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

Sharp_Eyes

gillette147 wrote: »

It wouldn't matter if you used 1 min a month.
The deals mean it is LESS than free to get a contract phone.
You can't beat less than zero.

Interesting. Will have to check it out. Thanks!

Sharp_Eyes

gillette147 wrote: »

As a student I used to use cash.
There were a few times when i went 1/2p over!!!

But I'd have thought a list and some resolve would allow people to grab CC cashback.

...I'll shut up now.

A list and some resolve will work for lots of people. It does for me because I get excited about money saving but for others it's like being on a money "diet". They keep seeing things that they can't have or won't be sensible to get so they feel deprived. With that card in their hands they tend to justify "Oh, its just a couple extra quid, I can handle that." A couple quid and a couple pence do add up though and a month later they're regretting it! The consumer debt crisis is a testament to this - eyes bigger than their pockets! *LOL*

Even on this MONEY SAVING forum, I see people practising behaviours that are NOT money saving! Like someone will post about something that's down to a ridiculous price like 4p and someone will say, "Oh thanks, I'm rushing out to stock up NOW....and uh, BTW....how do you use it?" :rotfl: Stocking up on a food item that you've never used in your life, and don't even know if you'll like the taste of anyway, just because its cheap is a sure way to waste money which all adds up at the end of the day. If it's something you normally use anyway, sure! If it's something that you've tried in the past and liked, fine! But buying 1 thing for 40p that you're sure you're going to use is much more sensible than buying 10 things for 4p that take up space in your cupboards, that you work your way around all the time, and that eventually expire and you have to toss out!

jb5

OK - Last few I can think of.

I'm a fan of the Navy Shower or at least my slightly more luxurious version of it. {keep the water running whilst washing my hair and face}. This keeps hot water costs down and uses less soap. [This may have been mentioned earlier in this thread?]

Cooking Veg:- We tend to use a steamer. Uses less energy and retains more of the nutrients. [A pressure cooker may be even better but not suited to all, and has a higher initial cost].

Freezer:- Rather than have large empty spaces in the freezer, I put empty airtight containers in there to fill the gaps [NB DO NOT OVERFILL - allow some space around food so that it will freeze properly]. That way (once the air has cooled in the boxes) the freezer will have less work to do after opening the freezer door.

BigMummaF

We have a couple of electrical things that go to standby when you try to turn them off, so I've invested in a couple of gizmoes that will let me turn them off at the socket.

I found them in Robert Dyas for around a tenner. You plug one bit into the socket & then the thing--in our case the telly--plugs into the bit in the socket. Keeping up so far?:p

You then have a 'remote control' that allows you to turn the power on & off to that particular item, extremely useful in my case cuz the sockets are buried behind banks of dvds etc:eek:

I'll see if I can find a picture of what I'm talking about, cuz me brain ain't werkin that gooder today:o

BigMummaF

Here it is

http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=311&storeId=91&productId=33988&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10428&parents_parent_category_rn=10424&top_category_rn=10351&showSubCategory=yes&top=Y&cache_entry=-1

They've changed the design since I got mine.

DuggyMak

Hi Sharp_Eyes.

Sorry, I didn't make it clear that the water from cooking vegetables is that in the pan below my steamer. So not quite as bad as you thought, but I accept your point about losing some vitamins. In fact, I quite often add finely chopped vegetables straight on top of anything I am cooking in my frying pan, and steam them under a heavy lid, thereby keeping all the goodness in, saving gas and the number of pans to wash up as well!

vodkawitch1

I buy `basic` brand soap powder large size for £1.49 then add a tub of powered stain remover from the £1 shop. £2.49 and I have a large box of soap powder easily as good as the best brands. All of which would be close to £6 for the large size.

Sharp_Eyes

DuggyMak wrote: »

Hi Sharp_Eyes.

Sorry, I didn't make it clear that the water from cooking vegetables is that in the pan below my steamer. So not quite as bad as you thought, but I accept your point about losing some vitamins. In fact, I quite often add finely chopped vegetables straight on top of anything I am cooking in my frying pan, and steam them under a heavy lid, thereby keeping all the goodness in, saving gas and the number of pans to wash up as well!

Oh goodie! :A I thought you meant the regular way that people drain - tip the pan over the sink and the water runs down the drain - but I guess if anyone thought the same as me then maybe they could try the tip about cooking the rice in the veg water instead of doing it the old way...

Amontylado

babble wrote: »

I put tap water into a bottle and leave it overnight, depending on your water quality it takes between 2 and 4 hours for the additives etc to leach out and its every bit as good (and tasty) as bottled water that costs a fortune.

How do the additives 'leach out'? How do you know how long this takes? Aren't the additives in solution and therefore will remain that way unless actively removed e.g. by chemical or other means, not just by standing?

Amontylado

Make the most of the library:
- take out guide books and maps before going on holiday;
- borrow toys and games from the toy library (great for the summer time);
- on request you can extend the borrowing time to 6 weeks before renewal;
- take out DVDs on 24 hour loan on a Saturday - our library is closed on Sunday and Monday so you don't have to return them until Tuesday;
- borrow framed pictures;
- internet access is usually free at UK libraries - useful if you're away from home.