Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

spanishlivinginUK

One more thing! If using stardrops to clean the floor I find I have to rinse afterwards because the floor does become a bit slippery.... Spotless but dangerous in the bathroom!!
Unfortunately I don't think there is any Discount UK nearby... I'll check online, thanks!

pampam

spanishlivinginUK wrote: »

Like many others have said before I make my cleaning sprays myself.
I use spray bottles from Wilko at 70p each.

Kitchen cleaner
washing up liquid (100ml)
Soda cristals (100ml)
Bleach (50ml)
Top up to the 1L mark with warm water and mix well

For the bathroom
Replace bleach with zoflora (25ml)

To clean glass
100ml white vinegar
900ml water

If I have any I use stardrops instead of washing up liquid, but the only place I can find it where I am is Wilko and I always forget!

Home Bargains shops have Stardrops for 89p

piecemeal

I hope I'm not repeating someone else's tip but here's mine: I buy sticky address labels on a roll for things I put in the freezer, but I pull off a metre or so, concertina the labels up and cut them into 3 or 4. They fit into a jar in the drawer ready for use and cost less than correct size labels.

jane_smith

Not sure if it's been said before. But for a nice smell in the bathroom I put a couple of drops of scented oil onto the cardboard inner tube of a fresh toilet roll. By the time the smell starts to fade you need a new roll anyway. Saves loads and there's no waste.

marmiterulesok

jane_smith wrote: »

Not sure if it's been said before. But for a nice smell in the bathroom I put a couple of drops of scented oil onto the cardboard inner tube of a fresh toilet roll. By the time the smell starts to fade you need a new roll anyway. Saves loads and there's no waste.

Great idea and so simple.

jane_smith

Not money saving exactly but I find it saves time - fold sheets and duvet covers and slide them into the matching pillow cases, then when you need a set of linen they're all neatly stacked in matching sets.

donna73

jane_smith wrote: »

Not money saving exactly but I find it saves time - fold sheets and duvet covers and slide them into the matching pillow cases, then when you need a set of linen they're all neatly stacked in matching sets.

I do this , definitely makes things easier

Downsizing__for_sanity

spanishlivinginUK wrote: »

Like many others have said before I make my cleaning sprays myself.
I use spray bottles from Wilko at 70p each.

Kitchen cleaner
washing up liquid (100ml)
Soda cristals (100ml)
Bleach (50ml)
Top up to the 1L mark with warm water and mix well

I make my kitchen cleaner pretty simply - 2 capfuls of Flash liquid (other surface cleaners are no doubt available ) topped up with water from the tap in a spray bottle. Cleans pretty much everything, and cheaper than adding it to a sinkful/bucket as say my mum would have done. i used to add a capful of bleach but would forget and sometimes end up with pale marks on dark clothes.

It's ideal on sticky marks on the floor to soak in before I wash it, or to spray heavily on a cooker top to degrease it, as well as the usual highchairs, kitchen table jobs. I have a different spray bottle in the downstairs bathroom for bathroom cleaning - exactly same chemical but different fragrance! I buy maybe one bottle of Flash per year now. Oh and when the spray bottle gets a bit "overused" looking and tatty/cracking I just buy another one when it's on offer somewhere for £1.

Saves on lots of packaging etc as well - cheap and saving the world:A
HTH someone.

spanishlivinginUK

Potato and vegetable peeling crisps

When peeling potatos, carrots etc...
Spread the peelings on a baking tray and drizzle some olive oil, salt and pepper and put in the oven at 200c degrees for about 10/15 minutes.

Delicious and a snack less to buy!

Carriannelouise

When i cook pasta and rice i always use the same method. i have the perfect measuring cup which works out at two portions so i just use that. the method works best if the rice is washed first but if trying to save water it is not necessary. I always use plain basmatti rice.

For plain rice
I add to the pan 1 cup of rice and 1 and a half cups of boiling water and a pinch of salt. put the lid on and allow to boil. turn off the heat and set a timer to 12 minutes open the pan and fluff with a fork.

For Pilau fry half an onion add 2 cloves and 1 crushed white cardamom pod and 1 crushed black cardamom pod fry for a minute or two add a pinch of saffron threads to half a measuring cup of hot tap water and leave to soak for an hour or longer. add the water with safron in to the pan and add a cup of rice and a cup of boiling water. boil in the same way as above and fluff with a fork.

For thai coconut rice add 3 tablespoons of dessicated coconut to the rice and half a tea spoon of sugar and a star anise. cook as above.

In all of the rice dishes there is no water to drain so nothing is wasted.

If you're serving the rice with an oven baked dish add 2 cups of boiling water per cup of rice and a dash of oil or a nob of butter and put the closed pan in the oven with whatever you're cooking at the time and leave for 20 minutes or so at about 180 degrees. (Middle shelf)

for pasta to each cup of pasta add 2 and a half cups of boiling water and a pinch of salt. put the lid on and bring back to the boil swirling the pan untill it boils. turn it off and leave it for 5-10 minutes depending on the shape and how you like your pasta. there is left over water but this can be used in bread making

Saves on the water bill and the electric and it's always perfectly cooked. i use the same cup to press the rice into to present my dishes perfectly. looks great and im always getting complimented on my perfectly cooked rice & pasta. HTH