Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Frugalsod

Nargleblast wrote: »

Frugalsod - go to the Grocery Challenge sticky at the top of the threads index. Select post number 11. Under Useful OS Threads you will find laundry gloop.

Thanks for that. Loads of other tips on that page that I will look through to trim costs.

VfM4meplse

Anne_Marie wrote: »

Bit different in the summer here, as I really feel I need to change the sheets every 2 or 3 days.

I daresay stuff dries outside year-round in Cyprus!

milasavesmoney

I'm planting tomato seeds instead of buying all our plants from the garden store, as I have in the past. I've planted a lot of starter seed today. Our last traditional frost is still two weeks off, so I may be a month late in getting these going, but we have such a long growing season it doesn't really matter.
This will be so much cheaper than buying plants, although I have bought some tomato plants in a variety for which I don't have seed.
It will really help keep gardening cost down if I'm successful.

Anne_Marie_2

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I daresay stuff dries outside year-round in Cyprus!

Almost. We do get torrential rain and high winds around this time of year though too, as in last week, which are usually accompanied by power cuts in my neck of the woods. Trust the dog to be sick all over her bedding then! Wouldn't dare grumble to you lot though, as no doubt I'd be getting cyber throttled! :rotfl:

milasavesmoney

One thing that has helped my heating/cooling bill is shutting off half the house. We raised six children who are all (but one) grown and gone, so our house is too large for us. Since we only live in one part, I've shut off the other and loved the big drop in my gas/electric bill. Even on this side, I have shut off vents in two bedrooms. I turned the thermostat down 3* below what I kept it at last winter. My OH never said anything, but wore a few more clothes.
I also invested in LED bulbs last month when I found a great sale. I'm trying to remember to have two things ready to go when I'm cooking in my oven. I have been using my crockpot a lot more for batch cooking.
Our oldest daughter (36) came to visit last week and I was not happy to see her walk out of a room and leave the light on. She was not taught that way and it left me scurrying around turning lights off. I finally said something and she was better afterwards. I would hate to pay her electricity bill.
I have been unplugging a few vampire drainers.but so many things have plugs behind couches etc. I know I should attach these to power cords and flip them off, but am confused if the power cord still drains electricity even when flipped off? I need to google that question. Does anyone use regular power cords or should I get smart cords. They are pricy, don't have great reviews and I wouldn't be using them on a home computer as I use a laptop.

Anne_Marie_2

milasavesmoney wrote: »

I'm planting tomato seeds instead of buying all our plants from the garden store, as I have in the past. I've planted a lot of starter seed today. Our last traditional frost is still two weeks off, so I may be a month late in getting these going, but we have such a long growing season it doesn't really matter.
This will be so much cheaper than buying plants, although I have bought some tomato plants in a variety for which I don't have seed.
It will really help keep gardening cost down if I'm successful.

Saw something the other week about planting ripe slices of tomato in a pot to grow tomatoes. Might be an idea if you have some dodgy tomatoes lurking that would be ending up in the bin, or there are any leftover slices on a plate. Although must admit that I usually roast any tomatoes that are going a bit dodgy, to make into a sauce, rather than sling them in the bin. Might try it later this year when the shops here sell tomatoes for peanuts, when they are over ripe. Usually buy a few carrier bags full and make tons of sauce to freeze to keep me going for quite some time.

VfM4meplse

milasavesmoney wrote: »

One thing that has helped my heating/cooling bill is shutting off half the house. We raised six children who are all (but one) grown and gone, so our house is too large for us.

This is the kind of post that makes younger generations cross. What is the point of keeping a large home if you don't need it, and can't afford to maintain it?

You'd be much better off downsizing and enjoying the capital released. You can't take it with you when you're dead!

Spendless

milasavesmoney wrote: »

One thing that has helped my heating/cooling bill is shutting off half the house. We raised six children who are all (but one) grown and gone, so our house is too large for us. Since we only live in one part, I've shut off the other and loved the big drop in my gas/electric bill. Even on this side, I have shut off vents in two bedrooms. I turned the thermostat down 3* below what I kept it at last winter. My OH never said anything, but wore a few more clothes.
I also invested in LED bulbs last month when I found a great sale. I'm trying to remember to have two things ready to go when I'm cooking in my oven. I have been using my crockpot a lot more for batch cooking.
Our oldest daughter (36) came to visit last week and I was not happy to see her walk out of a room and leave the light on. She was not taught that way and it left me scurrying around turning lights off. I finally said something and she was better afterwards. I would hate to pay her electricity bill.
I have been unplugging a few vampire drainers.but so many things have plugs behind couches etc. I know I should attach these to power cords and flip them off, but am confused if the power cord still drains electricity even when flipped off? I need to google that question. Does anyone use regular power cords or should I get smart cords. They are pricy, don't have great reviews and I wouldn't be using them on a home computer as I use a laptop.

No they don't use electricity when switched off. We had an electricity monitor which showed how much electricity in pence was being used per hour by the items we had switched on. If an item was turned off but still plugged in, it didn't cost anything. The biggest consumers of electricity was anything that was heated. One day seeing the monitor showing over £1 per hour being used, I ran upstairs demanding to know what my son and friend were doing - it wasn't them, it was DH taking a shower and was the first time I realised how much they cost, though obviously you are only in the shower for minutes.

I was hoping that my teenage son would outgrow constantly leaving lights on - though my 50yo husband hasn't, well that was until we had £430 taken out one month by the electricity company due to a winter of under estimated bills. :eek:

givememoney

VfM4meplse wrote: »

This is the kind of post that makes younger generations cross. What is the point of keeping a large home if you don't need it, and can't afford to maintain it?

You'd be much better off downsizing and enjoying the capital released. You can't take it with you when you're dead!

Do you think by downsizing this is going to help the younger generation. They wouldn't be able to afford a large house such as that. The younger generation need starter homes. The posters home would no doubt be bought by a middle class professional couple.


If however, it is a council house, then I agree.

Spendless

givememoney wrote: »

Do you think by downsizing this is going to help the younger generation. They wouldn't be able to afford a large house such as that. The younger generation need starter homes. The posters home would no doubt be bought by a middle class professional couple.


If however, it is a council house, then I agree.

I doubt it is. The poster lives in the U.S.A