Sneaky ways to save the pennies

gravitytolls

I dilute whole milk, add water to shampoo, shower gels, I buy soap bars, instead of the liquid stuff, as it lasts longer. I water multi surface cleaners too, and only use value range ones anyway, Enough water, and it can put into a squirty bottle.

I turn off the oven and let food finish in the cooling oven. I put all meals in serving dishes, one rule - you eat what you take, but you can take as many servings as you wish. I throw very little off plates, and whatever's left in the dishes goes into the fridge for the morrow.

I exchange value range shampoos, cereals etc. into non value receptacles, and still add water. The water thing not only makes stuff go twice as far, but because it's thinner, less is needed, and a huge great glob doesn't get squeezed into hands, so it lasts even longer.

We bath share, topping up with hot water as we go. Washing up liquid is stored in an old cup, and instead of squeezing into the bowl, I dip my finger in and run it under the tap. Dishwasher tabs are cut in half. Sponge scourers are cut in half, ine in the kitchen, one in the bathroom. Ditto bath sponges.

Coffee is our extravagance, but I buy fresh coffee on offer, or in Lidl's or the local cheap shop.

annamc75

Soya chunks are fab if you soak them in hot stock before cooking

Anna x

Lesley_Gaye

ailz95 wrote: »

It was me. No I just do it because I sort of feel that I should. OH hasn't used anything for about 9 months now - and I must admit his hair looks in better condition than mine. I think I'm just messing it up by using shampoo - I've been thinking of leaving it longer.

Mine went from very greasy to 'normal' in less than a week

Ailz

although it looks and feels fine today, I've noticed it is rather duller than usual, this is prob the products from before. I'll see what it's like next time. Interesting that you just feel you should use some now and again. I'm eager to see what will happen to mine

PetitePeche

I will be really interested to hear how the shampooless get on. I would really like to try that because I get a reaction to many cheaper brands of shampoo and the more expensive one's don't fit into my new moneysaving ways.

Good luck and keep us updated.

PP

sb44

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

although it looks and feels fine today, I've noticed it is rather duller than usual, this is prob the products from before. I'll see what it's like next time. Interesting that you just feel you should use some now and again. I'm eager to see what will happen to mine

To those who don't wash their hair, not being funny but doesn't it stink?

If I don't wash mine for about 3 days I can smell it.

Valli

drinkupretty wrote: »

I went over to frozen because I also have a habit of letting things go bad. I havn't seen frozen garlic at my local morrisons I will have to keep an eye out for it. Lentil carrot and mushroom dahl sounds good, could I get the recipe?

I use Very Lazy Garlic - it's in a jar, pickled in vinegar so it keeps really well.

Olliebeak

Valli wrote: »

I use Very Lazy Garlic - it's in a jar, pickled in vinegar so it keeps really well.

I was sick to death of throwing away at least half of a garlic bulb every time because it had dried out before I'd had chance of using it up first.

Now, I buy garlic in those little nets of three bulbs. Just open them up, separate into individual cloves and then freeze in a sealable poly-bag. They defrost in minutes when needed and can be minced, chopped, sliced or added whole depending on how strong I want the garlic flavour to be.

larmy16

I freeze my chillis, pieces of ginger and my coriander. They all come out fine.

Valli

Olliebeak wrote: »

Now, I buy garlic in those little nets of three bulbs. Just open them up, separate into individual cloves and then freeze in a sealable poly-bag. They defrost in minutes when needed and can be minced, chopped, sliced or added whole depending on how strong I want the garlic flavour to be.

Ooh I'll try that - after I've defrosted the freezer. What a good idea!
Thanks Ollie:T

Lesley_Gaye

sb44 wrote: »

To those who don't wash their hair, not being funny but doesn't it stink?

If I don't wash mine for about 3 days I can smell it.

During one of my many money saving exercises, many years ago, I decided to have a go at making soap and was put off by what was put into it. Then I heard an article on the radio about a chap who 'never washed' that turned out to be that he never used soap. So I tried it and haven't used it since - that was about 35 years ago. I just sluice myself off in the shower and do everything that I did before, just without shower gel or anything. I do find I prefer to use a deodorant as at the end of the day I can smell myself and I find this unpleasant and become self conscious about it.

Not using cleanser is actually better for skin because we have a natural population on our skin that is killed off whenever we use soap etc. The more harmful type grow back quicker than our more natural type and the process takes about 3 days, so if we can keep ourselves clean whilst keeping our more natural flora, we strengthen our natural defences. Trouble is, I use a bit of moisteriser niw and again, so that probably kills all the good stuff anyway!!

I am assuming that not using shampoo will work in much the same way. The water gets rid of accumulated sweat and the bacteria that causes us to smell. The only problem I foresee with the shampoo is that I do prefer to use products as the style I have and the way my hair grows very flat to my head means I don't like the way it looks with no product at all in it, and that could well mean they build up and make my hair look unacceptably dull.