Great Tips... one liners

sadiedoll

Just to reiterate what most folk have said (and all the things I have learnt from the wise people on this forum), but:-

Learn to cook/realise that you know how to cook and do it!

Use your freezer.

When you go shopping, don't buy pre-prepared or packaged food. Its all a total rip-off. You can make something much nicer and cheaper.

Check the reduced section in the supermarket - you'll be amazed at what you can find in there.

Don't go shopping as a hobby (this used to be my downfall). There are lots of more interesting things to do than wander around Next and Topshop on a Saturday afternoon.

Recycle (if you don't already) - it'll make you feel better.

Freecycle - its a good thing! Good for getting rid of what you don't need as well as picking up bits and bobs.

You don't need as many cleaning products as you think you do.

I try and carry only £10 of cash around - this forces me to think - do I need it? when faced with a potential purchase. I try to only use my debit card for supermarket shop and petrol (and I have set a strict budget for each of those).

That's only 9!!!!

Anyway, good luck and have fun - OS'ing is great and I feel a much better and healthier person for it.:A

seraphina

Great thread!

Here are my top 10:

1) Plan, plan and plan some more! This is great at saving money on food - draw up a list of meals for the week, and I mean all meals, including breakfast, lunches and dinners. I don't plan what I'm going to have on each day but I know I have 6 dinners for the week and I can choose what we fancy each night. Planning for lunches is good as well, if I think I can make it up as I go along, I wind up buying lunch in the work canteen:mad:

2) Have confidence in yourself! You can do most things better. With cooking, you can cook better food with fresher ingredients and less nasties than any supermarket. And if you don't try, you won't know. Sure we've all had a few disasters but if you eat them with your eyes closed they ususally taste good.

3) Get others in your house on the OS wagon (you can ignore people outside the house). You may need to do it gradually (don't tell them much about how you cooked/cleaned whatever, but when they ask, airly mention that you did it yourself/used a cheap cut of meat that was only £X/kg etc), but once they "get" OS then you'll save even more and never look back.

4) Start small. I did this with lunches. So once I had mastered the organisational skills of bringing sandwiches/soup for lunch, I moved on to making my own bread for my sandwiches. After a while I moved onto yoghurt making so now my lunches are all homemade, but it was done in baby steps so it didn't seem like a huge undertaking.

5) Do you really need it?

6)Prioritise. It's about moneysaving, not being a martyr. So if you have one or two items that you absolutely *refuse* to do without, and you can't stand the alternative, then don't fret about it. Mine is fabric conditioner, 'cos I don't need to iron as much if I use it:D

7)Have a leftover dinner/storecupboard dinner once a week to make your shopping go further. So if you shop for 6 dinners during the week, try and make seven from leftovers/storecupboard etc. This means you can put off your shopping for another day. Do this every week and you save at least a month's worth of shopping in a year.

8) Have fun! I really enjoy cooking, making do, rustling things up and *shock horror* keeping my bathroom clean!

And what everyone else said as well, some great advice.

EagerLearner

Great ones - keeping your bathroom clean :eek: not me - glad mine is small and takes minimum effort!

Anyone know the answer re soda crystals and an alternative to Fairy liquid?

tryingtobegood

lil_me wrote:

Second - didn't label as had ran out and defrosted wrong thing for tea have since found masking tape makes great cheap labels

Brilliant Idea!:beer: :beer:

tryingtobegood

EagerLearner wrote:

?

Also, can anyone advise on a good alternative to Fairy? I have tried Persil and did not like it. I want something the same as Fairy but cheaper. I shop in Sainsbury's, Tesco and Sommerfield if this helps.

Thank you and keep the top 10's coming!

I normally use Tesco's own anti-bacterial washing up liquid. Like you I hated all other non-Fairy brands until I tried this.
As I'm now doing more of my shopping in Aldi I have their version to try out next. I'll need to open it tomorrow....fingers crossed it's just as good.

fairy3

Hi eagerlearner

Re soda crystals : it is equal parts crystals to powder eg I Tbsp of each per wash, they can be pre mixed or you can use them separately. I put them in the drawer but others use a dispenser or place in drum.

Re Fairy : I cannot offer any suggestions (I am a fairy addict) as I wait until it is on 3 for 2 and stock up, have tried others but it is not the same. It is £1 at the moment at Tesco's.

I am enjoying this thread

JX

tryingtobegood

fairy3 wrote:

Re Fairy : I cannot offer any suggestions (I am a fairy addict) as I wait until it is on 3 for 2 and stock up, have tried others but it is not the same. It is £1 at the moment at Tesco's.

I am enjoying this thread

JX

Asda have Fairy on special at the moment. 3 for £2.00 until 04/02/07. I may have to indulge in my Fairy addiction again:p

Seaxwyn

I use Ecover washing up liquid - Fairy wrecks my hands and I don't like the chemical aftertaste.

Ecover is more expensive to buy but you only have to use a very little, so it lasts much longer. Also you can buy 5 and 10 litre containers and refill your bottles, whch works out cheaper still.

MrsTinks

Seaxwyn wrote:

Ecover is more expensive to buy but you only have to use a very little, so it lasts much longer. Also you can buy 5 and 10 litre containers and refill your bottles, whch works out cheaper still.

There is a refilling station near me So when my last bottle of fairy (3 for 2) runs out I'm going to try this I'll compare the costs too but if it's HUGELY expensive I'll have to buy tesco own This year is "seriously hit debt and save if possible" as have a wedding May 2008

mineallmine

Great thread. Wholeheartedly agree with everything said so far. Probably cannot think of 10 'lessons learnt' but here goes:

- As part of meal planning, if you have a strong chinese/ indian / chippie takeaway habbit, then have a couple of easy to cook convenience foods (ideally reduced!) in the freezer to help you resist temptation - then put the £10/£15 quid you would have spent into a money box

- Use energy saving lightbulbs / timers / Economy 7 wherever you can

- Deliberately reduce your overdraft - most banks will happily keep raising it - cut it to the bare minimum you need. It's debt by any other name.

- Ditch the free scoops with washing powder - clearly designed to make you use more - and use a smaller device/container, like a small cup used for measuring dry pet food.

Hope these help.