What has made your life easier/cheaper ?

mandalay_2

Not sure if I've posted this in the right place but I'm just interested in things people have bought or changed or done around their home that saves them money or time ?

Would be interested in others ideas or what they have done if anyone has got any ?

Obvious ones I have done, like getting a dishwasher (why did I not think of this years ago - I worked out it saves me on average 90 mins a day !!) more wardrobe space so I can actually see and get to my stuff (thus not going out and buying more cos I think I don't have anything)

PasturesNew

I sold my house. That's made life easier/cheaper.
I now rent and am free to work or not as I please.
I am also free to move if/when I want to wherever I want.

As I no longer own a house, I don't have to spend any money on repairs, or upgrades. While I am out there's no temptation to think "oh, that's perfect for that corner ..." and buy old tat I don't need.

I also don't buy things because I have a small car, and in keeping with my new free lifestyle I want to ensure that when I do leave I can get it all in the one car trip!

PasturesNew

mandalay wrote: »

Not
I worked out it saves me on average 90 mins a day

Good lord!!! 90 minutes?
Whatever are you washing up?

Mine takes me 10 minutes every 2 days, including boiling the kettle for the hot water to do it!

mandalay_2

Not 90 mins every day, but it was near enough on say a Sunday where I'd cook a nice breakfast (20 mins to wash/dry) and then a Sunday lunch (40 mins wash/dry) and then some late tea/supper (20 mins) plus cups of tea and snacks throughout day. I do like to try and cook from scratch most of the time though.
Maybe I was just a slow washer upper and dryer upper then ? or maybe it was the cups of tea and talking to others whilst I was doing it !!

MissEyre

Getting rid of my car-hasn't made my life easier, but has made it an awful lot cheaper! Also means I plan much better now-catching the train if I need to means leaving my house a quarter of an hour before the train goes, not just legging it out the door when I am finally ready to go!

Slow cooker-easy and cheap, means there is always something waiting for me to eat. Certainly cut down on the takeaway addiction too!

geordie_joe

A slow cooker for me too, along with a timer switch so I can set the time it goes on and off.

lilac_lady

Microwave, washing machine, freezer, dishwasher - all make sure my domestic chores are a lot easier than in my mother's time. I really appreciate them all.

Girl_least_likely_to

I batch cook meals like spag bol and chilli. Eat one portion and stick 5 in the freezer

mandalay_2

I've heard from others that slow cookers are really good, just a couple of questions though:
1. How much are they ? How much should I look to pay ?
2. What sort of things can I cook in them as during the week I'm not a huge 'eater' at teatime ?

mandalay_2

Is there anyone that can help me with this ?

Voyager2002

Slow cookers appear regularly in my local charity shop, priced at around a tenner.