Saving pennies to make pounds

Gers

[Deleted User] said:

I had a terrible cold which lasted 10 days, only just finished, I was blowing my nose non stop. 
I don't use tissues or toilet roll but old fashioned hankerchiefs, I know many people think it is hygenic and you have to wash them, but they barely take any room in the washing machine, and better than going through loads of toilet roll and tissues which would be costing money.  So bit of penny saving there, it really does all add up.

Cloth hankies are much kinder on the skin around the nose than using paper on it. My nose goes really red and sore very quickly which makes blowing it a painful operation. I bought lots of small hankies which will take one or two good blows before I change them. Paper hankies are good for everyday non-cold days, a full blown snot attack needs softer. 

otb666

I also use cloth hankies. Also use pretty drawstring cloth bags instead of paper wrap for presents as can be re used.

Working_Mum

Another vote for cloth hankies here! I have lots and simple throw them in my washing machine each day. I also use cotton napkins rather than paper ones. I never iron them obviously but throw them in my washer after each use.

I use a flannel to wipe my bathroom sink down after each use - saves using any cleaning fluid at all and my sink always looks clean and tidy. I also wipe my shower down after each use with a squeegee and said flannel - this saves me loads of time and energy in the long run and also means my shower looks lovely every day.

I think this is quite an environmentally way of cleaning too.

Oh and I don't use cling film as it doesn't break down (unless you pay more for the biodegradable one). I find a plate over a bowl, or a re-used jam jar handles most of my fridge storage needs.

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] said:

I had a terrible cold which lasted 10 days, only just finished, I was blowing my nose non stop. 
I don't use tissues or toilet roll but old fashioned hankerchiefs, I know many people think it is hygenic and you have to wash them, but they barely take any room in the washing machine, and better than going through loads of toilet roll and tissues which would be costing money.  So bit of penny saving there, it really does all add up.

I think I will buy proper fabric hankies, I've been thinking about it for a while but not done it yet.

In similar fashion I use cloth napkins when we're eating - really easy to just throw in the wash.  I also make cloths for cleaning out of old brushed cotton bedding so don't use kitchen roll or disposable wipes.  I do still use cling film sometimes and kitchen foil.  Does anyone have reliable non-disposable alternatives to these?  


Other ideas:
Cook from scratch as much as possible
Check what's in the fridge before shopping and plan meal to use things up
Create a gift cupboard/drawer to store items bought throughout the year when on sale or items for regifting
Reuse gift wrap, bags and boxes.  I bought some nice boxes a few years ago out of Home Bargains.  One has gone from me to my Mum, Mum to sister and now back to me.  It'll be getting used again this year from me to my Mum.
Create a pantry with basic items that you buy when on offer - flour, tins, oils, spices etc
Spices/dried herbs can be bought for a fraction of the price if you live near a spice shop or online.

Katiehound

^^^^ Kitchen foil can be recycled locally.
I also assume you can put washed cling film into soft plastic bin at supermarket.

I have loads of both in my cupboard so no need to buy more in the future (and rarely use either)

Waxed cloths might replace the cling film- you can make your own. 

London_1

I have a small partial denture and I always break the dentur tablet in half and use half to soak them in while I am cleaning the rest of my gnashers. So a pound tube of Steredent tabletss from Savers with 20 tabs, becomes 40 half tabs which is enough to clean them .
You are only supposed to soak them for there minutes anyway .

I always use half the amount of detergent in my washing machine ( I ues Aldi's non bio liquid) then a scoop or two using an old washing powder scoop from my DD) of washing soda crystals which cost about 75p a kilo from Boots.
Keeps my washing,  and the machine sparkling, and you don't need Calgon, as its basically just ordinary washing soda crystals any way but you are paying for the fancy adverts on TV.
My washing conditioner is, and always has been white vinegar, just fill the same amount in your machine drawer as you would fancy conditioner, and you get the same softness without any smelly chemical pong.
White vinegar doesn't small when its been in your machine so you won't smell like a bag of chips  

If you mix a paste of soda bicarb and a little water together then while your oven is just cooling, wipe round the inside with it on an old piece of cloth?rag and leave until cold and dry and with a wet cloth wipe of the paste and you oven is grease free and clean and you don't need expensive sprays to clean your oven.
White vinegar wetted on to a piece of screwed up newspaper will clean your windows to a shine and again you won't need to buy expensive spraysVineger will clean grease and dirt off most things .

JackieO xx

[Deleted User]

Gers said:

[Deleted User] said:

I had a terrible cold which lasted 10 days, only just finished, I was blowing my nose non stop. 
I don't use tissues or toilet roll but old fashioned hankerchiefs, I know many people think it is hygenic and you have to wash them, but they barely take any room in the washing machine, and better than going through loads of toilet roll and tissues which would be costing money.  So bit of penny saving there, it really does all add up.

Cloth hankies are much kinder on the skin around the nose than using paper on it. My nose goes really red and sore very quickly which makes blowing it a painful operation. I bought lots of small hankies which will take one or two good blows before I change them. Paper hankies are good for everyday non-cold days, a full blown snot attack needs softer. 

Same with me.

[Deleted User]

Working_Mum said:

Another vote for cloth hankies here! I have lots and simple throw them in my washing machine each day. I also use cotton napkins rather than paper ones. I never iron them obviously but throw them in my washer after each use.

I use a flannel to wipe my bathroom sink down after each use - saves using any cleaning fluid at all and my sink always looks clean and tidy. I also wipe my shower down after each use with a squeegee and said flannel - this saves me loads of time and energy in the long run and also means my shower looks lovely every day.

I think this is quite an environmentally way of cleaning too.

Oh and I don't use cling film as it doesn't break down (unless you pay more for the biodegradable one). I find a plate over a bowl, or a re-used jam jar handles most of my fridge storage needs.

I always use a small window scrape wipe down the inside of the shower before I get out, keeps it cleaner for longer as scraping all the soap scum away and helps dry out quicker. I keep all old flannels for cleaning as well.

[Deleted User]

Loving all the tips, thankyou everyone for joining in.
I barely use any foil,  I don't even buy cling film anymore, if I put something in the fridge which needs covering I usually just put a plate on top. Also save butter tubs for freezer use, and reuse wash most bags ( apart from if they have had meat or fish in).
Recent moneysaving: Cancelled Netflix, Doing my own eyebrows again instead of paying £27 for a wax and tint, as I am mid fifties my brows have slowed down growing a bit and I have just bought a Gimme Brow benefit product which I am getting loads of uses from it, not having my short hair cut every six weeks, stretching it out a bit. 

YorksLass

I no longer use cling film but do use foil that gets wiped/dried and re-used (unless it's really dirty).  A plate covered by a dish, or vice versa, does the job as do glass jars, take away containers or empty margarine tubs.  Freezer bags get the same wash/dry/re-use treatment and bread wrappers can be used if you don't have freezer bags.  The inner wax bags from cereal boxes can be cut down to make good separators when portioning up and freezing things like sliced meats, sausages etc .

I hand knit dishcloths (any cotton yarn will do, it doesn't have to be crafting cotton) and face wipes - a good way to use up oddments of yarn.  I also cut down and hem worn bath towels to use as hand towels, then they become flannels and finally floor cloths.

Fabric conditioner is another thing I stopped buying a long time ago.  White vinegar is just as good for softness and no, the laundry doesn't smell like a fish shop!  Bonus - no black mould on the door seal of the machine and no nasty pong from the drum.

I wash up by hand (no dish washer, nor have I ever wanted one) and dilute washing up liquid with water to make it last longer - two parts WUL to one part water seems to work well.

I don't buy air fresheners, instead I make up a solution of Zoflora disinfectant and water decanted into in a fine spray bottle.  Lots of lovely different fragrances to choose from and sold cheaply enough in £ stores.