Saving pennies to make pounds

[Deleted User]

This moneysaving or attempting to is a constant battle, you do well on one thing, then bills go up. My outgoings are just constantly rising, and can't go any lower on anything, 
I will keep plodding on. Yesterday I made a bean chilli, some for tea yesterday, some for tomorrow and portion for the freezer. I got some free herbs last week from a freebie site, I only live in a small apartment at the moment (this is part of my challenge to get out of here) so I will sow and grow on the windowsill.
Out for tea tonight at family so that is a bit of a moneysaver for me.

Cherryfudge

Just a thought, @[Deleted User]: might there be a community garden near you? There are a couple started in our town, and in addition one of the churches has a couple of tubs of herbs that people can help themselves to.

None of these has made it onto the map I've linked to, so local knowledge may be able to tell you more.

[Deleted User]

Cherryfudge said:

Just a thought, @[Deleted User]: might there be a community garden near you? There are a couple started in our town, and in addition one of the churches has a couple of tubs of herbs that people can help themselves to.

None of these has made it onto the map I've linked to, so local knowledge may be able to tell you more.

@ Cherryfudge Thankyou for that, I never thought of that, I did look, not in my area sadly and I did do a general google, my son has just moved and is thinking of growing some herbs so I am sure he will let me snip some. Thankyou again anyway.

London_1

YorksLass said:

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.

We are definitely sisters from a different mister YorksLass, I also only use half the amount of liquid detergent suggested and two dessert spoons of washing soda crystals added to it it only costs about 70p from Boots and its keeps both my washing clean and the washing machine clean and shiny and nowhere near as expensive as Calgon, as its virtually the same product, at a quarter of the price. I have had automatic washing machines since they first came on the market, and I have never yet seen the silly black gunk that is shown in the Calgon advert. but then its extremely rare that I have had to have one repaired. The Indesit one  I have at the moment I have had for 9 years and touch wood it works perfectly and inside its spotless and shiny.

Where did you get a pattern for dishcloths ? as I wouldn't mind making some with some of my spare cotton yarn once I've moved house.
 I can't knit at the moment as most of my house is in packing boxes as I'm awaiting my completion date.

I found some stretchy rubber covers that cover bowls which I store left over bits in the fridge (the other half of a tin of beans ) I can never eat a whole tin in one go, with in a local hardware shop a few years ago and I think I paid about £1.50 for 8 all different sizes which have been brilliant as they are washable and been used over and over again.

One roll of tinfoil probably does me about a year as its not used very often, I'm not keen on cling film as its plastic and would definitely outlive me in landfill

JackieO xx 

YorksLass

[Deleted User] said:

This moneysaving or attempting to is a constant battle, you do well on one thing, then bills go up. My outgoings are just constantly rising, and can't go any lower on anything, 

You're right, it is a constant battle.  I've just revised my grocery list for tomorrow, have crossed off a few items that I can wait for and have got it down from £28.47 to £22.39.  The things I'm not buying will need to be replaced at some stage obviously but that's for another day - and I enjoy the challenge of beating the SMs at their own game!     Joking aside, it's hard work to keep on finding ways to save money but hopefully we can all learn something new from each other.

YorksLass

@London_1 - You're right, we do seem to have a lot in common!  My Zanussi washing machine is probably about 12 years old and I put that down to looking after the old girl.     

I can't remember where I got the dishcloth pattern from, I probably googled it.  For a decent sized square cloth you need size 5 or 6 needles and about 50g of double knit yarn.  ETA: This makes quite a loose "weave" so, if you want something a bit less loose, use smaller needles.  I use 7 or 8 as I find thicker needles harder to work with.

Cast on 4 stitches
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K2, yarn over, knit to end (5 stitches)
Repeat Row 2 until you have 60-65 stitches on the needle.
To decrease:
K1, K2 together, yarn over, K2 together.  Knit to end.
Repeat this row until there are 4 stitches left.
Cast off.

For a smaller size face cloth use 4-ply yarn and smaller needles.  Ideal for using up odds and ends of different colours.  Pair one or two with a nice bar of soap to make small stocking fillers at Christmas.

Happy knitting - once you've moved, unpacked and settled in, that is!  

[Deleted User]

YorksLass said:

[Deleted User] said:

This moneysaving or attempting to is a constant battle, you do well on one thing, then bills go up. My outgoings are just constantly rising, and can't go any lower on anything, 

You're right, it is a constant battle.  I've just revised my grocery list for tomorrow, have crossed off a few items that I can wait for and have got it down from £28.47 to £22.39.  The things I'm not buying will need to be replaced at some stage obviously but that's for another day - and I enjoy the challenge of beating the SMs at their own game!     Joking aside, it's hard work to keep on finding ways to save money but hopefully we can all learn something new from each other.

I have started doing that as well actually. Yes hard work but as you say hopefully learn from each other and so interesting reading all the shared tips and habits here. Thankyou for everyone who has contributed on this thread so far, it is very encouraging.

YorksLass

Today's groceries duly arrived, all P&C, and put away in record time as it was a small order.     

Three items came in clear plastic bags (in case of spillage) and I've added these to my roll of bags in the kitchen drawer.  They're just the right size for pedal bin liners, for emptying the vacuum cleaner dust into or for double-bagging chopped veggies etc for the freezer.  A few more pennies saved.  

A couple of things you can do with rubber gloves that develop the inevitable holes at the ends of the fingers.
1) Cut across the fingers to make small rubber bands or across the hand part for larger ones - these make good plant ties.
2) Cut circles from the palm and back (use pinking shears for a pretty effect) and use as grippers for opening stubborn jars or bottles.  They're just as effective as packs of two retailing for £2 - £3.

MFCRS

I have tried to keep growing supermarket pot herbs but they invariably die and I have heard that from a lot of other people for years. Maybe you are lucky and you buy them from a more trustworthy supermarket, I have never managed. As far as using hankies instead of tissues, you do have to wash and iron them, have to carry possibly a few with you if you have a bit of a cold, so they create quite a bulk especially if you don't carry a handbag, too messy for my taste. At home I just use sheets of kitchen towel or a roll of toilet paper at night, which I keep by my bed if I have a bad cold! Saving money is great but if you have worked all your life you should not go too crazy! We deserve a bit of comfort, not only the super-rich.  

maryb

I dont have much luck with keeping supermarket pot herbs alive either but rooting cuttings in water does seem to work well with basil and produces a much healthier daughter plant than the supermarket one.

I'm another one for cloth hankies when I have a cold but I have a packet of tissues in my handbag for stray sneezes