What's been the BEST tip from here for you?

SnowyOwl_2

I think my best thing from here is using vinegar for cleaning, and especially using it to replace conditioner in the washing machine. It prolongs the life of my clothes and prolongs the life of the washing machine - a true money saver!

The other thing is the general tip of cooking from scratch and freezing portions. There are so many recipes in Squeaky's Mega Index, so there is always something new to learn.

Of course the community spirit on the board is fabulous to maintain interest and to get new ideas. I can't stand it if I can't visit at least once a day.

headcovers

Not a tip as such, so I hope you don't think I am moving away from the spirit of the post, but it was the discovery of the discount vouchers forum with the Tesco online voucher codes. This has saved me the cost of delivery for over five months now, which has saved me a fortune. I put the money I saved aside into a saving account

I then used this money I saved and a £100 discount code for Center Parcs posted by some kind person on the forums a couple of weeks back. I have always wanted to go there ever since they started, but couldn't justify the expense. Now I'm booked in for a week in May - I can't wait.

I love this site :happyhear

apple_mint

Goodness, where do I start? I think I pick up new tips almost every day and I've been reading OS for about a year.

Working out exactly where your money is going each week is probably one of the best. If you know what you are spending and on what, then you can soon work out what to cut out, what to cut down and how to find an alternative through OS.

The monthly grocery challenge was my starting point on OS, cutting the cost of my shopping bill has enabled me to 'save up for' as opposed to putting on the credit card:

a breadmaker
a steamer
a yoghurt maker (it only cost me £1.50 off a car boot sale ... but it was from my savings money)
a slow cooker

We now cook all our meals from scratch - which taste better and have cut our colesteral levels. The shopping bill is less than half of what it was. By keeping records we were able to see the 'savings' mount up. After a year it is now a habit to think twice about what we are buying. We don't always keep records now, but work on a cash only basis for the weekly shop (it stops you shopping at the point of no cash to pay with ). It is lovely to have a bank account regulary in the black rather than dipping into overdraft.

tallulah_beaulah

I'm very new around here, but have found so much useful information in the short time I've been here, it's made a real difference to our whole family.

I've always been sort of OS, always shopped with a list, a bit suspicious of Credit/Debit cards, tend to make lists of everything I spend money on etc. But this site has really helped during a real belt-tightening few months for us.

I gave up work to be a stay at home mum, oddly it helps finances that i'm home to cook from scratch, have more time to shop wisely etc. Then dh made redundant just before Xmas, and i found this site (he's working agian now, but a scary time, that puts things into perspective!!).

The grocery challenge has been the most help, cut my weekly bill to less than half what it was, also cleaning with vinegar has meant no more costly cleaning products (i've been a soda crystal convert for a while!).

Like lots of other people are saying I love the community here, there's always a useful tip and a bit of a laugh from other people with "crazy" ideas.

Thanks everyone, and look forward to sharing more tips soon.

MegsMum_2

When I started reading this forum I was living from pay cheque to pay cheque, had no savings and had to pay for most things with my credit card. Now, for the first time ever I have savings and I am taking a year off work to look after my kids (maternity leave and extended maternity leave). We could not have afforded this before. :j
We also eat a lot of organic food now which I never believed we could afford before but now I spend £40 maximum a week for 4 of us, compared to about £60 before with no organic.
I think the best bits for me have been the monthly challenges and great recipes.
Today I made a Moroccan spiced Lentil & Carrot soup with the Beluza Rose Harissa paste I got free, following a tip from this website a few months back. I have a homemade chilli in the fridge and we just finished off the homemade teabread at lunch time. My family are loving all this cooking!
Thanks everyone.

novice_money_saver_2

Best tip so far has been the threads on slow cooking - just researching which one to buy ATM.

I'm off to read up on soda crystals - feel as though I'm missing out coz I don't know about their many uses (or even where to find them).

NMS

kiwichick

The first tip I followed was to write down a list of EVERYTHING I spend. You cant begin to try budgeting properly until you know what you are wasting money on.

MonkeyGirl

I'd say for me it's been the vinegar tips and also the recipes. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to those threads and helped me out on other threads :beer:.

MonkeyGirl

trigger_mike

I enjoy coming on here due to the humour of the vast majority of users, you can have a good laugh and still try and help people, (though normally my helps pretty crap:))

kiwichick

trigger_mike wrote:

(though normally my helps pretty crap:))

Your sense of humour's pretty good though