Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Savvy_sewing

Kevie192 wrote: »

I think that's the point - then they can withhold some of the deposit for carpet cleaning but never actually get it done! Had this happen to me a couple of times...

Yes the last landlord did that to me. We had the carpets cleaned by a firm before we left but their was one stain that the girls had made, that hadnt come out. The man said he would go back and have another go at it, but the landlord refused to let him do it and charged £650 for the carpet out of the deposit.
We also had touched up the walls where the children had drawn, and he charged the rest of the deposit for a complete redecoration. So I never saw a penny out of the £1300 deposit.
Why do they not use wipeable paint? Cheap chalky magnolia that doesnt was in a family home is crazy.

Anyway to the carpets. I couldnt use a machine my self, due to my Spondylosis, and would need to hire a person to do it, but then I would need to have the furniture moved. But I dont want to leave the carpets till I have to move out as the mess is beginning to bug me. I hate the marks but dont have the strength in my arm to scrub them.

But I will try a bit in a corner first, and see what it does, then reconsider my options. Thanks guys n gals.

lauren_1

Peg a large dark coloured fleece blanket to the curtains, a cheaper way to block out light in the summer, I am in a rented house and was refused permission to have anything other than the curtain pole. Mind you my handyman skills are limited and probably wouldnt know how to put one up.

alanbluecat

Re Dylon - just bought some (black) from Asda today and it was on special at £1.98. Don't know for how long or if it is just my local store (Leigh, Lancs) but it may help someone.

HoneyBee83

Im not sure if this has been posted,so sorry if it has-i have been having a quick read through while checking on dinner!

If like me you drink alot of tea/coffee during the day try buying a thermal flask.
I fill the kettle first thing and fill the flask with the boiling water to use throughout the day rather than boiling the kettle all the time.

Its not a huge money saver but every little helps!!:D

lauren_1

Duct tape 2 cushions to a chair, instant emergency booster seat for eating their dinners (duct taping the kid to the chair is optional?)

Plain white oversized asda t-shirts make the best nighties. you dont look so much like a lazy mare if you keep it on most of the morning too.

sparrer

lauren_1 wrote: »

Duct tape 2 cushions to a chair, instant emergency booster seat for eating their dinners (duct taping the kid to the chair is optional?)

It would prevent spills :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

shandyclover

Regarding carpets in a rented house...a few years back hubby and I moved into a house newly carpeted wall to wall pale blue or cream. We have 4 teen/pretteen daughters and numerous vistors, kids friends sleepovers, 2 cats, 2 chinchillas etc. We knew we couldn't afford to lose our deposit so we made the house a strict 'no shoes' zone, and the whole house except the kitchen a 'no food' zone. The exception being just once a week on 'movie night' I'd spread an old blanket on the carpet in the living room and we'd have snacks while watching a movie. It was hard to enforce at first but saved us our deposit in the long run. After awhile visitors would just take off their shoes without being asked, we kept slippers just for them. Our LL was amazed after 3 years the carpet still looked good and he did not have to replace it for the next tenants, so we got back our full deposit and a glowing letter of recommendation for our next LL.

A workman did once track oil into the house, and a friends child managed to get blue tack smooshed into the carpet. Both times it came out with a mousse carpet cleaner from the poundshop called Xanto - it worked better than anything else I've ever used.

jwil

shandyclover wrote: »

Both times it came out with a mousse carpet cleaner from the poundshop called Xanto - it worked better than anything else I've ever used.

This carpet cleaner is brilliant - the best I've ever tried. It got all manner of stains out of our carpets.

euripidesralph

Hiya

this thread is great, i now have a long list of things to try in my house, next month is going to be an attempt to see how little I can spend, to see how little I can live on.

Just thought I would share one, At work we use big coffee canisters, when our administrator finished one I asked what happened to them, and was told they got chucked so they now come to me when finished, and are currently being used for tasks such as holding my flour etc for baking (as my cup measure fits through the hole in the lid - rather than fighting with the bag), holding gardening bits and bobs and holding craft stuff. I covered them in pretty paper so they dont look too awful.

I found my boss didnt care as long as they werent in the office so was happy for me to have them.

so I dont buy expensive containers

(was quite chuffed with this when it first happened - sad isnt it:rotfl:)

thanks everyone for the tips - they are brilliant :T :T :T

MrsB2100

Earlier this year, I started to put aside the pennies that I save on coupons. After 3 months I had £10.35! I have also found that if I have a coupon for something that I wouldnt necessarily use, but from a brand I do, by the time it's gone through the checkout the operator just asks if I bought that product and I say yes. For instance, Finish just had a £3 off their new hugely expensive new thing - but the checkout lady just let it go though!