Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Gem-gem

The plastic bag that the cereal comes in - has many different uses, e.g
sandwich bag
store food items in - when putting them into the freezer. 

Wrap opened cheese in it. 

Gem-gem

My BIL buys a paper daily. He saves us the weekend supplements. I cut out the puzzle pages - DH does the crosswords, I do the Sudoku and puzzles. The rest of the news paper we wrap our food waste in. 

A) don't have to buy puzzle books
b) don't have to buy food waste bags. 

Better for the purse strings and for the environment. 

MandM90

Gem-gem said:

The plastic bag that the cereal comes in - has many different uses, e.g
sandwich bag
store food items in - when putting them into the freezer. 

Wrap opened cheese in it. 

We save the bread bags for this reason, and to store homemade bread in. Can swish out with soapy water then hang upside down on a peg in the utility with the laundry.

Primrose

I,m sure my neighbours think I!m bonkers for washing out plastic bags and drying them on my rotary airer but if everybody did this think how much plastic we would save.

Living_proof

Primrose said:

I,m sure my neighbours think I!m bonkers for washing out plastic bags and drying them on my rotary airer but if everybody did this think how much plastic we would save.

I do the same and also reuse vacuum sealed bags a couple of times as long as they have held dry goods before. Also I keep bread bags and find them very useful. We keep and reuse clean foil and I only use the heavy duty Costco roll which can be used several times as it is so strong. 

Gem-gem

Living_proof said:

Primrose said:

I,m sure my neighbours think I!m bonkers for washing out plastic bags and drying them on my rotary airer but if everybody did this think how much plastic we would save.

I do the same and also reuse vacuum sealed bags a couple of times as long as they have held dry goods before. Also I keep bread bags and find them very useful. We keep and reuse clean foil and I only use the heavy duty Costco roll which can be used several times as it is so strong. 

I am still using zip lock bags that came from my MIL house six years ago. We freeze the tomatoes that we grow in them. 

When your foil comes to the end of its life ,cut it up with your scissors and it will sharpen then. 

Primrose and Living Proof - I have just told DH to save the bread bags. We sometimes make our own bread. 

Elisheba

They are quite an expensive outlay at about £15/20 but I have found wax wrappers to be wonderful.  I can wrap cheese, bread, bowls of food, anything that I would have previously used cling film or aluminium foil for.  You can rewax them as they get older.  I look at them and think, wow - you are going to outlive me  .

Another thing I have discovered recently is crystal deodorant.  I think it cost about £5 in a local plastic free shop (so probably cheaper online) and it will pretty much last me forever as well.  I just keep a jam jar of clean water beside it and dip it in the water when I need to put deodorant on.  Its not antiperspirant obviously, but it works really well as a deodorant and I was dancing away at a wedding last weekend and didn't come away smelly.  I have previously tried making my own which was fairly cheap, and buying the plastic free ones which were very expensive, but the bicarb in both irritated my skin.  With this crystal I've had no issues at all.

PipneyJane

Elisheba said:

They are quite an expensive outlay at about £15/20 but I have found wax wrappers to be wonderful.  I can wrap cheese, bread, bowls of food, anything that I would have previously used cling film or aluminium foil for.  You can rewax them as they get older.  I look at them and think, wow - you are going to outlive me  .

Another thing I have discovered recently is crystal deodorant.  I think it cost about £5 in a local plastic free shop (so probably cheaper online) and it will pretty much last me forever as well.  I just keep a jam jar of clean water beside it and dip it in the water when I need to put deodorant on.  Its not antiperspirant obviously, but it works really well as a deodorant and I was dancing away at a wedding last weekend and didn't come away smelly.  I have previously tried making my own which was fairly cheap, and buying the plastic free ones which were very expensive, but the bicarb in both irritated my skin.  With this crystal I've had no issues at all.

I get mine from Holland & Barrett.  Don't bother wetting it - just apply it to damp skin, after you shower, and it will work perfectly.  The previous one I purchased lasted 30 months.  The current one was bought just before we went into Lockdown in March 2020 and is still going strong.

- Pip

joannaber

I have a great tip for you. I have recently joined a food waste app called OLIO. if you download it on your phone (web version also available) depending on your location there may be free food available. In my village we have a Tesco express and there is a collection every night. It is mainly bread and pastries but sometimes also fruit and veg. I have not bought bread in months.
Also in another village nearby they have a community fridge and twice a week you can get items donated by shops and individuals. No questions or vouchers required.

Siebrie

DDs use hot water bottles at night, and I empty them in a watering can that's just outside the kitchen door. I use this watering can to clean the guinea pigs' cage every day. In a pinch, we could use the watering can to flush the loo.