Your top money saving tip

samanthaneww2d

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Always wait for a full load before using the washing machine or dishwasher and dry things outsde if you can or on a 'maiden' indoors rather than use a tumble dryer. Try to fill the oven with lots of dishes when you've got it hot to use for one dish, cook things that reheat well or that are going to be eaten cold and when you've finished cooking put a bowl of water into the still hot oven to use for washing up, Free heat! Take a look in the storecupboard and be imaginitive with what you have rather than going to buy something in or getting a takeaway.Turn off lights when you've finished in a room. Close doors in the winter when it's colder. Instead of turning up the thermostat add an extra layer of clothing or a wrap. If you have a garden try growing your own salads in the summer, saves a fortune and tastes much better. We even make our own cider rather than waste fallen apples. I make all the preserves, chutneys and pickles we eat, we're lucky enough to grow all the fruit and veg for them but they still work out cheaper than shop bought if you have to buy in the fruit and veg. Ignore fashion,in clothing, home and every other aspect of life, make your own style and be an individual rather than going with the 'latest trends'.

Thanks for a reminder of all the things I know I could do but for some reason fail to put into action

carriebradshaw

I freeze leftovers no matter how small they may be, for instance things you might have otherwise scraped into the bin thinking it wasn't worth keeping really is,like a spoonful of cheese sauce,chilli, bolognese, stew,casserole etc etc can be frozen in ice cube trays then popped into freezer bags to be used on another meal or snack.They can then be thawed,reheated & either poured over a jacket potato or cooked pasta,or used as a pie/pasty filling etc. So for example if we have roast lamb for Sunday dinner (or any other time) we use the leftover meat from that with spuds & onions to make stovies for another meal,which is very easy,filling & tasty and then leftovers from the stovies to make a couple of pasties for another day.With a bit of imagination & experience, a little can be turned into a lot & will save you money.Do label your bags though so you know exactly what those strange looking frozen cubes really are LOL

freyasmum

Can you car share? My sister wasn't interested as it takes a little bit of planning. Until I pointed out that we could save circa £1,700 a year between us...

Talking of saving, it's not really an OS/money saving thing as it will still be spent, BUT my mum and I have one of those cash tins (kept at hers) where we each put in an amount per week. We start at the end of summer and open it just before we have our summer holidays. £10 each week may not be missed (in most cases), but it adds up to £520 over the course of the year and allows you to do nice things during your time off without the added financial worry of 'where will we get the money?' - or even worse, using a credit card to fund it.

In any case, when your wages come in, pay yourself FIRST. Select an amount you want to save and take it out of your bill accounts. If you don't do this, then it will be spent. And, if you're anything like me, you won't have a clue what it was spent on

purpleshoes_2

I use solid shampoo. One 3 quid bar is still going strong 3 months later. Shop at home bargains if you have one near you. Look and see if your local college does cheap haircuts and colours. Take advantage of yellow sticker shopping. Freeze leftover soup. Ask yourself if something is a need or a want. Use quidco. If you have a nectar card link it to ebay. Use Groupon and wonder. Buy books and clothes second hand.

purpleshoes_2

I also use superdrug own brand toiletries and make up and their own brand hair colour.

FairyPrincessk

I've been mulling this questions over and I think my top tip is that there is no top tip. I don't mean that to be disheartening--on the contrary. Many of these tips are great, but if they don't work for you then that doesn't mean you 'can't' save money. You just need to find what works for you and that mostly means trying things out and trying something different if that isn't suitable.

For some people making everything from scratch is the way to go. For others only having 'ingredients' in means they often find themselves getting a take-away because time is short. They would probably save more money by buying a few carefully thought out convenience foods to have on hand.

For some, batch cooking works wonders. Others find that the more they make the more they eat.

Some people find charity shops a great way to get what they need at a low price. Others find they spend lots on things they don't really need just because they're a 'bargain.'

Some find supermarket deliveries keep them on track and sticking to a list. Others save money by shopping for whoopsies while still others stick to the discounters.

It will only save you money if you can stick to it and don't replace it with something that costs more.

purpleshoes_2

That would have been wow Cher. One thing that has helped me has been the not buying it thread on this board.

ourcornercottage

Thanks everyone I'll be picking the ones that fit for me. I do a lot of these things already but there's a lot more that I can do easy peasy. Keep them coming......

curiousralphy

pick up the dropped receipts in the supermarket car park as you walk in. It clears up the local area and if the person who shopped didn't use their loyalty card (nectar in my case) then you can take the receipt to the till inside the door and ask to have the points allocated to your card. at worst you will have days where there are no points to be had, but you have helped to clean up the local area - at best you get the points for some huge shops that would otherwise be discarded and you've still helped clean up the neighbourhood.

caroc

My top tip is to invest in a book called 'The complete tightwad gazette' .Takes frugal to a whole new level.