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

strumpet

Mrs_Wossinge wrote: »

Hope you're washing and re-using [tin foil], whichever you're using... I've made a box of re-sealable freezer bags last for years, and if I've not used it for cooking meat, foil gets re-used in our house too, until it falls apart!

Mrs W :A

When I bought ny house last June, I also bought a giant roll of cling film and a giant roll of foil from Lakeland Plastics. I am still on those same rolls and I'm sure I have more than half of each left!

I tend to use foil I've used to cover a roast, for lining the oven bottom - saves on oven cleaner. Never really got on with re-sealable freezer bags so I use the plastic tubs that my lodger gets whenever he buys a takeaway (once or twice a week). I may as well profit from his gluttony! As we go halves on the groceries bill as well, his buying takeaways means I get to eat more than half of the food we buy. We're really trying not to throw any food out and I have to say that by making myself take lunch to work rather than buying from the bakery, we're not doing so bad.

I'm still way over on my £310 July challenge though and when I look back at my spend diary, the overspend was on rubbish which I could have and should have avoided!

MORE WILLPOWER REQUIRED!!!!!:mad:

Strumpet
xxx

Strumpet
xxx

gillette147

halia wrote: »

I'm with you here, I have a PAYG because I prefer not to be tied into a contract. I got the cheapest possible basic phone from tesco and get £10 worth every 2 months. I'd never use the minutes they give you on most contracts so it would really waste cash for me!

Last time I'll say this......
Anyone can get a contract phone on cashback deals.
If you abide by their rules and don't slip up (write dates on your calandar) it will cost you LESS than free!!!

I am amazed how many people are posting saying that they are doing better than that because they pay £10 per 2 months.

Errrr..............less than free OR £5 a month.........hmmmmm........which is cheaper?

But I guess it is this stubborn unwillingness of some to believe that what I am saying is true that is what allows me and others to have a 400mins and 500txts a month mobile phone that cost me -£12 (yes minus £12)...... Is free for the full 12 mths of the contract......and I am selling the handset on ebay as we speak.

halia

gillette, I wasn't saying I did better than 'free' I was saying contracts dont' make sense for me I KNOW myself and I KNOW that the liklehood of me slipping up on the rules etc is VERY VERY high. I prefer not to take that risk, its not unwillingness to believe you, its managing my own budget appropriatly. As I dont' use moby very much at all I wouldn't get much benefit from those extra minutes anyway.

I'm perfectly OK with £5 a month for moby, especially as when I bought the phone for £35 I got bonus points from tesco + £20 free call time voucher.

HC_2

gillette147 wrote: »

Last time I'll say this......
Anyone can get a contract phone on cashback deals.
If you abide by their rules and don't slip up (write dates on your calandar) it will cost you LESS than free!!!

I am amazed how many people are posting saying that they are doing better than that because they pay £10 per 2 months.

Errrr..............less than free OR £5 a month.........hmmmmm........which is cheaper?

But I guess it is this stubborn unwillingness of some to believe that what I am saying is true that is what allows me and others to have a 400mins and 500txts a month mobile phone that cost me -£12 (yes minus £12)...... Is free for the full 12 mths of the contract......and I am selling the handset on ebay as we speak.

I once got a phone from Boots, on which I made about £350 in Boots points, but I didn't get any free minutes or texts.

Can you point us in the right direction for one of these cashback deals, Gillette?

HC_2

HC wrote: »

I once got a phone from Boots, on which I made about £350 in Boots points, but I didn't get any free minutes or texts.

Can you point us in the right direction for one of these cashback deals, Gillette?

Sorry, Gillette, I've looked back and found your explanatory post now.

Wistful100

maggiebee48 wrote: »

If someone comes and boils loads of water in my kettle, I put it in a thermos and use it for my coffe for the rest of the day!

I have recently started using a thermos flask, or catering style coffee flask, to keep freshly brewed coffee in at home. The percolator would otherwise have been left on to keep the coffee warm, or allowed to cool down & then would need a re-heat..
This way not only saves on electricity it is actually great for the coffee as it tastes better than a reheat does and it stays hot most of the day (usually still quite warm at the end of the day). It can equally be used for tea left in the pot that would otherwise be wasted thus cutting down on basics and means you have a cuppa to hand whenever you want it during the day - great when you need the stove top or plug sockets for cooking or baking.
In my case it arose from people going out after asking for a tea and then not being there to drink it, or conversely being home later than anticipated & it ending up 'stewed'. This option avoids frayed tempers and spoilt beverages.
We would do it if we were going out picnicing - so why not? Just have a 'picnic' at home now and then instead! It also applies to offices as a lot of large catering facilities, restaurants & hotels use them all the time for people to serve themselves beverages.
The alternative in the summer is to put your tea/coffee in a jug in the fridge & chill - add ice cubes and whizz in the blender (adding milk or sugar as required) to give you lovely iced coffee drinks, iced lemon or mint teas, there are loads of variations. Saves wastage, makes life more interesting and varied & SAVES YOU MONEY!!

janey07

I never buy wrapping paper for presents any more, My family and friends simply recycle any gift bags we have. Some bags have been to 5 or 6 people now and are still going strong! Works well with Christmas presents too.

Wistful100

coinchaser wrote: »

Here's a few tips, this is a great thread!

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...

Make your kids swap/trade in their console games if they want a new one. (If they can't borrow it from a friend)

Only ever have £10 in your purse (for emergencies) unless you have something you specifically want - that way it doesn't get frittered away.

Teach your kids to cook basic dishes from scratch so that way they will learn to appreciate home cooking and won't be nagging for fast food or take aways.

The £10 in the purse idea really works. I only carry a fiver and loose change generally unless going out for something specific..........the number of things I've resisted buying as a result of having limited funds is amazing. Things I thought I wanted/needed at the time but could really do without and I really haven't suffered a bit by not owning or eating them!!!. It's particularly good if you have a weakness for chocolate or similar nibbles when you shouldn't and actually makes you far more careful about how you spend your funds.

Wistful100

shed35 wrote: »

That brings back happy memory of my childhood. My mum used to work in a chip shop and she use to bring home the wrapping paper that you wrap chips (not used of course) for us to draw.

I use to work for an engineering company and there were always really big sheets of drawings/plans which were no longer used and I use to give them to my friend for her playgroup.

Not only can you use left over wallpaper part rolls or pieces for lining draws (spray with scent or room freshner or rub with herbs etc. to be as good as any bought scented draw liners) but we always used the reverse of odds and bits of wallpaper for drawing paper when I was young. You can often pick up odd rolls that are not embossed & are 'paper' (as opposed to plastic derivatives) for as little as 50p a roll - hours and hours of drawing paper!

Mary_Hartnell

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.

The bar in our kitchen is always a sandwich of small bars of soap (ends of bar from the main bathroom plus those "overnight" bars from hotels). I heat existing "kitchen" bar and the latest end-of-bar in the microwave.
Press them together using the dish cloth (melted soap is "burning" hot) then wash hands to test the two bits have welded together.
There is a skill to making the soap soft but not "burst" as it starts cooking from the inside.
This treatment makes some soaps "harder" so heaven knows what microwaves do to the fat in our food. Hardened soap lasts longer. My old mum used to keep her soap in the airing cupboard - it was like rock.:rotfl: