Little ways to save

halloweenqueen_2

not all of them have holes - I should of typed!

jo_b_2

colin_tomlinson wrote:

- Children love expensive birthday cakes, so buy one. ONE. Also buy cheap block cake. After birthday child has blown out the candles, take it off to the kitchen and whack it in the freezer until the next birthday. Cut up the cheap block cake for the kids to take home.

Classic! :rotfl:

cha97michelle

i have used shredded up paper in my kittens litter tray to make the bag of litter last longer - when i first got my kittens it was the only way i could get them to use the tray.

i stopped doing it recently though as they kept taking the paper out of the tray (unused i might add) and it took more effort to hoover up the floor 3 or more times a day

Now i buy very cheap supermarket own brand litter (£1.50 for 10litres as opposed to £2.50 from the pet shop), trying to use as little as possible on top of newspapers my mum saves for me.

halloweenqueen_2

I started saving the 'stock' that collects in the bottom of the steamer for making chicken and lamb stocks with - heaven help anyone who chucks it out!

Ken68

Just been told by a floor specialist, that the cheapest way to buy lino is offcuts from the (his) warehouse. Often 2metre x 3metres stuff left over from a big job...even cheaper with an unusual colour...I'm guessing the DIY price £10 to £20.
Use existing lino or carpet as the pattern (otherwise cardboard or newspaper) and refine the edges and contours with gaffa tape.

Baileys_Babe

When I started reading this thread I didn't think we did much but then I went away and thought about it, this is what I've come up with so far:

*Use washable nappies (second hand from family and freecycle)
*Use flannels as reuseable wipes (asked friends and family for surplus)
*Use second hand equipment and clothes (have not spent any money on clothes for ds currently 6 monthsold)
*Energy sving light bulbs
*Close (lined) curtains before it gets dark
*OS cleaning
*Buy Ecover in bulk washing up Liquid 5L, washing machine detergent 25L
*Only wash up once a day
*Only run DW and WM when full
*Borrow/lend DIY and gardening equipment with friends and family
*Dry washing on line or airer depending on weather
*Reuse packaging
*Open up packets/tubes to extract the last few bits
*Take pack luch to work
*Use the library for books, videos, Dvds and audio books (also good to go and read their magazines)
*Dress appropriately for the weather
*Cycle to work
*Keep equipment/bikes etc maintained to avoid shotening their life
*Re use wrapping paper
*Save packets of ketchup etc for use when camping
*Email instead of traditional post where possible

Kimberley

I wouldn't like to borrow DIY tools etc from friends, i'd prefer to buy them myself so i've always got them. I always hate it when a neighbour knocks to borrow your lawn mower etc, i lent it once and didn't get it back for weeks even though i asked, so now i never lend anything.

Good tips though.

toozie_2

halloweenqueen wrote:

I started saving the 'stock' that collects in the bottom of the steamer for making chicken and lamb stocks with - heaven help anyone who chucks it out!

Guess what! I cool it down, put in fridge, and drink it with breakfast the next day. usually tastes quite sweet if I've had carrots in the steamer!!

Hopefully getting some vitamins as well!!

jennet1

My uncle used to give his wife housekeeping money every 8 days she never clicked on for years!!

halloweenqueen_2

Great! I'm not the only one who saves it! What I did do was put the bones and bits in it from the lamb dinner we had and it made a brilliant stock just added a spoon of bisto and an oxo and its was a delicious gravy. So much extra meat came of the bones when i drained the bones and sorted it out we had two lovely sandwiches. (i count them as free sandwiches because normally that meat would have been chucked!)