Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

roosterpotatoes

I saw huge bottles (30% extra free) in Home Bargains in Liverpool today (the store next to CEX near Liverpool One) for 89p

Fruball

Love this thread!!

Masking tape works perfectly for labelling tupperware for the freezer, or putting dates on juice/fridge items that should be used within 4 days/6 weeks or whatever. It peels off easily too

kochi1

wow - been a massive read tonight but thank you everybody for the tips!!

Quasar

Ladies and gentlemen, I want a medal. Took me a week, but I have read ALL of the original "sneaky ways" thread! I did post as few times on it but started again from scratch and it was an eye opener all over again. :T

A couple of things I've been trying lately and work well.

1) I love to take hot baths. Not every day as not very money saving and too skin drying, but once a week instead of a shower I like to indulge in a long soak. The last three or four times I've added two rounded tablespoons of soda crystal to the bath. It makes the water incredibly soft and luscious, you need LESS bath foam, AND the bonus is that NO unsightly water marks are left around the bath.

2) I use up a fair amount of milk even though I live alone, as I have a few cups of tea every day and the odd glass of plain milk. One pint does me just over a day. A while back I tried buying 4 or 6 pt bottles and freeze the milk in pint bottles but the problem is that when defrosted, the milk goes off pretty quickly. So I slowly gathered up small containers: vitamin bottles, well rinsed zoflora bottles (lots of washing for these ones! ) and so on. I now freeze the milk in lots of small containers which I take out 2 or 3 at a time as needed (considering the time it takes for them to defrost). It works. So instead of buying pints, I save by buying larger bottles - and I never run out of milk.

Now I'd better catch up with THIS thread.

stilernin

Quasar wrote: »

A while back I tried buying 4 or 6 pt bottles and freeze the milk in pint bottles but the problem is that when defrosted, the milk goes off pretty quickly.

Can someone explain why this happens?

I have tried freezing milk in pints too and thought it was because I hadn't sterilised the bottles before using. I will keep an eye out for smaller bottles and try again.

Quasar

stilernin wrote: »

Can someone explain why this happens?

I have tried freezing milk in pints too and thought it was because I hadn't sterilised the bottles before using. I will keep an eye out for smaller bottles and try again.

I'm not sure but I think that freezing must alter permanently some fundamental compounds in the milk, probably its protein. I have tried freezing it in the fridge ice box, then in the freezer proper when I bought one, with the same result. Now I have a few little bottles in there and I defrost them by leaving them out and then using them on the same day, and it seems to work so far.

jayII

Quasar wrote: »

I'm not sure but I think that freezing must alter permanently some fundamental compounds in the milk, probably its protein. I have tried freezing it in the fridge ice box, then in the freezer proper when I bought one, with the same result. Now I have a few little bottles in there and I defrost them by leaving them out and then using them on the same day, and it seems to work so far.

I freeze milk all the time, but I have never noticed it going off any quicker than non-frozen milk.

I do tend to keep the fridge quite cool, I also defrost milk in a bowl of cold water, so maybe that makes a difference.

sparrer

I buy whole milk, dilute 50% with very cold water, and freeze. It keeps for 4/5 days (about the length of time it takes for me to use it), any longer and it's only good for making scones . Of course, not everyone likes the thought of, or needs to dilute milk but no-one's mentioned it tastes strange yet

London_Town

This thread is brilliant and just when I think I can't learn some new shortcut, I find that I just have.

My latest tip is to simply question any use of your resources. By this I don't just mean money, I mean any resource or commodity you have. Before doing something, just ask yourself, is this really necessary? Can I do it in a different way that will save me money or time - or both? Am I doing something just because I've always done it? I'm sure you get the jist.

An example of this in practice has lead me to washing my hair in the kitchen sink, in cold water. If I don't need or want a shower, but want to wash my hair, I can now do it very quickly under the kitchen mixer tap. I even find the cold water really refreshing and don't give it a second thought.

Also, there's been alot of discussion regarding anti bacterial products and what temperatures to wash clothes at. This is a personal choice, but what I tend to do is to think of my dear late mum. I was raised in the 1970's and my mum was house proud but no obsessive. More importantly, she didn't use (or couldn't buy) anti bacterial cleaners, handwashes, sophisticated washing machines or vacuum cleaners with hepa filters. So many of the things that we now take for granted. However, my brother and I were still happy and healthy and I never remember us being ill all the time or anything like that.

MarilynMonroe_2

unixgirluk wrote: »

If getting to the bottom of nail varnish and its gloopy, I add a drop of nail varnish remover, close the lid give it a good shake then use. This makes it go a little further.

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.

If you keep your nail varnish in the fridge it wont go gloopy and it'll last you a lifetime.