The little changes that add up.

nomi01

Hi, I have not started a thread before, but I was wondering what little changes people have made that means they will always save money?
For me the one I find most pleasing is buying soap nuts.
We are a family of five and we do alot of washing. Kids have sensitive skin so I had always relied on brand name products. Approx 6 months ago, I spent £5 on soapnuts. I am still using them and have plenty left. I has saved me a fortune.
In the past, I had waited for the supermarkets to do 1/2 price offers on washing liquid, and then I would buy enough for 6 months when the next deal came round. I would spend approx £40 and keep all the bottles in the garage. I will never go back to paying that sort of money for detergents.
So, what do others do to that adds up?
P.S apologies if this thread is in the wrong section or there is already one that is the same.

Tete_en_l'Air

Ooh hope to get some good tips from this thread! Getting a pump action thingy for shower gels means you use a lot less - I've cut my shower gel consumption by about 80% I'd say - saving me, ooh about £9 a year

nomi01

Tete - thats a great idea, I think I will try it out tonight. I have an empty hand soap bottle under the sink. The kids waste so much soap and shampoo.
I am also on the look out for some more tips. Little changes that the family won't notice.

stardrops42

Bringing veg to the boil then turning off the gas saves a fortune in gas and the veg cooks in the boiled water. I also turn off the oven about half an hour before a chicken/meat is cooked. The meat continues cooking in the heat of the oven and I save money on electric.

Halving the amount of liquid and softener I use in the washing machine. It lasts twice as long now and no one has noticed a difference.

Not using the tumble drier and using airing cupboard, clothes airer instead.

Growing my own food, saves money and tastes better. Also saves petrol and the environment as I don't have to drive to Tesco for it! Just pop out to the back garden. Come to think of it, this also saves on a gym membership as gardening is great exercise!

Setting the heating to come on a hour later and going off an hour earlier and turning down the thermostat.

I'm sure I do loads of other stuff but can't think of them right now:D

elantan

Love the idea for the thread, I think though stardrops you've possibly forgotten an excellent " change" I went from using all the expensive cleaning stuff to just using stardrops and a few other cheap things, I don't have a clue how much I save but it all adds up

nomi01

Thanks for all the ideas so far.

STARDROPS- I have just watered down fabric softener, only by 1/4 but I will see if OH notices and will keep doing it if no complaints. Also, I did grow my own veg last year and myself and kids loved it. We have just moved house so we plan to start again next year.

TETE- I have now put shampoo in soap dispenser and also watered down hand soap in bathroom.

I have become obsessive about switching off lights and it has started to rub off on others in the house.

Elanten- I have never used stardrops. I will have to loo into that as I do like cleaning products . I am pretty lazy and tend to buy expensive cleaning wipes for the bathroom. I do wait until they are on offer and stock up but I am sure there is a cheaper alternative.

elantan

Stardrops will be your friend

1StepDebt

Stardrops, do you use Stardrops?

I've just done a quick search online. Spend over £29.99 here and you get free delivery:

http://www.brandrefill.co.uk/stardrops-original-all-purpose-cleaner-750ml/

For the Stardrops, you need to order 12 bottles but that'd only cost £9.60 and would last AGES....

nomi01

I have signed up for new challenges for 2013. Only followed one this year.
I am now doing;
20p savers challenge
Sealed pot challenge 6
1% debt challenge
10 NSD in december

I have taken stock of all my toiletries and cleaning products ( which I will now be diluting)

I went through a phase of selling on ebay and doing a few carboots when the weather was warmer, but I don't really enjoy it. Also sold a few books on @mazon and @zapper. But these things wont be part of my daily routine.

I have installed the nect:r toolbar on my laptop so I am earning points every day. Not a huge amount but it adds up.

I am really trying to make money saving a natural part of my everyday life, without it feeling like a hardship.

stardrops42

Yes I do use Stardrops! Now how could I forget that:o:rotfl:

Betty_Crumble

I fill my hand soap up with cheap bubble bath



40p a litre compared to



38p 500ml