Homemade jam- what jars/lids etc do you use?

[Haylstones]

I'm about to attempt some HM jam for the first time. I got a load of empty jars from Freecycle and thought I just had to sterilise them, fill and stick the lids on. However, I;ve just been googling and am now worried that this won't work with reused lids- do I need to buy the wax discs and covers?
ANy advice gratefully received!

bump

I made marmalade in the winter and didn't bother with the discs (gets eaten too quickly round here!). I used kilner jars (the ones with the glass lid and rubber seal and the clicky thing to fasten them up. Because I like the look of them and am a great ponce. I think it depends how quickly you plan to eat it. my granny was a great jam-maker and she always used them.

I either buy wax discs or cut circles to fit out of baking parchment if I've run out, then just stick old lids on top. I run jars and lids through the dishwasher to sterilise and stick the jam in the moment the dishwasher finishes its cycle wen they're still really hot.

same as oh dear

Use greaseproof paper - either cut into little discs and on top of the jam itself, or a square or circle on top of the whole jar, held on by the lid. I think it'll be fine - there's just a possibility it won't last quite as long (jam never lasts long in this house anway, but my mother, who has all the proper stuff, can unearth jars about 5 years old which are not mouldy!)

Thanks all. I think I#ll reuse the lids and hope the poppy thing gets sucked down.
How long will it n ormally keep for- both witha reused but properly sealed lid and with wax disc/ greaseproof paper?
Thanks!

We always re-use any old jars and lids. We sterilise the jars in the oven but just give the lids a thorough washing and leave it at that.
But jam does not last very long in our house - couple of months, maximum.

I put the jars in the oven nad the lids (metal lids) in boiling water. If I need more jars nd need to use jars with plastic lids I buy the jam tops (plastic held down with elastic band)

Done absolutely properly, it should keep for a couple of years. However, in our house it's never around more than 6 months!