Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Primrose

Yes, I think lockdown is proving beneficial for some if they're prudently stashing the money saved into savings  accounts  (not that they're earning much interest), increasing their rainy day funds or helping to pay down their mortgages.

p00

Primrose said:

Yes, I think lockdown is proving beneficial for some if they're prudently stashing the money saved into savings  accounts  (not that they're earning much interest), increasing their rainy day funds or helping to pay down their mortgages.

I think it's also encouraged people to not spend and use what they have i.e. knitting wool already in or embroidery or even using up what they have instead of leaving it in a cupboard and buying more.  That's real ways to save the pennies: using what we already have.
p00  xx

MrsStepford

shankley4ever said:

[QUOTE

I always have loads of body lotion. I found it works great instead of shave gel for my legs. If its a really thick body lotion I water it down slightly so it doesn't clog the razor. Smooth silky legs in one easy step.[/QUOTE]


just tried this ...worked brilliantly...good tip...:)

Pre-covid, I used to buy body lotion in charity shops to do this !

p00

Use your sun tan lotion as moisturiser even in winter. Once its open it doesn't last for ever and its surprising how much sun we get even when its cold.
p00 x

General_Grant

Now I live on my own the size of packs in supermarkets for food items is often more than I would eat before the use by day has expired - so, of course, I freeze what won't be used in the short term and in meal-size portions. 
I used to buy freezer/food plastic bags but now use, and re-use, plastic boxes which were originally holding other food items.
I found that plastic bags were generally single-use because washing them was too fiddly but it is easy to wash  the boxes and know they are safe to be used again.
They do take up more space in the freezer unless filled to the brim but they also protect the contents better.

oystercatcher

ruthber said:

My daughter asked me to dye a pair of trousers black. the dye is expensive (around £5 in Tesco). So to make it go further I chucked in some assorted orphan socks and now have 5 newish pairs of black socks!

While I am not going out because of lockdown I have been wearing random socks from the odd sock pile , no one will see (not that I care if they do).  A couple have now worn through so I am satisfied they have had maximum use before going to recycling .

ruthber

I have worn random socks as well occasionally but as I had an opportunity to dye them I took it. I would not buy the dye specially for the socks. When I have worn socks out I often use them as dusters, put them on a stick and whizz around the cobwebs.

KxMx

I have old socks in a particular pattern just for when I'm mopping (along with some old slippers). 

I treated myself to 9 new pairs of Disney socks from Boots (fab deal stack) recently, the old ones got split between charity bag and usage for face masks. 

I got some cheap mask bags from etsy, they weren't great quality, lost one, then I realised a folded down sock was perfect for a face mask! 

Primrose

General_Grant said:

Now I live on my own the size of packs in supermarkets for food items is often more than I would eat before the use by day has expired - so, of course, I freeze what won't be used in the short term and in meal-size portions. 
I used to buy freezer/food plastic bags but now use, and re-use, plastic boxes which were originally holding other food items.
I found that plastic bags were generally single-use because washing them was too fiddly but it is easy to wash  the boxes and know they are safe to be used again.
They do take up more space in the freezer unless filled to the brim but they also protect the contents better.

I do agree washing and reusing plastic bags is fiddly.  I wish mine in soapy water and weather permitting, hang iut on my washing line to dry but getting the insides perfectly dry before storing for  reuse can be tricky if you don,t want mould to develop.
Does anybody have any magic quick fix solutions?
Plastic boxes are more convenient I agree but freezer space is at a premium here and with plastic bags, loose items like vegs can free up space gradually as contents are gradually removed. Boxes do tend to waste space unless they can be partly restocked with other items.    I.ve started to use bigger bags and "flatten them out" before freezing contents like stews, bolognese sauces etc.   This method sometimes makes it easier to pack in more items.
I think Lockdowns have made us all more conscious of making the most of our freezer capacities. 

PipneyJane

Primrose said:

General_Grant said:

Now I live on my own the size of packs in supermarkets for food items is often more than I would eat before the use by day has expired - so, of course, I freeze what won't be used in the short term and in meal-size portions. 
I used to buy freezer/food plastic bags but now use, and re-use, plastic boxes which were originally holding other food items.
I found that plastic bags were generally single-use because washing them was too fiddly but it is easy to wash  the boxes and know they are safe to be used again.
They do take up more space in the freezer unless filled to the brim but they also protect the contents better.

I do agree washing and reusing plastic bags is fiddly.  I wish mine in soapy water and weather permitting, hang iut on my washing line to dry but getting the insides perfectly dry before storing for  reuse can be tricky if you don,t want mould to develop.
Does anybody have any magic quick fix solutions?
Plastic boxes are more convenient I agree but freezer space is at a premium here and with plastic bags, loose items like vegs can free up space gradually as contents are gradually removed. Boxes do tend to waste space unless they can be partly restocked with other items.    I.ve started to use bigger bags and "flatten them out" before freezing contents like stews, bolognese sauces etc.   This method sometimes makes it easier to pack in more items.
I think Lockdowns have made us all more conscious of making the most of our freezer capacities. 

I turn my bags inside out to wash and then air dry them that side out.  Once that side is dry, I'll turn them right-side out and air dry that, too.  Initial drying will be done over whatever is the tallest implement - ladle, wooden spoon - in the cutlery drying rack.  After that, it gets put over a water bottle (first choice) or the tall pepper grinder (second choice) or the paper towel stand (worst case scenario, if there are several to dry).  I prefer to only wash one bag at a time.

I have a confession to make....   I do like heavy duty, Ziploc-brand freezer bags and will wash and reuse them as much as possible.  (I know other people do similar but the Ziploc ones last longest.)   You used to be able to get them in large, size-specific multipacks of boxes in C0stco, but now they only sell a variety multipack  (quart and gallon freezer bags, skimpy "snack" bags and thin sided "sandwich" bags). A box of the gallon size lasts us for years, since I'll reuse a bread bag first.  Very little fits in the snack bags and while I'm using the sandwich bags as substitutes for the quarts, since they're a similar size, they aren't as good and tend to rip.  (I will use them up, though.)  Sunday, I used up my last proper quart bag and, after much searching, resorted to ordering a box of 216 quart sized freezer bags from Amaz0n.com, via their UK website.  With P&P, they cost £44.58, so 21p a bag.   I know it's not very MSE but that's at least a couple of years' supply.

- Pip   

PS, the final use for many of the gallon Ziplocs is for wool storage.