to be AX. But do not expect that particular place to go on standing you “the difference week : after week. as a matter of course it ! you have taken advantage of a “below market-price” offer; all too soon, too, their price will return to its average. To combine first-rate quality with • reasonable prices is not easy—but it can be done!

SLIPPING RUGS Many liquids and linings are devised in order to render mats and rugs non-slipping upon a floor of polished wood or linoleum. Yet anothei device, which hy reason of its simplicity will appeal to many folks, is a set of non-slipping grips. These are made in sets of eight in a kind of rubberised fabric, which holds to the floor with tenacity. There are four corner pieces and four smaller pieces which should be attached one each at the sides and one each midway between the corner pieces and the side pieces. Thus the rug grips equally over its entire surface, and is both secure and unrucked.

LEARN TO RELAX ADVICE TO THE HOME WOMAN AND OFFICE-GIRL Most of us are too strung- up. We seldom relax properly. When we sit down in a chair, we sit as if a million eyes were upon us—we sit for effect, rather than for any benefit to ourselves. The woman who is always on the go is bound to ag% rapidly. It is the contented, restful type of woman who preserves her youthful appearance. If you are a housewife, get into the habit of the afternoon rest. Many women prefer to take it between tea and dinner. But rest is meant to be something more than merely slipping under an eiderdown and trying to sleep. For the full benefit to be gained, you should undress and indulge in a comfortably warm bath, in which some eau de Cologne or lavender crystals have been dissolved. Don't stay in too long, and remember to rub yourself well afterward. Then retire to a darkened room and let every part of yourself “flop” limply on a mattress. The secret of successful rest is to allow yourself to go completely inert. The room must be well ventilated. Breathe in and out deeply several times, in order to replenish your oxygen supplies. Try to make your mind a complete blank, and soon you will be off to sleep. When you wake up, you can drink a cup of tea or coffee, but don't take a. cup before lying down. Now and then, in the middle of your household duties, take a moment off. Open the window wide, stand before it, and fill your lungs full of air. This will not be waste of time. In breathing, try to use your abdomen as well as your chest. Lie down flat on the back on the floor, or across a low stool, with the i feet hooked into the rung of a chair, i Relax the whole body. Then take a j full inhalation and begin to exhale and raise the body steadily to a sitting and I leaning forward position. Repeat several times.