Saving pennies to make pounds

[Deleted User]

Yorkslass I guess we are all different what works for one doesn't for another, and yes that is a great idea with the loose change to do that every week. 

[Deleted User]

Usually I don't hoard loyalty card points, just spend when I have enough, but going to save them all up as of now and then will help at Christmas time.

Bridlington1

A few items off the top of my head:

When cooking pasta/spaghetti don't use the hob constantly, just put the pasta in a pan with boiling water and cover it with a plate or something and leave it for 10-15 mins without turning the hob on. It will cook perfectly well in its own heat and saves on the gas/electric.

Don't pay to have your hair cut, this can be done at home. For those who prefer to cut their hair short in order to get a straight edge at the back of my head I wrap a piece of sellotape around my head in line with my nose and shave everything below. I'm sure there will be an equivalent trick for different lengths, styles etc. Nobody ever seems to notice that I haven't set foot in a barber's shop for years and the cost of an electric hair trimmer has paid for itself many times over.

For those of you with pets, shredded newspaper can be used as an alternative to cat litter. Some newsagents will let you have the supplements left over at the weekend for free (they only get money back for sending the newspapers themselves back to their suppliers in my experience so many just throw the supplements away anyway) and depending on your area you may also be able to get hold of free local newspapers which can be used.

otb666

After cleaning tip solution water onto patio keeps it clean.
Keep WM DW Oven filters clean and defrost freezer and fridge regularly.  So they are working at their best. 
Washing up liquid and water cleans very effectively. 
Vinegar and bicard good for drains. 
I use my cars windscreen scaper to clean windows effectively. 
I sugar soap walls when they look like they need painting.  
Use a tea towel rubber banned over a sausepan lid and washing machine tablet in water to clean carpets.  Very effective especially on stairs.

Thrifty_Taylor

My middle son uses loads of kitchen roll, so I have cut a couple of old bath towels into 6" squares & we use them for cleaning worktops, tables, etc.

If switching the oven on for a roast dinner, put your veg in stainless steel butter dishes, to cook at the same time, or steam veg over the top of your boiling potatoes.

Buy cheese in blocks & grate yourself, rather than ready grated.

Use a refillable water bottle, rather than buying drinks when out & about, pack a picnic too.

Reuse wrapping paper, present bags. Make cards & presents, they mean more & can be individually tailored to the recipient.

As a side line, I alter/repair clothes. Instead of replacing a whole zip, you might just need to replace the slider.

I use a shampoo bar & conditioning bar for my hair, they last month's!

Hope some of these tips are useful 😊

PollyWollyDoodle

my tip would be remember that paying someone else to do something you can do yourself, costs money ... obvious, yes but I don't mean paying someone else to do the cleaning.  Things like (as @Thrifty_Taylor mentioned) buying grated cheese, washed salad, trimmed vegetables, ready-made pizza dough - it's almost always going to be cheaper to do it yourself.    Don't forget however that frozen vegetables are often cheaper than fresh, and nutritionally just as good if not better. 

tealady

I read somewhere that squeezing toothpaste across the brush rather than along gives enough paste to clean your teeth.

PipneyJane

Thrifty_Taylor said:

My middle son uses loads of kitchen roll, so I have cut a couple of old bath towels into 6" squares & we use them for cleaning worktops, tables, etc.

If switching the oven on for a roast dinner, put your veg in stainless steel butter dishes, to cook at the same time, or steam veg over the top of your boiling potatoes.

Buy cheese in blocks & grate yourself, rather than ready grated.

Use a refillable water bottle, rather than buying drinks when out & about, pack a picnic too.

Reuse wrapping paper, present bags. Make cards & presents, they mean more & can be individually tailored to the recipient.

As a side line, I alter/repair clothes. Instead of replacing a whole zip, you might just need to replace the slider.

I use a shampoo bar & conditioning bar for my hair, they last month's!

Hope some of these tips are useful 😊

Excellent ideas @Thrifty_Taylor.  

I would reiterate using a refilled water bottle when out and about, but wanted to stress that you don’t have to buy a special bottle.  It’s perfectly OK to re-use a single-use water bottle dozens of times.    They’re lighter, which helps with the strain on your handbag-carrying-shoulder.   If you’re planning ahead for a drink on a hot day, put an inch of water in the bottle, lie it on its side in the freezer and freeze overnight, before making up your drink in the morning.  Now you have an iced drink!

 For chilled water at home, we have 3 of the largest (? 2 litre) Evian-style bottles in the door of the fridge.   

We bin our single-use bottles when the lid gives up.

- Pip

PipneyJane

tealady said:

I read somewhere that squeezing toothpaste across the brush rather than along gives enough paste to clean your teeth.

True, @tealady.  To clean your teeth, you only need a small blob of toothpaste, about the size of a pea.  (The rest is marketing.)

- Pip

[Deleted User]

Great tips so far, thanks to all.
I made a big cottage pie yesterday, I live alone so will last, got another portion tonight and the rest is in the freezer.