Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Patchwork_Quilt

Confuzzled just a thought but if the jeans are still wearable, you can patch them from the inside - I use Wonderweb. Lay the jeans inside out, put strips of webbing over tear then put a patch of soft material or some other denim on top. Iron on hot with a damp cloth. It's only a temporary measure but if you put the edges of the tear together carefully it will hardly be noticeable. I saved some of DS's jeans like this and am about to do the same to some of DD's, as she was given them but they were already ripped and it seems a shame to turn them into patchwork just yet.

Confuzzled

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

Confuzzled just a thought but if the jeans are still wearable, you can patch them from the inside - I use Wonderweb. Lay the jeans inside out, put strips of webbing over tear then put a patch of soft material or some other denim on top. Iron on hot with a damp cloth. It's only a temporary measure but if you put the edges of the tear together carefully it will hardly be noticeable. I saved some of DS's jeans like this and am about to do the same to some of DD's, as she was given them but they were already ripped and it seems a shame to turn them into patchwork just yet.

these won't be wearable for long to be honest, which is why i don't plan to patch them but thanks for the info about wonderweb i shall have to aquire some as it sounds quick and easy, just my style!

the hole is getting quite large now and it's fine for summer anyway but come cold weather the trousers will be getting too snug around the waist anyway so i'll make them into the pillow i mentioned earlier and a bag for her. i think i'll have her help me with the pillow and she can give that to her aunty for christmas, the bag i'll have to make on the sly as it will be a christmas present for her, she really loves these jeans!

she has an old leopard print coat that we bought big and she was able to wear for two winters that she adores, i'll have to have her father bring it on his next trip back as i've promised to make her pillows out of that too! i think i'd better ask for a freecycle sewing machine, either that or another brace for my hand as they'll be so sore from handsewing

frugallily

Angela.Also in Nat Trust. Seemed a lot when we joined (reduced price just after Xmas) but it has given us so many days out. The volunteers are so friendly. We met up with someone I hadn't seen for 14yrs last weekend! She was a volunteer guide in one of the rooms. We take a picnic but do treat ourselves to a tea or coffee in the lovely tea rooms. Can really recommend this as a way of visiting lovely places and you will soon recover membership fee. Also have found them to be very child friendly even though that is not our priority as we are much older.

rosemary54

just bought a new toy a breadmaker,don't know how much money it will save(especially as bread so moreish!) but the thought of waking up to freshly baked bread with no additives is very appealing.Even if it does take a while to recoup the cost I must be saving some money as nearest shop is a 3 mile round trip.

queen_of_string

Mooloo, a friend of mine recently started a sewing class. It's been a great success, especially as they no longer teach sewing in school. She found that fashion students were one of her target groups, they need to make things as part of their course, but many have no more than very basic skills. I dont know if you have a college anywhere near you, but it might be worth a post card on one of their boards. If you only have 1 machine atm, it might be worth individual lessons. Many students seem to have transport these days so living in the back of beyond might not be a barrier.

I'm not an expert but I know you are allowed to earn a little bit before it affects your benefits, so even 2 pupils a week could make a difference and help with the bills.

HTH

kitschy

Mooloo, I wish you lived nearer to me I can do basic sewing and follow a very basic pattern and have been looking for dressmaking classes locally for ages! My nearest classes are 20 miles away so I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and commute :rolleyes:

I have a nice sewing machine I was given for my 21st and would like to do it justice!

Fire_Fox

Not sure if this tip has come up before, I didn't find it in the first ten pages ... I have used leave-on hair conditioner for many years as a time saver. It also reduces your water and hence energy bills slightly, and don't run it all down the plughole so need to buy conditioner far less often. I've tried an awful lot of brands but have stuck to Schwartzkopf Gliss shampoo and spray-on conditioner for ages now as it leaves my hair really shiny. Sometimes you can buy it from the pound shop, if not around £1.50 from BodyCare! :T

Also I always forget to put white wine in the fridge so got in the habit of using ice cubes. It makes the wine go further and is presumably healthier.

CrushedKitten72

Soz, if this has been mentioned before but instead of buying expensive face washes and make up removers, I use extra virgin olive oil on my face. It gets rid of every scrape of make up and leave the skin feeling completely clean and very soft. I just massage a small amount of olive oil into my face then take a flank soak into hot water, wring out and gently wipe away the oil, I do this 2 or 3 times until the oil has been removed. No need to moisturise either! I've been doing this for years now and I'm convinced it's better for my skin than all the chemicals in commercial brands!

frugallily

Phew!! finished the whole thread now and am so thankful I stumbled across it!! Thanks to you all. It took me 3 weeks to get through it all and I have a sense of loss now that I have finished it! May have to start at the beginning again!!....

Fozz

When I cook frozen food I defrost it in the micowave first, saves several minutes in the oven as the first part of the cooking is defrosting anyway I suppose!