Little ways to save

elvis_bloggs

I visit people at mealtimes whenever possible.

Kimberley

And ask to use their bathroom and quickly snatch a 2 minute shower

VickyA_2

elvis_bloggs wrote:

I visit people at mealtimes whenever possible.

We always try to visit OH's parents in an evening eg Saturday evening when they buy in a chinese takeaway. They also helped us move into our new house and we got fish and chips bought for us. Blame OH, they're his parents.

sheng719

the little ways that I do to save are :
*I bulk ccok hot lunches for me and my other half to take to work, or do sanwiches to take to work. this potentially saves us from spending between £2.50 - £5.00 per day.
* when we go food shopping, we are always on the look out for BOGOF stuuf that we potentially need. We are also not that particular with brands. My step dad wont eat ordinary baked beans apart from Heinz because he says that Heinz tastes better...but I think that is a load of rubbish.
*We tend to try to dry our clothes in the clothes line rather than the tumble drier. Yes, I know that sometimes you can't dry clothes due to poor weather, but having a small covered area in the garden helps....
*I recycle old fabrics to make into quilted sheets, or cushion covers. It just takes some imagination and creativity...
*Ice cream tubs, chinese takeaway boxes and jars are good to save for future food storage.
* during the summer I tend to go and forage for fruits such as blackberry, raspberry or gooseberry to make them into jams...
*If i have a massive clearout at home, I tend to not throw things away and try to sell some things at carboot sales...at least I don't just throw away things and at least earn a little from the unwanted stuff that I have accumulated over the years.
*I also tend to recycle left over food i.e., roast beef could be made into beef casserole the next day considering that my family wont eat roast beef again the next day.
* I don't buy magazines, I borrow them from people who are willing to part with their pennies to buy them...
*I do tend look around first before buying something....In this way, I am comparing prices and quality before I buy something.

tenuissent

maryb wrote:

mix good washing up liquid half and half with ultra cheapo - it's rubbish on its own but is perfect for extending expensive stuff. A bottle works out at about 30p maximum for really nice thick effective washing up liquid

Well, I have always mixed good washing up liquid with plain water, in an empty bottle. A small squirt is enough to clean grease off plates, cutlery etc (no dishwasher) and it is easier to rinse off. Most people use far too much when it is full strength, and the solid foam takes lots of expensive water to get rid of. I never put things on rack covered in foam - bad for you.

I also secretly water down the tomato ketchup, shampoo etc etc.

anntho35

When I descale my coffee maker, I keep the descaler, use it to descale my shower head, or anything else that needs doing. It can be used at least four times - often more! When it is 'spent' pour it down the loo and leave it overnight.

Use polystyrene chips (or cut up larger pieces) to put in the bottom of flower pots for free, lightweight drainage for your pot plants.

Use the CDroms that come through the post offering internet access as coasters.

needmoney

MATH wrote:

Use about £6 in printable vouchers for my weekly shop at tesco.

QUOTE]

Where do you find them and do you find this amount every week, I never seem to find 'usable' vouchers for Tesco. Thanks if you reply.:)

toozie_2

Re-use, un-franked stamps (think this is criminal tho!)

Sunday meat usually lasts 3 days, Sunday dinner, Monday curry/pie, Tuesday Soup.

If I'm in on my own in the evening, I put an extra jumper on and the heating off (teens would not stand for that!)

Re-use junk mail for lists etc

Re-use jiffy bags to sell items on ebay.

1/2 dishwasher tablet (learnt that on here recently)

When the oven is on, utilise all shelves with dishes to freeze, the meal of the day, jacket pots etc.

As excersise I walk, no gym fee's, equipment etc, only trainers needed.

keep all elastic bands (from spring onions etc), and paper clips

I have re-used fancy, glossy wrapping paper from the presents the kids have received at Xmas/bithdays etc, try and re-use the gift bags you sometimes get.

Make Xmas tags, from last years xmas cards, with pinking shears, rest of card goes in recycling.

For special birthday presents, I wrap with tissue paper (saved), tie with green garden twine, and the tag is a glossy green leaf from the garden, written with silver pen!

Cat eats left over human food!

We make shoe boxes for donation at Xmas (opperation Christmas child) with freebies got all year round, and shoe shops will give you the boxes for nothing, if you haven't bought new shoes that year.

I save alll the boxes the kids have their Xmas presents in, for example, the box the toy hoover came in. When the child has grown out of the toy, you can sell it for far more money near Xmas at a Boot Sale if its clean, boxed and looking new.

Descale the kettle now and again by boiling 17p value lemonade in the kettle, cooling, boiling agian, then cleaning the sink with the used lemonade (brings the stainless up to a treat), reboil the kettle with hot water from tap, use this to wash up, and the kettle element will sparkle for 17p and some electric!

Go food shopping at the time you know the reductions take place, make meals around the reduced items. ie 10p french stick, makes about 6 lovely home made french bread pizza's.

Oh...I could go on all night......better shut up!!!

biffer_2

OK, Thought I was tight but I learnt something today :-).

-Take the morning cr*p at work - saves on paper/water.
-Make sure you have at least 4 cups of tea/coffeed at work, because then you won't want any when you get home
- As mentioned previously keep pair of scissors in bathroom to cut up toothpaste tubes, the exception being metal tubes, which seem to compress better.
- When you have guests around, gather up the paper napkins, then use them for blowing your nose on. (of course, if they don't get used, carefully put them back).
- Get yourself a tiny camping stove for 'brewing up' on long journeys. With the cost of a cuppa at South Mimms about £1.70 you'll pay for it in just a few trips.
- When out, insist on a pot of tea for 'one'. You can share the cup with your partner, or if you're lucky ask for an extra cup *after* ordering. You can also ask for extra hot water which you *never* have to pay for.
- When a workman comes around to do *anything* don't be afraid to watch everything he does. He might complain, but for a short job it's unlikely. Chances are you'll then be able to fix the problem in the future, so you get some tuition for free. Same applies when neighbours have things done.
- When brewing up at home, warm the pot by pouring some hot water in. When warm pour that back in the kettle instead of down the sink, and re-boil. Always use a tea-cosy for an extra cup later, it gets more out of the leaves.
- Get involved in a car-pool, spam the entire company to make sure it happens if necessary - nobody will complain if you're being environmentally friendly.

I'll post more in a minute....

123xyz

Use a little bit from the new tomato sauce bottle to make a gap. Then lean the old one on top of it without its lid. Balance it on the wall behind. If you leave it all night the old sauce bottle will be empty, and the new one full.

When dishcloths have finally had it, put them in with a hot wash and use for wiping down in the bathroom. Gets rid of bubbles which bathroom sponges leave behind.

At the end of the washing up liquid bottle, there is enough to do another wash up if you fill it with hot water and tip it in the bowl.

Take your parboiled potatoes to roast out of the pan with a slotted spoon and put your greens in the water. Water is still hot, leave it on the hot ring until you are ready to put the veg on and they are already nearly cooked.

When you have finished with the oven for the evening, leave the door open to let the heat out into the house.

Blitz up leftover veg with some water and a vegetable oxo for a lovely thick soup. Add a boiled potato and mix in if it's not thick enough.

Leftover mash is great as a thickener instead of cornflour.