Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

[Deleted User]

sparrer wrote: »

My DM has always used baking powder to clean her teeth. She's 91 and only has 4 false teeth, at the front following an accident many years ago, so although I'm not sure it would taste the best I can vouch for it working

I've also heard salt is as effective but somehow don't think I fancy a mouthful of salt :eek: (and wouldn't it be too abrasive?)

My late ma-in-law used ordianry salt to clean her teeth and she died in bed at 85 with a complete set of her own teeth intact She had never had a filling or been to the dentist to my knowlege at all.But then this was the woman who could out frugal most of us on here bless her.Everything you could think of she could recycle or reuse for something else.She had three quarters of an acre of garden and until my late OH was 18 he had never tasted anything from a tin Everything was grown in her garden and she also kept a few chickens and had a couple of pigs as well.She was widowed at 28 during the depression of the 1930s and had two tiny sons (aged 2 & 3) to raise on next to nothing (just a widows pension of 8/- per week) she had spent her late OHs life insurance on buying the cottage with land in 1937 for £560.00 odd pounds leaving her with just under £20.00 left over in the bank.They had no electricity in the upstairs rooms until around 1945 and everything had to be eeeked out until it squeeked.I had the greatest respect for this amazing lady who refused free school dinners for her boys as she said she wouldn't take charity from the 'parish'
Apparently she sent the local vicar at the time off with a flea in his ear for even suggesting it. They just aren't made like that anymore

monnagran

A 'PS' to the horror of packets of mixes. What about Crumble Mix? How hard is it to tip flour and sugar into a bowl and rub in a bit of margarine?

sheilavw

What a lovely woman your Mother in Law was Jackie O. She must have struggled but fought hard to manage her two little ones on so little.

Uniscots97

just re-read my previous post, sorry I am dosed to the gills on cold medicine that should have read corn flour! Sorry

Sue14

Cher-Ching wrote: »

Great thread!

My tip is not to throw away batteries that have 'died' that were used in 'high power' devices i.e. camera, kids toys, shaver etc etc.
They may have run out of juice for these things but you'll be surprised at how much is still left to run 'low power' things such as remote controls, wall/alarm clocks etc.

The battery I have in one of my wall clocks 'died' about a month ago from my camera but has been powering the clock ever since. :T

I always do that too, it's amazing how long the battery can be used in a clock.

Ready made batter mix? The ultimate in laziness IMO, it takes a couple of minutes at the most to make it from scratch.

Becky_2

Just to let you know, that Biotex is back on sale in my local 99 pence shop. A couple of weeks ago we discussed where you could buy this. I have now stocked up on the stain removing spray and this seems as good as the powder and easier to use. Disappointed with the powder though since the container is only 250 g so it works out cheaper to buy 500 g container in Sainsbury's.

Uniscots97

Whenever I burn candles I'm given there's always bits of wax that don't burn away. I save all these bits and melt them down, I use cotton twine as a wick (soak this in some molten wax first) and pour the melted wax into an old jam jar with the cotton twine at the centre and leave it to cool. ..... One perfectly good candle

vesper

hi not sure if it's been mentioned on here (I'm only half way through reading) but I buy cheap baby lotion (9p from a certain supermarket) and use it to clean the bathroom. It cleans the sink up beautifully. And I also use it as hand lotion and even hand wash at work.

I also put any hot water left over from boiling a kettle in a flask for my next cuppa, to save on electricity.

If you have brittle hair, boil two hand fulls of rosemary in a pan of hotwater, and simmer for a hour but not so the water evaporated. Drain, and it's wonderful for your hair, and a great dandruff repellant. Also great if you also have greasy/oily hair.

Got hayfever, I dab a bit of rosemary or teatree essence on a hanky and sniff it occasionally. Helps with headaches as well.

Has anyone got any 'recipes' on making some natural moisturisor. At the moment all I can use is cheap baby lotion, but shop bought proper lotions/moisturisors I am allergic to the purfumes they put in them. At the moment I am using some aloe vera and seaweed hydrating balm that my friend got me, with either some rosewater or rosemary added. But it is quite expensive to get the natural hydrating balm. Just wondering if anyone knows how to make one?

Uniscots97

I was given advice by my hairdresser recently and did wonder why any previous hairdressers have never mentioned it (this lady has only just become my hairdresser and is fab):

Ladies, if you use the correct type of brush for your hair then it will style easier when drying and take less time, once dried because you've used the correct brush you'll need less styling product on your hair.

Eg: I have very long hair (with fringe) and wear it straight (naturally wavy), she advised a flat paddle brush for my hair. Previously I'd been using an oval brush, switched and I've shaved 5 minutes off drying and styling my hair and I also do not need to use my straighteners as much in between washes (saving electricity) and I use less hairspray. An oval brush is perfect for chin length or long curly/wavy styles, a barrel brush for short curly styles, a vent brush for short messy styles and a half curve (no vent) brush for shorter styles that are sleek.

She also says no matter what conditioner you have in the house putting it on dry hair, combing through with a wide toothed comb and putting a shower cap over it then washing out in the morning will leave it super soft.

alja

Been reading through this thread today and there's some fab tips..so thank you!!

Things I like to do are...

Save all the samples from magazines/samples you can send off for etc. as they're great for holidays, as you don't have to buy the travel minitures or try and fit big bottles into your wash bag

We also save any smaller bottles we get via gift packs etc for travelling instead of having to buy the bottles

When showering I always do the shower trick of turning off the water once I have my shower puff all lathered up enough..and turn it off whilst shampooing hair once it's wet enough etc.

We also cut paper towels into quarters where we can to make them go further