Small wins that add up – what’s the best £1 you’ve ever saved?

heroic

I’ve been on my debt-free journey for a while now, and I’ve realised it’s often the tiny savings that make me feel most motivated.

Yesterday, I switched my regular supermarket coffee for the shop’s own-brand version – saved £1.20 and honestly, I can’t taste the difference. Felt oddly triumphant about it!

So, what’s the best small saving you’ve made recently that made you smile?
Could be:

• A clever yellow-sticker find

• A quick switch (bills, broadband, insurance)

• A little DIY trick

• Even something as simple as resisting an impulse buy

Would love to build a list of easy wins to keep us all motivated!

Brie

In all honesty I don't have to shop the yellow sticker stuff at the supermarket but I always look on the off chance there's something there I might buy anyways.  Especially just before a long holiday shut down when they have 50 of one particular item marked down to nearly nothing. 

I do stand back if there is a scrabble for things.  I think if people need to buy stuff at a discount then I shouldn't get in their way.  And if they are merely greedy and pushy I'm likely to punch get annoyed at them so it's best I don't engage.  I do get a bit of a glow though if the £2.50 posh bread is marked down to 30p at 3 pm at the local Tescos.  

So, the secret to discount (YS) shopping, like the secret to comedy, is timing.  An hour before the store closes or first thing in the morning (some shops only).  Those long holiday weekend closures (our local M&S looks like the vultures are circling on NYE).  

Using the apps (like Lidl) or vouchers (clubcard) helps too.  I've spent enough at Lidl to get 10% off a shop but frankly I rarely buy enough in one go to make it all that worthwhile and have decided it's not something to aim for.  I do take the freebies whenever I can and know that if it's not something I need it can go in the food bank bin past the tills.  I always try to pick the most expensive item in the range available to get the best value.  Lidl's W5 brand dishwasher tabs were free instead of £4.89 which I think is the best I've ever done.

I DON'T do big multishops (i.e. buy 6 wine and get 25% off) as things either get used up too too quickly (like wine!) or sit at the back of the cupboard when I discover them 3 years later.  

I DO buy the family packs of things like peppers as I know they are easy to pop in the freezer if necessary and easy to use from frozen for all sorts of things  (& I do love peppers).

As for impulse buying - I drive my OH mad by walking away from something that I might want.  I keep saying that if I still want it tomorrow I can come back.  If when I come back it's gone and I can't get it then I've saved money.  

Debtfree2026

It's very silly - I went to co-op the other evening and was thinking that I really fancied some gross pasty type thing for my dinner - they had a peppered steak slice reduced to 67p!  It was absolutely what I fancied and perfect timing!

heroic

I love this! Totally agree that yellow sticker shopping is all about timing. I don’t really rely on it but if I’m in at the right time and see something I’d buy anyway, it’s such a satisfying feeling.

I had a similar one the other week – popped into Tesco late evening and managed to grab a whole rotisserie chicken for £1.20. Didn’t even plan to, but it did me for dinner that night and sandwiches the next day. Feels like such a win when it’s exactly what you fancy!

I’m also with you on walking away from impulse buys – I do the “if I still want it tomorrow” rule too and more often than not, I don’t go back.

littlegreen

Finding the surplus supplies shop in my local town. It collects as much unwanted food from the supermarkets and local restaurants that it can, that the FoodBank has already said it doesn't have space for. It then distributes what it can to those in need and runs a soup kitchen, but everything else they sell next to nothing to anyone else to raise funds and reduce waste.

Last week I put my order in via their FB and got over £25 worth of groceries for a tenner, mostly fresh quality  fruit and veg.  And to top it off they threw in a free bag of frozen KFC chicken (16 pieces!) and two bags of super fancy sourdough bread. Absolute bargain, well worth seeing if you have one near you.

katsu

I'm DF now but try to keep up with some habits that got me there.  

This year I discovered that you can dry washing outside much earlier in the year/on cooler days than you'd think. I'm sat outside now, looking at my bedding drying for free.