Old style things that 'only you' do...

Nickitree30

Have found so many suggestions on here that I'm going to try and implement. I already do a fair amount of them like diluting shampoo, cutting open toothpaste tubes etc.
Found myself getting frustrated on finding mould in my tomato puree jar so now I open a jar, use what I need then use a palette knife to put the rest in an ice cube tray and freeze it, then transfer into a resealable freezer bag.

beedeedee

I don't always use a whole jar of pasta sauce or whatever - so I just shove the whole thing in the freezer.

PinkPeach

Someone mentioned about cutting up facial wipes and not liking that you can't get them back in the packet neatly again afterwards...

If you decide one evening to not be very MSE and you have a takeaway, wash out the plastic container and use these to store your cut up facial wipes. Or use a tupawear tub that you may have spare. Either of these will keep the moisutre in

coldstreamalways

Hi, I'm a dentist and havin a quick peek at this during work! Shhh.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that re-using floss is fine, (my dad has been doing it for years) as long as it dries out fully between uses as the bacteria won't live on it when it dries. It's the same as a toothbrush really (which you should try to ensure dries between each use as well).

Hope that helps!

marmiterulesok

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Hi, I'm a dentist and havin a quick peek at this during work! Shhh.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that re-using floss is fine, (my dad has been doing it for years) as long as it dries out fully between uses as the bacteria won't live on it when it dries. It's the same as a toothbrush really (which you should try to ensure dries between each use as well).

Hope that helps!

:j :A

Thanks!

raphanius

I love this thread.

I do loads of mad frugal stuff like bringing home sachets when i eat out (my vanilla sugar pot is made entirely from free sugar ) I too reuse the kitchen sponge in the bathroom and wash out plastic bags. i never buy kitchen roll, instead i use cloths plus i use a fraction of the recommended dose of wash powder/liquid. i turn things upside down and cut tubes open to get the last drop out. i compost my tea bags, coffee grounds and fruit and veg waste. i never use my tumble dryer and i go round the house switching lights off. i cut OH and DS hair and make repairs to their clothes when they get damaged. i catch the bus to save money rather than get a taxi and then walk a few stops to save bus fare. i get my haircut locally to save the bus fare and town salon price. i always go to the loo before i leave work rather than wait til i get home. i refuse to buy electrical goods, clothes, furniture or cosmetics without a discount code, cashback or voucher of some kind. i do surveys for amazon vouchers so we never pay for books or DVDs. i use things past their sell/use by dates and we always eat up leftovers. i make my own popcorn and DS loves it.

before MSE i did none of these things and we were drowning in debt. now after three years of money saving we have cleared two debts and have savings. :A

NualaBuala

raphanius wrote: »

I love this thread.

I do loads of mad frugal stuff like bringing home sachets when i eat out (my vanilla sugar pot is made entirely from free sugar ) I too reuse the kitchen sponge in the bathroom and wash out plastic bags. i never buy kitchen roll, instead i use cloths plus i use a fraction of the recommended dose of wash powder/liquid. i turn things upside down and cut tubes open to get the last drop out. i compost my tea bags, coffee grounds and fruit and veg waste. i never use my tumble dryer and i go round the house switching lights off. i cut OH and DS hair and make repairs to their clothes when they get damaged. i catch the bus to save money rather than get a taxi and then walk a few stops to save bus fare. i get my haircut locally to save the bus fare and town salon price. i always go to the loo before i leave work rather than wait til i get home. i refuse to buy electrical goods, clothes, furniture or cosmetics without a discount code, cashback or voucher of some kind. i do surveys for amazon vouchers so we never pay for books or DVDs. i use things past their sell/use by dates and we always eat up leftovers. i make my own popcorn and DS loves it.

before MSE i did none of these things and we were drowning in debt. now after three years of money saving we have cleared two debts and have savings. :A

Well done on clearing your debts and saving! :T I do surveys too (but the don't come very often).

You reminded me of one thing I do that might not be that common - I cut my own hair! It helps that it's fairly long and is slightly wavy, plus I wear it up a lot so if I make mistakes they won't show. I will probably get it cut properly some time in the future but I am thinking of going to a barbers because a) they are cheap and b) I feel really uncomfortable in normal hairdressers, they often charge a lot and I have yet to find one who will just cut my hair simply and not try to do mad things with it and not try to sell me expensive products I don't want/need.

Winchelsea

I too cut my own hair. Like you, Nuala, I started doing it when my hair was long. Then I had it cut in a bob, and had about three visits to the salon for a trim before I decided I didn't want to do it any more. So, I learnt to do it myself.

It needs two mirrors - I hold a hand mirror in my left hand (and the scissors and comb alternately in my right) and stand with my back to the bathroom mirror. With a bob you mostly only have to go straight round, so it's not too difficult once you get the hang of it.

I've been doing it for about 15 years now (though did have a couple of years in the middle where I grew my hair longer again), so reckon I must have saved at least a thousand pounds!

NualaBuala

That's a pretty impressive saving Winchelsea! :T I must try to work out what I have saved, a few hundred I reckon but it hasn't been quite as long as you! Your technique sounds very fancy compared to mine - I might try to upgrade to it.

gcgcg

Loved this forum. Here are a few I don't think I saw:
I freeze brown bananas until I have a use for them (bread or smoothie)
I reuse rubber bands for closing pasta/frozen veg bags
frozen broccoli is cheaper than fresh and can be used in soups/pastas
I never ever buy liquid soap (except washing up liquid)/ hair or clothes conditioner. They're just not needed and a bar of soap lasts longer. Ditto wipes - a face cloth works just as well.
The kids all had washable nappies - they don't need to be soaked in anything - just left in a dry bucket in the garden till you build up enough for a load - wash at 40 mostly then occasionally 60 if they're getting wfiffy. I think I saved about 3000 doing that. I also recycled the nappies on a free website and the woman has written to thank me. Some of those nappies have gone through 5 children.
I try to drive at the most efficient speed (don’t always manage though!).
I make my own bread – and buy huge bags of organic flour (15 or 25KG). This doesn’t save money compared to sliced packets of bread but is very competitive against quality breads.
About twice a year I go to an asian market and stock up on pulses and 10kg of basmati rice – I NEVER buy these in an ordinary supermarket.
I also buy expensive toothbrushes as they seem to do a better job – I figure they’ll pay for themselves over a lifetime and I buy several when they’re on offer.
I started a tea club at work – everyone chips in and we buy tea, coffee and milk – saves a fortune compared to either going for coffee or buying on your own.