Sneaky ways to save the pennies

beachbuffy

hello everyone
omg I just cant do it,I've been reading this thread for days,thoughts of OS fill my waking moments,I have yet to finish Im on page 73 but I need to post my tips for money saving.
Im a long time lurker on mse I love this site but I had to register & start posting I could resist no more.
Im a single mum to 3 boys 13 6 & 4,plus a pup(doggy)....all my friends think Im tight,I love a bargain,everything I own & buy is a bargain,I've had some amazing bargains why pay more or why pay someone else when I can do it myself.

anyway on with the tips

always make your own flapjacks & birthdays cakes,I have just made my 4 yr old a eggless(6 yr old is allegic) chocolate chip chocolate cake & decorated it to be a mr happy birthday cake,cost about 3 quid to make,was massive & tasted yummylicious.start with something simple,mr men are easy & when my 6 yr old turns 7 he's having mr bump.

make your own playdough,I have a really easy 2 minute recipe,playdough is soooooo expensive & the stuff I have made is lovely I keep it in the fridge.my 2 youngest DS love it.
another version is saltdough,for making little models letting them dry & painting with poster paint mixed with equal parts pva glue.

pva glue,DIY section in wilkinsons 2.5 litres for £6,beats a little bottle from asda at 1.99 a go,I have enough pva glue to last a lifetime & it has so many uses.

make toddler paint,more like gloop mixing flour water & drop of food colouring
why pay loads for it?

my DS age 6 seems to come out of school at least twice a week with a big hole in his trouser leg,these are not tears that can be sewn up,they are big gapping holes I cant afford to keep buying more even if they are £3 in mrs A so what I do is use one pair of worst for patches cut a patch to size & wonder web them over the hole on the inside of the trousers ,its hardly noticable when they are on because the colour is a perfect match IYSWIM.

I have now watered everything down in my house,I already do somethings that I have read but I've learnt alot.
btw I wanted to say no shampoo works for me,only tried it today ,I have blonde hair which looks lank & dull after a couple of days & I know its the shampoo & conditioner that does it so today I didnt,I used just water & my hair looked better :T I dont use salt as scrub for my skin I find it stings but sugar is gggreat! if your hands feel rough mix some in with some of your watered down bubble bath that masquerades as handwash & rub away for baby soft hands,also if your gonna put on your rubber gloves for washing up slap on loads of cream first ,when you take your gloves off,walaa soft hands.
As for creams I always go to the 99p shop for stuff & stock up,cheap creams work just as well as expensive I can 100% vouch for that as I've been using budget stuff since I was 12,Im now 31 & just today I got IDed to buy something,I asked how old do I have to be,she said 18...I flashed her my passpart & said thats ok coz Im 31(sorry I dont mean to sound big headed)
I find it embarassing that everyone thinks Im so young.

I walk everywhere,I have great legs,when people ask if I have a car I say no I have a really great eco system that really works its called my legs
Im not knocking cars as I know that are essential for some.

I think that is all,I have really enjoyed reading this thread now Im going back to page 73.

ampersand

Welcome to this wonderful mse world beachbuffy.
What a terrific first post!
Hope you'll look in on Thriftlady's
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=532821, too - yes, I know, I know. Several years on and I am still nowhere near getting around a smidgeon of all that's on Martin's brilliant brainchild.

Happy 6th Birthday Martin! And thankyou for everything this site has made possible for me since I joined.

daska

geordie_joe wrote: »

You do if you live in my house!

The toilet is one floor below the bedroom and there is no door, or landing, between the bedroom and the stairs. To make it worse the stairs curve, so the top three stairs are triangle shaped. They are only two inches wide at the left side, so you have to "step out" with your right foot first, and if you are too far to the left of the doorway then the stair isn't wide enough for your foot. You slide down the stairs with your right leg stretched out in front of you, and your left leg dragging behind, with the delicate bits in between bouncing off every step!

:eek:
[*]

I've found a good solution is a battery powered, motion sensitive, dusk til dawn nightlight. You can get them at B&Q and HelptheAged etc.

You can position it exactly where you need for safety but the light only comes on when needed so the batteries last for ages.

You can get mains powered versions as well, but they rely on you having a socket in the right place!

tattycath

we use a wind up torch-no batteries and the light lasts ages.

daska wrote: »

geordie_joe wrote: »

You do if you live in my house!

The toilet is one floor below the bedroom and there is no door, or landing, between the bedroom and the stairs. To make it worse the stairs curve, so the top three stairs are triangle shaped. They are only two inches wide at the left side, so you have to "step out" with your right foot first, and if you are too far to the left of the doorway then the stair isn't wide enough for your foot. You slide down the stairs with your right leg stretched out in front of you, and your left leg dragging behind, with the delicate bits in between bouncing off every step!

:eek:
[*]

I've found a good solution is a battery powered, motion sensitive, dusk til dawn nightlight. You can get them at B&Q and HelptheAged etc.

You can position it exactly where you need for safety but the light only comes on when needed so the batteries last for ages.

You can get mains powered versions as well, but they rely on you having a socket in the right place!

beachbuffy

ampersand wrote: »

Welcome to this wonderful mse world beachbuffy.
What a terrific first post!
Hope you'll look in on Thriftlady's
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=532821, too - yes, I know, I know. Several years on and I am still nowhere near getting around a smidgeon of all that's on Martin's brilliant brainchild.

Happy 6th Birthday Martin! And thankyou for everything this site has made possible for me since I joined.

Thankyou ampersand

and happy birthday MSE,martin you are FAB :money:

freedom2b

Hi All,

Always feel a little guilty having an extra BIG MOUTH to feed... My dog, but try to bulk out her food with left overs etc... That isn`t always possible though as I have five other HUNGRY human mouths to feed too.:o However have been down to local Mole Valley Farmers and have found 15kg of dry food for just over £8.00 as I bought the working/farm dog variety and as it`s classed as WORKING dog there`s no VAT. :T It`s called Maintenance Formula.

freedom2b

Hi Beachbuffy, My son too! Some trousers come with a little spare square of fabric, funny how the girls trousers don`t :rolleyes: I use these with Supermend, it`s like white powder, use instead of sewing. I bought mine from Kleeneze rep about 15 years ago and still have nearly all of it left.Fantastic for hems and all sorts. Helps if your not very good with a needle and thread!!

ampersand

freedom2b wrote: »

Hi All,

Always feel a little guilty having an extra BIG MOUTH to feed... My dog, but try to bulk out her food with left overs etc... That isn`t always possible though as I have five other HUNGRY human mouths to feed too.:o However have been down to local Mole Valley Farmers and have found 15kg of dry food for just over £8.00 as I bought the working/farm dog variety and as it`s classed as WORKING dog there`s no VAT. :T It`s called Maintenance Formula.

##########

.......now there's a blast from one of my pasts.:rolleyes: .

lilac_lady

Reading about not puting on the light when going to the toilet at night maybe someone will start making adult potties.........sometimes moneysaving can go too far! I'll keep puting the light on.

exlibris

lilac_lady wrote: »

Reading about not puting on the light when going to the toilet at night maybe someone will start making adult potties.........sometimes moneysaving can go too far! I'll keep puting the light on.

You could always go back to a 'guzz-under'. If they don't still make them perhaps antique shops or charity shops might help!!