Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Pyxis

silvasava wrote: »

Ah but think of the savings GA & I'm sure you will find them a very acceptable alternative - the thing that bugs me is the price of a box of tissues WHY do they cost so much compared to toilet rolls?? Its paper after all.

Tissues are stronger than loo paper. They have to be, otherwise they'd disintegrate when you blow your nose. (But that's why you shouldn't put them down the loo, as they can cause blockages).
Plus, they are kinder to your nose than loo paper. I find if I use loo paper when I have a cold, my nose gets raw much more quickly.
Also, there's the folding of them into the box, and the cost of the box.

I only buy tissues when they're on offer, and I usually only buy the two-packs, which works out cheaper again. Then I stock-pile them!
(You need to be careful, as some boxes only have 80, not 100 in them, and others have tissues that are smaller, or only single-ply. Important to compare like with like when looking for the bargain!)

Fruball

Primrose wrote: »

Turning the oven off early works particularly effectively if you are cooking in a cast iron casserole dish which continues to hold its heat for ages.

If cooking in cast iron, I would say you could turn off about 20 mins to half an hour before, esp if it is a casserole or something which has been cooking for some time

Love cast iron

moneyistooshorttomention

Fruball wrote: »

If cooking in cast iron, I would say you could turn off about 20 mins to half an hour before, esp if it is a casserole or something which has been cooking for some time

Love cast iron

I've used cast iron saucepans before now (not got them any longer, as they were too heavy for me for everyday use).

Hadnt occurred to me before now to use cast iron casserole dishes. I've just checked out details of some online and want to ask: have I got it correct that you can start off cooking something in them on a hotplate on the cooker and then transfer it to finish cooking inside the oven if you want?

It looks as if I could either use this as a saucepan, or as a casserole dish or do the "both ways (saucepan first, casserole dish second)" way of working. Is that correct?

silvasava

Pyxis wrote: »

Tissues are stronger than loo paper. They have to be, otherwise they'd disintegrate when you blow your nose. (But that's why you shouldn't put them down the loo, as they can cause blockages).
Plus, they are kinder to your nose than loo paper. I find if I use loo paper when I have a cold, my nose gets raw much more quickly.
stock-pile them!

Pyxis - when you have a cold to stop your nose getting sore from constant wiping use a lip salve round your nose. I apply liberally at night & it really works

kboss2010

I agree that a lot of economy supermarket toilet rolls are rubbish! It's the "alternatives" that are better and you can't usually buy those in the big 4.

Personally I think that the Aldi £1.99 plain white packs of 9 rolls (blue label) are the best compromise I've found. My OH can't tell the difference between that and Andrex and it's better than expensive Velvet rolls IMO.

Primrose

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Hadnt occurred to me before now to use cast iron casserole dishes. I've just checked out details of some online and want to ask: have I got it correct that you can start off cooking something in them on a hotplate on the cooker and then transfer it to finish cooking inside the oven if you want?

QUOTE]

I always brown my meat/poultry in my Le Creuset casserole dish on the gas hob first and get the liquid to simmering point before transferring it to the oven. I imagine you could use a stainless steel saucepan in the same way provided it had no wooden handles or plastic on lids but the shape of these is generally not as convenient for an oven because of the protruding handle. The other option, if a large cast iron casserole is too heavy is to use an enamel one which is much lighter but obviously won't retain any residual heat for so long.

good_advice

Good morning penny pinchers:wave:

Casseroles! I like to do an all in one pot slow cooker dinner.
Saves time and electric.
I put the diced beef and vegetables in the crock pot and 1 hour before eating add dumplings.

I am sure it is not OH favorite way. He would prefer a kings dinner of meat and gravy in the slow cooker and the veg in the steamer separate.
To bad! meat is expensive for my shopping list
I know he prefers a lower food bill.

Just been doing my meter readings. The fuel bill is important!
It is one of the few bills you can play around with.
I shall spell it out! THE MORE LIGHTS AND PLUG IN'S YOU HAVE THE MORE IT WILL COST!

I try to remember to read the meters most weeks and tell Scottish Power. I want to know any time the fuel goes up so I can have a look into why.
Same with tariffs for SP. I want to know if there is a new cheaper one. The fuel bill now has to tell you.

This morning switched off x4 plugs. No lights on.
Have a list taped to freezer door to keep track of food and reduce time it takes to figure out what to eat while holding the freezer door open.
I use my timer if I need to override the hot water. It is so easy to have it on too long.

Time to move along! I have some home grown runner beans to prepare and pop in the freezer.

Primrose

silvasava wrote: »

Before we go to bed I hang my king size quilt covers & sheets over my landing balustrade 'cos the long drop makes less creases for DH to iron - haha

Oh gosh, I don't iron duvet covers and sheets ! That saves manpower (or womanpower in my case) and electricity !

tattycath

Primrose wrote: »

Oh gosh, I don't iron duvet covers and sheets ! That saves manpower (or womanpower in my case) and electricity !

I'm the same. I do not iron bedding, tbh I iron as little as I can get away with!
I used to know someone who ironed absolutely everything-even socks! :eek:

Frugalsod

kboss2010 wrote: »

I agree that a lot of economy supermarket toilet rolls are rubbish! It's the "alternatives" that are better and you can't usually buy those in the big 4.

Personally I think that the Aldi £1.99 plain white packs of 9 rolls (blue label) are the best compromise I've found. My OH can't tell the difference between that and Andrex and it's better than expensive Velvet rolls IMO.

I have found that over the years that own brand items have massively improved in quality and now are more than a match for most branded products. Which is bad news for those companies. If customers can get the equivalent product for much less why buy branded?

When the MSE did a thing on his show about double dipping from branded to an own brand at value or standard levels you can save money.