Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

pamsdish

Here we are. Nicer than Mr Brain's. I got this from another thread and changed it slightly for my needs. You really need a mincer, blender or food processor, though you can do it without if you are prepared to spend time shredding - you need to cook the meat first in that case.


Thanks so much printed it off , will make them this week..

Uniscots97

Just seen Bruschetta slices in Aldi for £1.49 for 10 (you add your own toppings). You can easily make your own bruschetta using stale bread or a YS (Yellow Sticky) loaf (go for bloomer, tiger bread or French stick) much cheaper. All you need to do is cut slices around 1cm thick (if you're using a French stick cut it on a slant to give you bigger slices), lightly toast on each side. Cover with your favourite toppings and if you want to then put back under the grill (no need if you're using cold toppings like sliced tomato and avocado). Bruschetta toppings don't need to be expensive either and can be a great way to use up leftovers (i.e. half an onion, a little bit of sandwich ham, or a small bit of cheese). Bruschetta is great for parties or having a few friends over where you want to serve a snack item.

frugallily

Have you thought of using left over home made soup as a pasta sauce? It needs to be quite thick and some flavours work better than others. It makes a single left over portion do for more people. You can add grated cheese if you feel the need to do so!

My second tip is to tear up newspaper into four pieces (free ones are the perfect size!) and keep it in a nice container by the sink to clear away those bits of gunge from the plughole trap or on plates before you wash up. Saves on kitchen roll!

Frugalsod

tattycath wrote: »

Thanks for this. My kettle needs rescaling. I shall use vinegar-never thought of saving and reusing. Thanks for the tip.

Remember to keep it separate from the clean vinegar. I descaled my kettle a couple of days ago. As I am heating all the water in the morning and using a flask to keep it hot for me, I was able to leave the vinegar in overnight and my seven year old kettle looks brand new inside. I also have a fur collector in as well and with the regular cleaning with vinegar it keeps the bills down heating the water as well.

I found that as a result I do not need a Brita water filter either so that saves a few pounds every month. I was only using it to filter the water for the kettle so vinegar has paid for itself very rapidly.

Uniscots97

If you're making home made macaroni cheese to save on the amount of cheese you use (or to cut calories) you can add a spread cheese triangle and an eggcupful of milk (only if using cheese alone and not making a cheese sauce). This helps the cheese go further and I've had comments it makes it more like Kraft cheesey pasta.




If you have a pair of old tights you can use these in many ways. I cut bands from the legs to use as hair bands (these don't snag), ties for plants in the garden and I also use thicker bands to keep rugs rolled up (rather than using tape) when in storage.


If you run out of face wash, you can use a hot flannel to clean off make up.


I wear a lot of suits so I have lots of similar jackets/skirts/trousers. To make sure I always wear the matching jacket/skirt etc (helpful after washing!) I use the ribbon loops from inside my tops. I snip these off and tie in a knot a small matching piece on the jacket loop at the neck and another in the same colour on one of the hanger loops on my skirt. I have different colours for each suit. Means at a quick glance I can sort them after washing.

Uniscots97

There's no need to buy special moisturising socks/gloves. Put a moisturiser on and just put on a normal pair of socks or gloves (cotton preferably but if you don't have cotton gloves you can use cotton trainer socks on your hands overnight to let your moisturiser sink in) overnight and you'll have lovely soft skin in the morning.


If you have really sensitive skin rather than buy expensive cleanisng products (or if you have run out) you can use oats and milk. Use 1 dessert spoon of oats to 2 tablespoons of milk (doesn't matter what type) and mix together in a small dish. Wet your face with tepid water and using the oat/milk mix use this on your face as you would a face scrub. Rinse off with tepid water then splash with cool water. This will cleanse your face without being too harsh and save the pennies!

Primrose

Can't remember if I mentioned this on the previous thread but if you have a garden, buy a £1 punnett of the Lidl or Waitrose Living Salad leaves and plant them out in a spare patch of earth. It's far cheaper than buying a packet of salad seeds or a strip of salad seedlings from a garden centre and you will get about 60 little mixed lettuce plants which will grow and keep you going in salads for ages.

Primrose

If you buy Benecol drinks save a few containers with their secure little plastic lids and fill them with small amounts of gloss white paint or the emulsion colour you have on your walls and keep in a handy cupboard. . Then if skirting boards, doors or walls get accidentally marked or scuffed you can touch them up quickly and easily in a couple of minutes without turning it into a major operation. Put a dab of the coloured paint on the lid or side of pot so you know what colour it contains.

Fruball

frugallily wrote: »

My second tip is to tear up newspaper into four pieces (free ones are the perfect size!) and keep it in a nice container by the sink to clear away those bits of gunge from the plughole trap or on plates before you wash up. Saves on kitchen roll!

I LOVE this idea! I don't use kitchen roll for those jobs but will still use this newspaper idea - perfect for scraping plates and getting semi solid fat from roasting trays! Thank you

Uniscots97 wrote: »

If you have a pair of old tights you can use these in many ways. I cut bands from the legs to use as hair bands (these don't snag), ties for plants in the garden and I also use thicker bands to keep rugs rolled up (rather than using tape) when in storage.

I wear a lot of suits so I have lots of similar jackets/skirts/trousers. To make sure I always wear the matching jacket/skirt etc (helpful after washing!) I use the ribbon loops from inside my tops. I snip these off and tie in a knot a small matching piece on the jacket loop at the neck and another in the same colour on one of the hanger loops on my skirt. I have different colours for each suit. Means at a quick glance I can sort them after washing.

Love both these ideas. I don't have enough clothes to muddle up suits (yet!) but if I ever do, I will definitely use that trick!

Uniscots97 wrote: »

There's no need to buy special moisturising socks/gloves. Put a moisturiser on and just put on a normal pair of socks or gloves (cotton preferably but if you don't have cotton gloves you can use cotton trainer socks on your hands overnight to let your moisturiser sink in) overnight and you'll have lovely soft skin in the morning.


If you have really sensitive skin rather than buy expensive cleanisng products (or if you have run out) you can use oats and milk. Use 1 dessert spoon of oats to 2 tablespoons of milk (doesn't matter what type) and mix together in a small dish. Wet your face with tepid water and using the oat/milk mix use this on your face as you would a face scrub. Rinse off with tepid water then splash with cool water. This will cleanse your face without being too harsh and save the pennies!

Oats make a great skin softener for the bath too. I put a big handful inside the leg of an old pair of tights and tie to the bath taps so the water runs through them as the bath fills. Then you can use the oat stuffed tights as a body scrub.

A tip for suit wearers. Always buy 2+ pairs of trousers to each jacket. Trousers generally wear out much quicker than the jackets so you will get more wear for your money if you get 2 pairs.

Eenymeeny

I've always made haircutting appointments monthly, until the prices started to increase at almost every visit. I know that costs have increased and didn't want to change hairdressers as I like the one I have but decided to change appointments to every five or six weeks instead. (I find that being busy on the date suggested by the hairdresser saves any embarrassment;))
By having about 9 visits per year instead of 12 I estimate that I'm saving about £66 and don't really notice the difference in my hair, or at least, I can put up with it being a bit 'dishevelled' for a week!;)
This might work for other appointments you make automatically that can be postponed for a week or two?