Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Phatmouse

Hi people I'm looking for a little advice, yesterday I started my mince, veg, lentils and oats in the slow cooker its delicious except the lentils which are still a bit crunchy, will they ever soften or have I done something wrong, I didn't soak them as I read there is no need when using the slow cooker.

Thanks in advance x

FairyElephant_2

Nicki wrote: »

This tip has been posted a lot and I still don't understand why people do it

The whole point of a tablet is that it is pre-measured out in the dose the manufacturers recommend, so it saves time to use. That's why they can charge so much more for it. If you are only going to use half or a quarter of the recommended dose why not just buy loose powder or liquid and measure out less of it? The loose powder is far far cheaper than the tablets, and its much easier just to pour a bit less in the dispenser than it is to wrestle with a knife and a hard tablet, trying to cut it into bit!

BTW- my last dishwasher didn't work properly with reduced doses, though my current one does. I think it depends both on the make of your machine (maybe cycle length?) and the hardness of your water as to whether this tip works for you.

Where can I get dishwasher powder? I always used to use it, but haven't been able to find it in Asda, Morrisons or Lidl for a long while.

TX,

FE

Nicki

FairyElephant wrote: »

Where can I get dishwasher powder? I always used to use it, but haven't been able to find it in Asda, Morrisons or Lidl for a long while.

TX,

FE

I tend to shop in Sainsburys, Tescos and Co op and they all do it, in the same section as the tablets. It comes in large bottles for some reason, which look like fabric conditioner bottles. Its been a while since I shopped in Asda but it surprises me they don't do it, and I haven't been in Morrisons or Lidls for years so don't know about them either.

sarahs999

I posted this elsewhere earlier but I thought it would be good here. I was going through my cosmetics/potions drawer and I found six or seven big bottles of suncream, some of which were hardly touched. THey must be a couple of years old at least, given our appalling weather these past two summers, so they're no good any more. But they are still good as body moisturisers, so I now feel like I'm stocked up on creams for the next six months... oh, and also the bonus is that the lovely suncream smell when you're putting it on in the morning really reminds you of summer and warmer times....

Ang2664

Hi, I have been reading this site for over a year and I particularly love the OS threads. This one has taken me over a week to read and lots of jobs not done because of it. This is my first post and I just wanted to say thanks for all the great tips. I do already do some but will definately be trying more.

A couple of things I could add are: my husband travels a lot so brings back shampoos, shower gels etc from his hotels which I add to the handwash dispenser (watered down of course)! Also he racks up loads of expenses, flights, hotels etc, so pays with the Tesco visa card, gets the money back from work and we get the benefit of the clubcard points.

Ang

sarahs999

Welcome Ang! I like the idea of gettnig rid of those annoying samples etc. I always have loads lying round, with the idea that when I go on holiday I'll take them with me. But then I never do, or there are more lovely freebies in the hotel room... lol.

sarahs999

sorry, double post

System

Hi with regards to dishwasher powder my sister use to use the Lidl's make and i asked last week why they didn't have it anymore.
Apparently its been discontinued,which means it might be re-packaged and re launched or it won't come back.So will have to wait and see

I use asda's all in one dishwasher powder and can still get from my local
asda here in cardiff at the moment

FairyElephant_2

toomuchmess wrote: »

I use asda's all in one dishwasher powder and can still get from my local asda here in cardiff at the moment

Thanks - I'll ask why they don't have any at my local ASDA next time I'm in there - I thought it was maybe just me missing it, but I asked Mum to look for me this week and she couldn't find any either!

I was staying with a friend at the w/e and she has a lovely £1 shop near her where (amongst loads of other things) I bought a pack of 40 tumble-drier sheets. DH likes them in with his work clothes, as he reckons they keep fresher in his work-locker that way but I won't usually pay the price for them! (I'm a mean wife!) I do try not to use the TD much, but need to for his work clothes if the weather is bad - overalls etc. are so thick they take too long to dry on the airer!

I told him that I'd given in and bought them, but he would have to cut each one in half.......he just rolled his eyes and told me that sometimes I take 'this money-saving thing' too far! (so I will wait until they are open and then transfer them to a plastic box, and cut them all in half ready for him...ways and means!!!!!).

PS - if you are going on holiday, putting a TD sheet in your suitcase makes your clothes smell really nice when you unpack!

tsharp

We make a lot of currys, as they're easy and relatively cheap. I used to buy the curry sauce, but recently discovered that if you buy curry paste (for about the same price as a jar of sauce) you can get multiple currys from the one purchase. Whereas the curry sauce is pretty much a single use item. 5 or 6 meals from one jar of curry paste (various flavours available) is much better value. You can also turn it into a marinade by adding plain yogurt to a couple of teaspoons and mixing it together. Not sure if making a sauce from all the ingredients works out cheaper, I'd have to investigate.

I also make chapattis, altho admitedly they're never as good as restaurant ones or those made by an Indian woman, lol. They are just water/yogurt and flower mixed up and kneeded into balls and then rolled flat, then heated in a saucepan for a couple of minutes.