Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Popperwell

It depends but you make a fair point. I think some children used to try and cause sparks.:p I seem to remember they had a habit of coming out and needing replacing.

I don't quite understand how they work but many seem to be using those ice grippers now in winter when its icy...I managed with them ok and don't remember when or why I stopped using them.

sandy2_2

FrugalFranny wrote: »

Don't they tend to make you footing more slippy?... I've been thinking about getting some for my boots but if it snows like it did a year or so back I don't want to end up on my ar5e lol

When we were in chile earlier this year we saw plastic type overshoes to stop you slipping in snow and ice, they were in an adventure sports shop. I hadn´t seen anything like that in UK
this link is for something similar
http://www.clifford-james.co.uk/buy.cfm/miscellaneous/ice-overshoes/68/yes/59714

Sandy

moneypenny2k

unixgirluk wrote: »

You can buy segs here:-

http://www.timpson.co.uk/shop/c/20/shoe-care/s/150/shoe-accessories/g/598/metal-segs

or sometimes I have noticed Wilkinsons keep them.

Also known as blakeys. Look them up on eBay, much cheaper than timpsons or amazon.

My daughter was recently quoted £20 to resole a pair of £30 shoes which she loved. Fortunately, she didn't have the money at the time and I explained about stick on soles, £3.29 post free on eBay.

Uniscots97

Thanks for that moneypenny2k. I used to wear doc martin style boots and whenever I got a split in the sole I used to repair it by dipping a butter knife in boiling water for a minute then pressing it over the split, the rubber will melt together. I have also used normal white candle wax to 'reseal' the edges of shoes and boots whenever I found they were letting in water.

Uniscots97

My best advice is to use what you have and don't be afraid to. I've achieved this in various ways over the years.

1) Cake making - the first year I was with my now OH he mentioned he'd never had a birthday cake. I had an idea in my head of what I wanted to do but didn't have square cake tins. I really didn't want to spend the £8.99 the shops were charging at the time so made the sponge in my grundy trays (long rectangular trays) and cut the sponge to suit and layered it with jam and buttercream in each layer. I did the same when helping a friend create a Butterfly cake for her niece by drawing a butterfly on card and using this to cut round the cooled sponge and again layered it. You can create any template you want and therefore save the money it would cost trying to get that shape of tin which you may not use again. The excess sponge I cut into small squares and dipped it in chocolate and then into sugar strands, chocolate vermecelli, coconut. All the creations have gone down a storm. The little sponge squares were perfect for the adults that came along to the party.

2) Drying washing outside - having seen the prices of whirly gigs when I got my first place I knew I couldn't afford it so have stuck with a washing line. I used a decorating pole I had and put the hook from an old metal coat hanger in the end and used this as a clothes pole. I did one for a friend where I drilled a hole in the end of a broom and again used the hook from an old coat hanger in the end. She propped this up on one of the plastic chairs she had and used this as her clothes line pole. This meant her broom was duel purpose .

3) If you run out of dry shampoo you can use talc but as talc can leave a mark thats noticeable on darker hair if you re-part your hair a few millimetres either side of your usual parting then shake a little talc into your hair then brush it out. Once you put your hair back into your normal parting you won't notice any talc residue.

4) If you run out of nail varnish remover then paint a thickish layer of clear over the colour and whilst its wet (give it a few seconds to make the colour gloopy) wipe it off using an old cloth (never use cotton wool, it makes a real mess! )

Uniscots97

...........bump..........

sparrer

I was given a strawberry planter, the tall sort with 'cups' around the sides, but I'm not fond of strawbs so the planter has stood empty in the garden for a while. When I bought my summer bedding I bought several mixed trailing lobelia plants and had a few left over, so put them in the planter. I now have what looks like the biggest lobelia in the world, it's so pretty everyone comments on it. Next year it'll be even more money saving, I'll grow the lobelia from seed

Mistral001

The_Thrilla wrote: »

Many of us suffer from bachelor(ette) syndrome and have an empty fridge. Unfortunately, empty fridges use more electricity. You open the fridge to get the milk out for a cup of tea, and that raises the temperature of the air inside, so the motor starts up again until the thermostat switches it off. The solution is to reduce the amount of air in the fridge. That is easy. You replace the air with something that takes longer to heat up. What I did was gather together all the empty bottles I could, fill them up with water, and put them in the fridge. I also bought a load of cut-price bread from the supermarket and bulked out the freezer with it. I was delighted with the results. The electricity company was not.
.

Thanks for this explanation of the keeping the fridge full to save money phenomenon. I was always suspicious of this old tip that has been around for years. Now that I hear that it is all about opening and closing the door letting less warm air in when the fridge is full it is makes it seem like common sense.

cjez_2

I've read most of these great tips but not all so hope this hasn't been said.
One sneaky thing I do is use old milk bottles, the middle sized ones for boot trees. I clean them out thoroughly and put them in my boots to hold them up straight in my wardrobe. Works great!
And I also use the cardboard tube from kitchen roll as a bracelet/bangle holder.

marmiterulesok

Mistral001 wrote: »

Thanks for this explanation of the keeping the fridge full to save money phenomenon. I was always suspicious of this old tip that has been around for years. Now that I hear that it is all about opening and closing the door letting less warm air in when the fridge is full it is makes it seem like common sense.

Some people keep a list with the fridge's contents stuck on the outer door so as not to open the fridge just to see what's in it.I've thought about doing this.;)

cjez wrote: »

I've read most of these great tips but not all so hope this hasn't been said.
One sneaky thing I do is use old milk bottles, the middle sized ones for boot trees. I clean them out thoroughly and put them in my boots to hold them up straight in my wardrobe. Works great!

A rolled up sturdy magazine works well too.