Great Isn’t it Obvious MoneySaving Hunt: Tell us the secrets you didn't know you had

rainbow-kristie

gillette147 wrote: »

I want a way of using all the bits of soap bars once they get too small to use. Like a soap masher.

We make use of a "soap sock" - using an odd sock, we've filled it with soap ends, tied it at the top and now the kids use it in the shower.:j

And I can't be the only one who doesn't use kitchen roll... most jobs (in our house mopping up spills) can be done with whatever is about to be washed eg teatowel, t-shirts etc

Charis

strumpet wrote: »

- a given amount of water requires a given amount of energy to raise it by a given number of degrees centigrade, hence it shouldn't matter what method is used to provide the energy required. ...
Having said that, boiling a kettle is less likely to waste energy as all the energy goes into heating the water, whereas some of the energy from the hob will heat the air around the pan and not the pan.

Strumpet

Theres a thread on this very subject today on MSE http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=12359931

Maywood

I save left over boiling water from my kettle in a thermos flask for use later when I need hot water, or to water plants with when cool.
I cut Spontex wash-ups in half, so they last twice as long.
I use a bulldog clip on the end of my toothpaste tube, when I can no longer curl it up.
I cycle into town to do my shopping, instead of using my car, but not when it's raining!

This is my first ever post in a forum chat.

Maywood

I save left over boiling water from my kettle in a thermos flask for use later when I need hot water, or to water plants with when cool.
I cut Spontex wash-ups in half, so they last twice as long.
I use a bulldog clip on the end of my toothpaste tube, when I can no longer curl it up.
I cycle into town to do my shopping, instead of using my car, but not when it's raining!

This is my first ever post in a forum chat.

Charis

gillette147 wrote: »

I want a way of using all the bits of soap bars once they get too small to use. Like a soap masher.

I do what my mum used to do. Before the remaining piece gets wafer thin, lay it in just enough cold water to soften the bottom third to half of the piece. After a few hours, usually when you next want to wash your hands - it can be a little messy - press the soggy piece (hard) into a brand new bar. Push until they are permanently welded together and fill any gap between the two with the squishy soap that squeezes out. Put it in the airing cupboard to dry for a day so the two pieces stay together. Minimum effort, maximum savings.

bikerchick1066

Whoosher wrote: »

How do you hang up your clothes??

I take the ribbons out of my clothes as well to use in craft projects. I leave the ones in skirts, but I don't tend to hang pyjamas, jumpers and vest tops in the wardrobe. Also, if you leave them in, they always end up hanging out somewhere whilst you're wearing them!

geri1965_2

coinchaser wrote: »

Don't have a printer - especially if you have keyboard happy kids!
Instead email anything you need printing to work and do it there. Also use the work's photocopier...

Or - just steal paper from work and take it home!

Avenger_61

HannaB wrote: »

Get to work early and make any 0845 or 0870 calls I need to make...;)

(Needless to say, I won't tell you where I work, so you can't report me)

Use www.saynoto0870.com and lookup normal telephone number and use free uk call package.....

karendb

winkasgirl wrote: »

What a great thread .... and some interesting ideas

No one has mentioned wine boxes. When you've drunk all the wine from the box (and tipped it on its edge at 45 degrees and shook it open the box and you will find a silver bag with the tap on the end. Get some scissors and cut open in an angle the opposite end to the tap ........ another glass or two will come out!!

I do this as well - it's one of the most satisfying things you can do - get more wine when you thought you'd run out

BigMummaF

I keep value chocolate in the freezer to use for ice cream topping or in cooking. Just bash it about with a wooden spoon!

We also use bread bags as sandwich bags, then they get used again as doggie-doo bags. I used then for nappy sacks too when the offspring were bubbs.

I keep [new]250ml-ish bottles of water in the car, in a little cooler bag. When we remember, the little ice pack goes in for our journey so there is always a drink on hand.

Warm, used tea bags make excellent eye pads--the tanin acts as a poltice to entice out any foreign bodies [particularly when suffering conjunctivitis], or just to soothe tired eyes.

Make up squash with just-off-the-boil water, teaspoon honey & squeeze of plastic or fresh lemon makes an effective cold remedy..add painkiller of your choice if needed.

Squash made up with cooled boiled water & a couple of teaspoons of glucose powder stirred in is much better than a leading brand of g/LUCO/s-aid when you have a jippy tum.

Boiled water & salt is so useful for many antiseptic-type jobs; eye wash, mouth wash, gargle, bathing cuts/grazes/insect bites.

Bicarb in the bath water or as a 'lotion' relieves the itching from bites, sunburn, prickly heat, chicken pox etc.