Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

PipneyJane

gettingthrifty said:

Pip  very helpful information.
I too battle hard water , its my stiff laundry that drives me mad the most.! Ive just dipped into this thread having seen your post you may have already covered it. Any advice please?

Sadly, no advice from me, @gettingthrifty.  Stiff laundry isn't something that bothers me.

thriftylynny said:

Great idea Pip , i want to try this ..do i use white vinegar ? Also like the idea of keeping hot water in the flask thing rather than keep boiling kettle, tried it but it seems to go a bit luke warm in my thermos , is it the flask ?

Yes, @thriftylynny.  Distilled white vinegar is what I use, not malt.  Check out your nearest Asian supermarket - they should sell it relatively cheaply, in the convenient gallon bottle.

There may be a problem with your thermos.  The one I use on a daily basis is an ancient Thermos-brand carafe*, which I bought in the 1990's. The water does get colder as the day goes on but, if I fill it at 7.30am, I can still make a hot drink at 2 or 3pm.  

HTH

- Pip


* When the seal broke, I struggled to replace it because Thermos no longer sell seals on their own, just lids, and my carafe was so old that they don't make that model anymore.  Eventually, I cobbled together a suitable seal by combining the seals from two vacuum travel mugs that had ceased to be water tight.  Not sure how long my fix will last, but better than nothing.

ladyholly

missychrissy said:

I think I solved the expense of hair a while ago. I haven’t had a hair cut in over a year and only then because one of my sons and wife gave me a voucher for a cut and blow dry at a local hairdresser for Mother’s Day. Prior to that it was over a year since I had a haircut. Needless to say I have long hair.  I wash and condition twice a week and let it dry naturally. I tend to wear a low ponytail but I always wanted to be an old lady with a bun (Mrs Pepperpot was my icon). I haven’t quite mastered the bun but I stood behind a lady in the PO (pre lockdown) one day who definitely had and she looked very elegant. Before my ‘free’ cut and blow my dil said I should get my fringe cut back in (hint hint). I didn’t but I know she was right and so post lockdown I will have a trim and a fringe. I can trim it for a while between cuts. Long hair is much easier to manage than short. I don’t worry if I’m caught in the rain, my hairstyle stays the same and isn’t ruined.  I don’t colour my hair either but although I’m 68 I haven’t gone grey yet. Doing nothing to your hair is free. I just wish I could master that bun.

I am 67 and much the same but I havent have my hair cut in about 5years. I have been thinking of having it cut though because I am finding it hard to hold my arms up to get it into the pony tail due to a health problem. I dont really want to because I am stingy and hate going to the hairdressers anyway so I will see how i go. I would love to have a bun, french pleat or similar but it will be beyond me. Shame because the do look really elegant. I am going quite grey but as a former ginger it now looks more strawberry blonde or am i kidding myself?

Rosa_Damascena

ladyholly said:

missychrissy said:

I think I solved the expense of hair a while ago. I haven’t had a hair cut in over a year and only then because one of my sons and wife gave me a voucher for a cut and blow dry at a local hairdresser for Mother’s Day. Prior to that it was over a year since I had a haircut. Needless to say I have long hair.  I wash and condition twice a week and let it dry naturally. I tend to wear a low ponytail but I always wanted to be an old lady with a bun (Mrs Pepperpot was my icon). I haven’t quite mastered the bun but I stood behind a lady in the PO (pre lockdown) one day who definitely had and she looked very elegant. Before my ‘free’ cut and blow my dil said I should get my fringe cut back in (hint hint). I didn’t but I know she was right and so post lockdown I will have a trim and a fringe. I can trim it for a while between cuts. Long hair is much easier to manage than short. I don’t worry if I’m caught in the rain, my hairstyle stays the same and isn’t ruined.  I don’t colour my hair either but although I’m 68 I haven’t gone grey yet. Doing nothing to your hair is free. I just wish I could master that bun.

I am 67 and much the same but I havent have my hair cut in about 5years. I have been thinking of having it cut though because I am finding it hard to hold my arms up to get it into the pony tail due to a health problem. I dont really want to because I am stingy and hate going to the hairdressers anyway so I will see how i go. I would love to have a bun, french pleat or similar but it will be beyond me. Shame because the do look really elegant. I am going quite grey but as a former ginger it now looks more strawberry blonde or am i kidding myself?

I hate wasting money but a regular haircut is one thing that is very necessary (for me). I have 12th April marked in my diary

ladyholly

I didnt say it was a waste of money just that I am too stingy. I quite understand it is essential for others. I think my dislike of hairdressers comes from being a redhead in that when I was younger every time i went there was some old lady saying what beautiful hair, you arent having it cut etcetc and then having a whole conversation with the hairdresser about my "beautiful" hair. As I hated my hair anyway it really made the whole thing quite traumatic.

angela110660

goldfinches said:

gettingthrifty said:

Pip  very helpful information.
I too battle hard water , its my stiff laundry that drives me mad the most.! Ive just dipped into this thread having seen your post you may have already covered it. Any advice please?

Another living in a hard water area here and I also loathe the stiff laundry particularly the towels.
I've been trying a tablespoonful or so of white vinegar in the fabric conditioner compartment of the washing machine drawer which definitely helps.
However I'd be glad to hear about what others do and the results they get as I do think I've still room for improvement and I'm very keen to crack this niggling little problem. TIA, goldfinches.

Also in hard water area and think stiff towels might be because soap has not fully rinsed out and I  dried them indoors on the airer. Recently tried less soap in machine, a different wash/ rinse program, put white vinegar in conditioner drawer section and then dried outside on a dry day. Much better results.  If they end up in tumble drier for 10 minutes it is with a tennis ball to help soften them too.

Naomim

ladyholly said:

I didnt say it was a waste of money just that I am too stingy. I quite understand it is essential for others. I think my dislike of hairdressers comes from being a redhead in that when I was younger every time i went there was some old lady saying what beautiful hair, you arent having it cut etcetc and then having a whole conversation with the hairdresser about my "beautiful" hair. As I hated my hair anyway it really made the whole thing quite traumatic.

My daughter is a redhead and curly. I swear she developed a twitch as a toddler with every old lady touching her hair 🤣  she's 11 now and has had it cut short.  I usually have mine cut every two - three years. I'm also curly so grow it, get bored of putting it in a pony every day, cut, grow. Never ending cycle. 🙄

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
I try not to have my hair cut very often, mainly cos I don’t like having it cut, bit pathetic I know. I really didn’t like it being cut with a mask on either. I think it’s a lack of control thing. It’s very thick so I have to have it done occasionally though when it because too heavy to stay in a pony tail because it has to be tied back for work.
One way of saving a few pennies is by having the windows open as much as possible. The heating is now off and I’m trying to do without the tumble drier. Another is wearing the absolute life out of my clothes before they go in the bin/or cleaning cloth cupboard.

goldfinches

ladyholly said:

missychrissy said:

I think I solved the expense of hair a while ago. I haven’t had a hair cut in over a year and only then because one of my sons and wife gave me a voucher for a cut and blow dry at a local hairdresser for Mother’s Day. Prior to that it was over a year since I had a haircut. Needless to say I have long hair.  I wash and condition twice a week and let it dry naturally. I tend to wear a low ponytail but I always wanted to be an old lady with a bun (Mrs Pepperpot was my icon). I haven’t quite mastered the bun but I stood behind a lady in the PO (pre lockdown) one day who definitely had and she looked very elegant. Before my ‘free’ cut and blow my dil said I should get my fringe cut back in (hint hint). I didn’t but I know she was right and so post lockdown I will have a trim and a fringe. I can trim it for a while between cuts. Long hair is much easier to manage than short. I don’t worry if I’m caught in the rain, my hairstyle stays the same and isn’t ruined.  I don’t colour my hair either but although I’m 68 I haven’t gone grey yet. Doing nothing to your hair is free. I just wish I could master that bun.

I am 67 and much the same but I havent have my hair cut in about 5years. I have been thinking of having it cut though because I am finding it hard to hold my arms up to get it into the pony tail due to a health problem. I dont really want to because I am stingy and hate going to the hairdressers anyway so I will see how i go. I would love to have a bun, french pleat or similar but it will be beyond me. Shame because the do look really elegant. I am going quite grey but as a former ginger it now looks more strawberry blonde or am i kidding myself?

My hair is long and straight and is currently almost down to my elbows and I wear it up most days. What I do is to twist and then pin it up with clips that have serrated teeth and are rather like large versions of crocodile clips. These are generally called beaks/clips by shops that sell them and seem to be quite scarce so when I see them I stock up. This is the sort of thing I mean.
Gold Glitter Beak Hair Barrette | Claire's
I also have lots of things that I've bought over the years thinking that I'd be able to have a bun or a chignon or whatever and most of those proved impossible to do unaided so they all ended up in a drawer and were a waste of money. One day I'll find somewhere to donate/dump that whole drawer but I often think that I'll just have one more try so.........

ItchyCat

gettingthrifty said:

Pip  very helpful information.
I too battle hard water , its my stiff laundry that drives me mad the most.! Ive just dipped into this thread having seen your post you may have already covered it. Any advice please?

@gettingthrifty ....try putting a scoop of soda crystals in your machine alongside your usual detergent. I swear by them. It softens the water so it’s brilliant at keeping the machine clean too.

Another tip when using the tumble drier (I’m aware that is a swear word here 🥴) Throw in a dry towel... it will easily cut 10/15 minutes off the drying time. 

wondercollie

goldfinches said:

ladyholly said:

missychrissy said:

I think I solved the expense of hair a while ago. I haven’t had a hair cut in over a year and only then because one of my sons and wife gave me a voucher for a cut and blow dry at a local hairdresser for Mother’s Day. Prior to that it was over a year since I had a haircut. Needless to say I have long hair.  I wash and condition twice a week and let it dry naturally. I tend to wear a low ponytail but I always wanted to be an old lady with a bun (Mrs Pepperpot was my icon). I haven’t quite mastered the bun but I stood behind a lady in the PO (pre lockdown) one day who definitely had and she looked very elegant. Before my ‘free’ cut and blow my dil said I should get my fringe cut back in (hint hint). I didn’t but I know she was right and so post lockdown I will have a trim and a fringe. I can trim it for a while between cuts. Long hair is much easier to manage than short. I don’t worry if I’m caught in the rain, my hairstyle stays the same and isn’t ruined.  I don’t colour my hair either but although I’m 68 I haven’t gone grey yet. Doing nothing to your hair is free. I just wish I could master that bun.

I am 67 and much the same but I havent have my hair cut in about 5years. I have been thinking of having it cut though because I am finding it hard to hold my arms up to get it into the pony tail due to a health problem. I dont really want to because I am stingy and hate going to the hairdressers anyway so I will see how i go. I would love to have a bun, french pleat or similar but it will be beyond me. Shame because the do look really elegant. I am going quite grey but as a former ginger it now looks more strawberry blonde or am i kidding myself?

My hair is long and straight and is currently almost down to my elbows and I wear it up most days. What I do is to twist and then pin it up with clips that have serrated teeth and are rather like large versions of crocodile clips. These are generally called beaks/clips by shops that sell them and seem to be quite scarce so when I see them I stock up. This is the sort of thing I mean.
Gold Glitter Beak Hair Barrette | Claire's
I also have lots of things that I've bought over the years thinking that I'd be able to have a bun or a chignon or whatever and most of those proved impossible to do unaided so they all ended up in a drawer and were a waste of money. One day I'll find somewhere to donate/dump that whole drawer but I often think that I'll just have one more try so.........

Just dump them.  I've tried multiple things over the years and unless I grow eyes in the back of my head or an extra arm...