Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

sparrer

Miss_Bea wrote: »

Apart from swapping to a cheaper brand, a good way to save on pet food (dry food/kibbles) is to work out exactly how much your pet needs for its weight, and then weigh each meal in advance. I put the correct amount of food in empty spread tubs etc., and weigh up enough for 3-4 days in advance. Remember to reduce the amount of dry food if your pet gets a lot of treats or leftovers.

I find that whenever I guesstimate the amount, I give my dog far more than he needs. This way, I save money and my dog stays trim and healthy.

To keep it simple some dog food companies provide a measure, some you can write and ask for, or use a scoop/yogurt pot/plastic tub etc that holds exactly the right amount for one meal, and keep it in the sack of dry food. Saves all the guess work each time.

MandM90

sparrer wrote: »

To keep it simple some dog food companies provide a measure, some you can write and ask for, or use a scoop/yogurt pot/plastic tub etc that holds exactly the right amount for one meal, and keep it in the sack of dry food. Saves all the guess work each time.

I was thinking of measuring out the amount of dry food, then pouring it into clear tupperware and drawing a line, to mark the volume needed, with a permanent marker.

good_advice

Our Queen bee.. Lab puppy Has James well beloved. I buy online from Pets at home. I buy x2 large sacks at a time and qualify for free delivery.

I put a sack of biscuits in a large kitchen bin and use a free washing powder scoop. The dog has 3 small meals a day. Sometimes veg and gravy, depending what is left over from our dinner.

Miss_Bea

Yesterday I noticed my squeezy honey had crystallised. Instead of chucking it out, I did some googling and found a solution. Move the honey over to a glass jar, place it in a small pan of water and heat very gently (some people say to leave the lid on, some say to leave it off - I left it off so I could stir the honey). The honey must not boil, or its beneficial properties will be lost. Once the crystals are gone, move the pan away from the heat and either remove some of the hot water or add some cold water - the honey must cool very slowly and gently, or the crystals could reform. This saved me £4.45: half a bottle of honey is worth £1.45 + a trip to the shop which costs around £3 in petrol. And I love learning, so it was a fun experiment as well!

marmiterulesok

Miss_Bea wrote: »

Yesterday I noticed my squeezy honey had crystallised. Instead of chucking it out, I did some googling and found a solution. Move the honey over to a glass jar, place it in a small pan of water and heat very gently (some people say to leave the lid on, some say to leave it off - I left it off so I could stir the honey). The honey must not boil, or its beneficial properties will be lost. Once the crystals are gone, move the pan away from the heat and either remove some of the hot water or add some cold water - the honey must cool very slowly and gently, or the crystals could reform. This saved me £4.45: half a bottle of honey is worth £1.45 + a trip to the shop which costs around £3 in petrol. And I love learning, so it was a fun experiment as well!

You can do the same with treacle and golden syrup.

christineperseus

I actually like the texture of crystallised honey!

good_advice

I am always trying to save gas/electric. Keep the bill as low as I can with a family. Without saying a word, I check for plugs out.
Thankful for lighter days and evenings so the lights stay off longer.

I have an OWL monitor, so can see electric costs rise and fall as items are used.
My hall motion sensor light bulb is doing a good job. No longer is that light left on.
Love my Morphy Richards one cup kettle.

I sometimes brush the floors down stairs (no carpets) saves on hoover power.

I air dry my long hair often.

Washing goes on the line daily. Tumble drier is for desperate measures in winter when it has rained for days.

I batch cook at least once a week.Like to fill the oven.

Learn't not to be so hasty in throwing hot washing up water away for small wash ups. No dishwasher here.

Do not have the tv on for company/background. Sometimes put the local radio on.

Read the meters weekly. Keep up to date on new tariffs.

PS. My fuel DD is £76. for gas and electric in 3 bed semi.

good_advice

In plant kingdom - our conservatory today

Checking seedlings. Tomatoes, marigolds and courgettes doing well.
Trouble with sw. corn as not coming up. Sweet pea's ok.

Geraniums in flower and plenty full. I have many.
I am going to pot some into bigger containers.
Saving the pennies I am going to plant x2 geraniums of the same colour into half size Walls ice cream tub. Putting on the window ledge.
I just so happen to have a free travel book. So will cut a nice scene picture out and tape to front of said tub to cover up the writing.

Watering some plants with rain water.

Chrisblue1962

good_advice wrote: »

I am always trying to save gas/electric. Keep the bill as low as I can with a family. Without saying a word, I check for plugs out.
Thankful for lighter days and evenings so the lights stay off longer.

I have an OWL monitor, so can see electric costs rise and fall as items are used.
My hall motion sensor light bulb is doing a good job. No longer is that light left on.
Love my Morphy Richards one cup kettle.

I sometimes brush the floors down stairs (no carpets) saves on hoover power.

I air dry my long hair often.

Washing goes on the line daily. Tumble drier is for desperate measures in winter when it has rained for days.

I batch cook at least once a week.Like to fill the oven.

Learn't not to be so hasty in throwing hot washing up water away for small wash ups. No dishwasher here.

Do not have the tv on for company/background. Sometimes put the local radio on.

Read the meters weekly. Keep up to date on new tariffs.

PS. My fuel DD is £76. for gas and electric in 3 bed semi.

Hi Good Advice

Really impressed with your ideas...just wish to pick your brains on a few of them.

Is the OWL gadget really good / accurate / worth the cost to buy it?
Where can you get smaller or one-cup kettles?
Where is the best place to find gas / eletricity tariffs? £76.00 DD for both your gas and eletricity is amazing!:T

Thanks in advance.

good_advice

Chrisblue1962 wrote: »

Hi Good Advice

Really impressed with your ideas...just wish to pick your brains on a few of them.

Is the OWL gadget really good / accurate / worth the cost to buy it?
Where can you get smaller or one-cup kettles?
Where is the best place to find gas / eletricity tariffs? £76.00 DD for both your gas and eletricity is amazing!:T

Thanks in advance.

Thank you for your reply ;0)

I have had my OWL a few years and once you get to know you can tell if you think the monitor is showing a high cost for what electric you think you are using.
I have mine set on cost. At the moment showing 2.3p per hour. This is with the usual fridge & freezer. some of the desk top is all lights although switched off. Internet on etc...
I am on my mini ipad and that is plugged in charging.
I jump for glee when it is a low 0.89p when even less is plugged in.
Often the Owl is higher when family are around and games/TV's are on. Between 4/7p.
Kettle, oven and iron make the OWL read higher. Up to about 30p
I will not start on the tumble dryer....
I like my OWL but accurate, I think so, not sure. I can now judge from the numbers going up and down to go looking and unplugging.

The one cup. I bought from Amazon.
Just looked and cannot see the same but a few near buys are -
Breville hot cup VK5142 £34.50
Morphy Riichards Accents one cup no.43929 £56.99.

Often here family make a single mug of tea/coffee.
One mug of water in the back. mug under spout and put coffee/sweetener in mug. Flick the switch.

If I need more drinks at once we use the kettle.
Some MSE members say kettle, then flask for left over hot water.

Best place for Gas/electric depends on your area.
I make it a hobby to keep unplugging. I do not say anything, no rows.
Advice - when people go out GO LOOK to see if you can unplug/switch lights off.

Best wishes, penny pinching has to be worked at.