Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Unity

1sttimer wrote: »

You just use yours twice! I use one a day and there's 2 of us:eek: (This may be WAY too much saving for some folk, I know!)
I've not read all the thread so apologise if I've repeated something, but I add grated carrot to my mince in a shepherds pie to make it go further/or reduce the meat and no one seems to notice. This one may make me sound really mean, but I pick up those little bags of sweetners/sugar from cafe's for my friends when they call for a cuppa (they get a NEW teabag:p) as we don't use sugar.

My dad used to work with a bloke who used the same tea bag all week! :eek: He used to dry it out on the radiator next to his desk . That's a step too far for me I'm afraid - as I can't stand fortnightly tea:D.

lauren_1

* Old sun lotions I use as a hand cream.



Thanks for this!

BARGAINHUNTER!

nooney wrote: »

Thanks for all the tips on here, its made me really think about what I can save and I am trying not to use as much power now, last night I filled 2 hot water bottles with the hot water from the pasta we had for our tea and so we didnt need any heat we just cuddled up to the bottles.

What an excellent idea!! Mine usually ends up down the sink!!

Cornishpixie_2

As weather still quite mild, but cooler at night, I put on the small electric fire in the lounge. Until the kids have gone to bed. So I don't have to use the central heating just yet. Only thing is I have to put up with al the kids playing in the lounge:eek: :rotfl:

Becky_2

When I make bolognese sauce etc instead of making it with ready made tomato sauce I now cook with lots of water and add 1 or 2 teaspoons of tomato paste. I think this taste better than buying ready made sauce.

For my lunch box I mix ready made potato salad, peel an apple and slice it in to cubes, add feta cheese and mortadella or tuna. This will make 2 lunch boxes and it yummy and it's a cheap and filling lunch as well.

Other suggestions on how to make a cheap lunch for work would be grately apppreciated.

Thanks

Becky

Anwen_2

I've washed most stuff at 30 for years before they started advertising telling us that we could do that - never had a problem with 90% of things, with or withuot their permission! Have also used minimal amounts of washing powder for years.

I don't wash most clothes (except for knickers and socks) after just one wearing, most things are fine to be aired out and worn again - I have a hook over the back of my wardrobe door and hang things up to air, then they can get put away after a day or two. We only think we need to wash things immediately because washing machines have made it possible without back breaking work, but there's no need if something's not actually dirty!

Yesterday I grated a 20p bar of castile soap (Knight's Castile, been in production since 1919 which is pretty Old Style!) and covered it with a pint of boiling water, stirred till it was more or less smooth and added some essential oil blend (orange and lavender in grapeseed oil) then put half in an almost empty conditioner bottle to make conditioning 'shampoo' (I'm trying to wean myself off commercial shampoo before going shampoo free...) and the rest into a ceramic hand soap dispenser my boyfriend gave me. It's got a lovely consistency for washing hands, haven't tried the shampoo yet but the recipe was from a website. Next time I might add some more oil and some glycerin to the handwash, as my hands do feel a little dry, but that might just be me...

I only heat the living room, and because of the uselessness of the storage heaters I have given up on them and bought a small cheap fan heater, we have it on for about twenty minutes every couple of days which seems enough thanks to new windows and doors from the council - mind you, if DD has her way, she'll have it on constantly for hours! But if I just stick it on for a few minutes on the thermostatted setting and then put it away she never really ntoices.

Certainly don't heat the bedrooms (have lots of thick bedding, including a duvet under us for optimal insulation, for that!) or the hallway/kitchen! Besides, if the kitchen is cold then it doesn't matter if I forget to put away the butter/milk

I'm not sure about watering down the milk, as DD needs the calories, but OTOH I rarely let her drink anything other than water so it's only usually used on cereal and as an occasional bedtime drink (warm milk for her, chocolate ovaltine for me)! Fruit juice is even less frequent, she sometimes says 'we haven't anything to driiiiiiiiiink' but I just ask her 'what do you think that stuff in the tap is for??' ;P

givememoney

With regard to toothpaste.

I always used to buy tubes as they are cheaper, but the pump action ones seem to last forever plus you don't get all the mess you get with tubes.

I find `Simple` soap lasts for ages.

katycocoa

Hi Frugal, I love crispy potato skins. I cook jacket spuds in the oven and scoop the mash out to have with our meal. I put the skins back in the oven with cheese/mushrooms/bacon for a gorgeous snack. You would pay about £4 for these in restuarants/pubs and they cost pennies

septemberblues

1sttimer wrote: »

You just use yours twice! I use one a day and there's 2 of us:eek: (This may be WAY too much saving for some folk, I know!)
I've not read all the thread so apologise if I've repeated something, but I add grated carrot to my mince in a shepherds pie to make it go further/or reduce the meat and no one seems to notice. This one may make me sound really mean, but I pick up those little bags of sweetners/sugar from cafe's for my friends when they call for a cuppa (they get a NEW teabag:p) as we don't use sugar.

This made me smile! Usually I use 1 decaf teabag per mug of tea, and I drink loads in a day. Yesterday I had a good search for a little tea pot someone had given me, put in my one teabag and poured my cuppa, then added more hot water and put a towel on top, when I fancied the next mug of tea (about 30 mins later!) I found the tea was still hot and strong, so I had another mug of tea - added more water and tea was still ok (ish but I'll get used to it), I couldn't believe it, how much money (and teabags)have I wasted for years!!
And I just had a thought, I could put the boiling water in a flask for the next top up, and not have to put kettle back on............

And yes, I pick up sugar if I'm out for a cuppa, I don't take sugar either but my breadmaker does

ceridwen

Anwen wrote: »

Yesterday I grated a 20p bar of castile soap (Knight's Castile, been in production since 1919 which is pretty Old Style!) and covered it with a pint of boiling water, stirred till it was more or less smooth and added some essential oil blend (orange and lavender in grapeseed oil) then put half in an almost empty conditioner bottle to make conditioning 'shampoo' (I'm trying to wean myself off commercial shampoo before going shampoo free...) and the rest into a ceramic hand soap dispenser my boyfriend gave me. It's got a lovely consistency for washing hands, haven't tried the shampoo yet but the recipe was from a website. Next time I might add some more oil and some glycerin to the handwash, as my hands do feel a little dry, but that might just be me...

OOOH...could I please have the recipe for that shampoo - exact quantities, etc - as I'm now trying to start in in earnest in making my own cosmetics (sent off this morning for supplies to do this - knew there was something I forgot to think about - castile soap - but 'twould be cheaper for me to grate up bars of castile soap than buy liquid castile soap). So - for £36 odd including delivery I reckon I should have enough basic ingredients to last me for quite some time for making body lotions/handcreams/lip salve.