Top 20 Frugal Must Haves?

jumblejack

A printer (for coupons)
Hair clippers (to save money on haircuts. One cut pays for the clippers!)

flutterbyuk25

jumblejack wrote: »

A printer (for coupons)

I use the work one .... shhhh!

sparrer

My list -

1. Small balloon whisk
2. Nut crackers - ideal for opening bottles for those with arthritic hands
3. Low volt light bulbs - only changed one in 8 years
4. Thermal undies, also some for use under pyjamas in really cold weather
5. Rubber soled slippers, double as bed socks
6. Crushed eggshells, excellent for deterring slugs/snails
7. Used tea bags - emptied on the rhododendron it makes it a lovely blue-purple colour from the original insipid pink
8. YS/RTC shelves
9. MSE
10. Google
11. Rubber gloves for defurring clothes, rugs etc after the cats & dog have been on them
12. Dish/floor cloths, I try not to buy any paper products
13. Soda crystals
14. Vinegar
15. ISA - for when I have a spare £1 to save

tiff

I think the phrase "frugal must haves" is a bit of an oxymoron. If you truly are frugal there are no must haves, you work with what you have.

thriftwizard

I think the phrase "frugal must haves" is a bit of an oxymoron. If you truly are frugal there are no must haves, you work with what you have.

Take your point, but if you were starting from having nothing at all of your own (say your home had burnt down perhaps) what would be the things that best enabled you to haul yourself out of the poverty trap? E.g. having to spend money on ready-prepared meals because you didn't have any cooking equipment? Sometimes a bit of wise investment can help you save money or at least use it more efficiently.

For me, the one thing that stands out above all others is time - something that I'm very short of just now, and it's showing in the fact I'm finding it nigh-on impossible to stick to my budget!

lillibet_dripping

icecreamdogpark wrote: »

I have an electric clothes airer cost about £30/£40 been going good for at least 6 years would never be without one now especially in the Autumn and spring when no heating is on or too cold outside to dry clothes ,I also love my hanging pegs thingy for smalls ie pants, cloths,socks etc as i cant be bothered to hang them outside as they dry quickly anyway

In our house it's called the 'KNICKER KNACKER':rotfl:
Also, for those who line-dry whenever possible, a little tip....
When the washing machine has finished it's cycle, take half the load out and give the remaining half an extra spin. Swap the loads over. You will be amazed at how much extra water comes out. Clothes are very nearly dry with this extra spin cycle.

adelight

DOn't think anyone's mentioned it but what about one of those wonder bags? Has anyone bought/made one? They look brilliant, just get it boiling on the hob then pop it in the bag for the rest o the day.

jennyo

A jam funnel, I know thats only 1 but everything else has been mentioned. really handy obviously for jarring up jam and chutney, but also for portioning out sloppy batch cooked items for the freezer, so mince items, stew, soup etc, I ladle it through the jam funnel, no splash, no mess, no waste.

flutterbyuk25

adelight wrote: »

DOn't think anyone's mentioned it but what about one of those wonder bags? Has anyone bought/made one? They look brilliant, just get it boiling on the hob then pop it in the bag for the rest o the day.

Hi Adelight I had to google what you mentioned as I'd never heard of them before - here's the link - good idea in principle, but have you seen the price :eek: £30 plus £5p&P!!!

katieowl_2

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

Hi Adelight I had to google what you mentioned as I'd never heard of them before - here's the link - good idea in principle, but have you seen the price :eek: £30 plus £5p&P!!!

It's basically a hay box isn't it... I saw them a while back and thought they were rather expensive. I shouldn't imagine for a minute it would be 'too' difficult to make one?

Kate