Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Uniscots97

Tillytrotter1 wrote: »

Thanks Unixgirluk. Totally agree with Home Bargains, I could spend ages in there, fab shop. Aldi good but none near me unfortunately. Good tip about the box sets, I must try it as I want to get started on Christmas. Have been looking at homemade presents - chocolate bark, hot choc sachets look good, choc truffles. Just need to try and be inventive I guess!

Chocolate bark sounds good.

nuttybabe

marmiterulesok wrote: »

I also use cloth napkins.I hate the idea of wasting paper on napkins.

Me too, I even made a load myself out of cheap fabric, cost me £3 for 12 huge napkins :money:. although not sure the extra time ironing them makes it worth it

bluebag

nuttybabe wrote: »

Me too, I even made a load myself out of cheap fabric, cost me £3 for 12 huge napkins :money:. although not sure the extra time ironing them makes it worth it

I use large face flannels, no ironing required.. all white and easy to bleach.
I keep cheap paper ones for guests tho... don't want them to think I'm a slob.

marmiterulesok

nuttybabe wrote: »

Me too, I even made a load myself out of cheap fabric, cost me £3 for 12 huge napkins :money:. although not sure the extra time ironing them makes it worth it

I can't use an unironed napkin.:eek::o;)

Eenymeeny

bluebag wrote: »

I use large face flannels, no ironing required.. all white and easy to bleach.
I keep cheap paper ones for guests tho... don't want them to think I'm a slob.

Good idea. I've been known to use old tea towels for certain 'sloppy eaters' when spag bol is on the menu. I don't worry about the stains as they are to protect the good clothes underneath! Being bigger than napkins they offer more protection. You could buy cheap matching tea towels and boil wash if you feel they need it

Snowy_Owl

sparrer wrote: »

thanks airgead, makes much more sense than saving odds and ends for months then throwing them away because I can't be bothered to store the bits any more. A mobile phone case or even a no-longer-needed baby's cotton mitt or bootee would do the job

This is an old favourite from guide camp!!! ( except they just had a bar of soap in it - hanged from the makeshift wash basin!!:j

Snowy_Owl

lilrahi wrote: »

I love this idea for scarves: http://pinterest.com/pin/189643834279367494/

I have so many scarves, pashminas they are taking over my wardrobe. This is a really good idea

I do something very similar to this - I use a hanger designed for trousers - can easily get 3/4 scarfs on it

Snowy

marmiterulesok

Eenymeeny wrote: »

Good idea. I've been known to use old tea towels for certain 'sloppy eaters' when spag bol is on the menu. I don't worry about the stains as they are to protect the good clothes underneath! Being bigger than napkins they offer more protection. You could buy cheap matching tea towels and boil wash if you feel they need it

I often have an old tea towel on my lap if eating something messy.

Uniscots97

If I'm peeling veg (i.e. potatoes, carrots, etc) I save the peelings (I also save the stalks from broccoli) and freeze them. When I have enough I use these to make soup. I also chuck in whatever else I have to vary it i.e. lentils, split peas, rice, pasta. Makes a great and filling soup.

Uniscots97

This one is a bit of inspiration taken from my parents living out in the sticks, where if say they're going to the village they'd get paper/milk/small grocery items for neighbours and vice versa.

We all want to save money on fuel/transport yet for a lot of us we don't have a lot of choice on our doorsteps so why not take a leaf out of my parents book? Do you have friends/family/friendly neighbours nearby that you could share your shopping with? What I mean by this is that a small group of people (3 would be a good minimum) club together and order their groceries online together. Split the delivery cost (meaning it would be around £1-£1.50 per person) and choose a time slot to suit the group. In my parents area its £4.90 return to the nearest village by bus and that only runs twice a day. In petrol/diesel a return journey would be about £5-6. Where I live (small village, so we have the local version of the coop all big supermarkets are a minimum of 12 miles away) the bus fare is £4 return. This would mean a little organisation but a saving of a few £'s a week (more if you use a taxi) and means no lugging heavy bags too far.