Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

sparrer

Poggy I do similar, but rather put on the landing light in the evenings I use the light from the lounge, as the stairs are open plan from the lounge, and the bathroom door just at the top of them.

I also cut down on elec by removing a bulb from the lights in the lounge and dining rooms which have three branches. Two bulbs is plenty bright enough for reading or eating. If I'm watching television I'll turn the lights off and use candles, they're plenty bright enough and make the room feel warmer.

camNolliesMUMMY

one idea i nicked off superscrimpers is to minimise my ds1 and oh over using the bog roll lol, by flattening the roll before i put on the holder so the roll does not spin around wasting loads of toilet roll, and it does the trick.

Been using stardrops diluted in a spray bottle with a touch of zaflora for antibacterial disinfecting areas, had no problems mixing these for 2 years and everywhere is spotless.

I also use say no to 0870 for phoning companies, i will use the house phone if calling after 6pm or i use my mobile in the day or when im not at home so its free to ring local numbers within my free minutes.

I buy smartprice in tesco value foods

If making a lasagne/curry/spagbol or anything like this i will make enough for the following week as i do shopping every fortnight, i will cook enough for x2 and freeze half enough per portion away in the freezer for next week-saves on cooking again from scratch (turning the oven on and wasting gas) i just zap in the microwave.

I cook mostly in the slow cooker as costs less (same as running a lightbulb)

I make rice and pasta in the microwave and its perfect everytime, rice i boil kettle before hand cover rice enough by one inch add seasoning if desired in a mixing bowl cover with plate and put on full power for 5-10 mins and leave 5 mins+ after finished this should steam the rice and cook it and youll have perfect fluffy rice, costing you less turning the hob on using gas not sure if the same for electric???

I started shopping every fortnight with a budget of £150 between 2 adults and 1 child 1 cat, i stick to it by menu planning for 2 weeks at a time and shopping online so i dont impulse buy, and i shop via mysupermarket.

i walk ds1 to school and dont use the car.

I turn the heating off at night or turn the thermostat down to 15c and when we get up i turn it up to19c and wear slippers and a cardi.
hot water is put on twice a week for a bath ds1 first then oh and then mesunday nights and wednesday nights.

Always have vinegar in as has many uses

i use a tsp of wash powder in every wash recommended amount is not needed same applys for fab conditioner or use vinegar instead.

mix my foundation with moisturiser it goes futher.

i snap half a dishwasher tablet in every load it lasts twice as long

i use a tea bag and put in a dish and the next time i boil the kettle for a brew i re use it then chuck it as i dont like tea strong, as well as using sweetner instead of sugar lasts longer and is cheaper as well as less calories.

hope this helps a few people.

marmiterulesok

:cool:

sparrer wrote: »

Poggy I do similar, but rather put on the landing light in the evenings I use the light from the lounge, as the stairs are open plan from the lounge, and the bathroom door just at the top of them.

I also cut down on elec by removing a bulb from the lights in the lounge and dining rooms which have three branches. Two bulbs is plenty bright enough for reading or eating. If I'm watching television I'll turn the lights off and use candles, they're plenty bright enough and make the room feel warmer.

Hi sparrer,do you still post on the '5 OS pleasures'?I haven't had a look there for many months.Hope you 're well!

Some great ideas.

I have a grand looking lamp (my main one) in the sitting room which uses 3 bulbs.Well I only put in one and it gives quite enough light.I've started sometimes turning off the lights when watching the telly,as I realise that they're not really needed.I like using candles too.

I do have to put on lights if I get up in the night.The cat is very dark and I wouldn't see her...She doesn't like being stood on.:o

Uniscots97

marmiterulesok wrote: »

:cool:

I do have to put on lights if I get up in the night.The cat is very dark and I wouldn't see her...She doesn't like being stood on.:o

mine would sink his claws into my legs if I stood on him, but luckily for him he prefers to sprawl out on the bed (cats take up a huge amount of bed space when they put their minds to it ). I bought a garden solar lantern in poundland (after seeing the Solar jars which can be used as night lights but they are about £20!), it gets left on the kitchen windowledge during the day to charge and left in the bathroom over night, means i don't need to leave lights on and you can see where you are going.

tracey12_2

totallybored wrote: »

How many ml in the bottle? I've been using ald* bubble bath at 45p a litre but will switch if this is cheaper (not keen on normal value bubble bath).

There are 500ml in the bottle

Tracey

Catmom

unixgirluk wrote: »

mine would sink his claws into my legs if I stood on him, but luckily for him he prefers to sprawl out on the bed (cats take up a huge amount of bed space when they put their minds to it ). I bought a garden solar lantern in poundland (after seeing the Solar jars which can be used as night lights but they are about £20!), it gets left on the kitchen windowledge during the day to charge and left in the bathroom over night, means i don't need to leave lights on and you can see where you are going.

And all that heat they generate :j:j:j

Rmeek

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Poggy40: I appreciate that every penny's prisoner (copyright you-know-who) But considering how little normal electric bulbs consume I think you're probably saving about ten pence a year. You carry on if it pleases you but don't trip in the dark.

You'd be surprised! I borrowed an energy monitor from my sister a few months ago and have cut my dual fuel bill from £89 a month to £57! It's crazy when you actually see how much it does cost to run things. Energy saving bulbs cost very, very little to run (about 2.5p per 24 hour period for a normal 60w equivalent bulb) but a normal light bulb is 15-20p for the same period. Every little helps (as MrT says....pity they don't allow you to save very much huh!) I just make sure I turn things off that would usually be left on standby when I use them and it all adds up to a huge saving. We're over the moon with our cost cutting in this area! :rotfl: :T

totallybored

tracey12 wrote: »

There are 500ml in the bottle

Tracey

Not a single bottle left in my local store:eek: I'll keep popping in to try to get some.

givememoney

Hubby discovered this one.

Getting marmite out the bottom of the jar with a knife is practically impossible.

Solution.....use teaspoon and you find that jar you were about to throw away will give up a couple more teaspoons of marmite

sparrer

Hi Marmite yes still posting on 5OS and all's well thank you. How are you??

I have white cats so I can see them, but once they're in their snuggly beds on the landing they don't move all night anyway. So lazy in fact I have to carry them down to the back door in the mornings :eek:

On a different note, if you burn food onto a pan and don't want to throw it out or use a scourer on it, soak overnight in bio washing powder then gently scrape off with the edge of a credit card. If you have a credit card that is, I don't so use my library card