Sneaky ways to save the pennies

rosemary54

I buy puff pastry when on offer or sell by date and cut into 4 bits ,wrap in cling film and freeze so I can use as and when needed,1/4 a pack does a tart tatin for 4 with apples from the garden........economy gastronomy

butter a sponge tin and sprinkle with brown sugar then add apples in nice pattern(I used 3 chopped into 16ths unpeeled.
rollout pastry and put on top of apples and cook for 30 to 40 mins on med heat then turn out onto plate and sprinkle with icing sugar.

If you need lemon juice but not rind,grate the rind off anyway and freeeze in ice cube container for future use .

freeze herbs now for winter months especially if you buy them in and don't need a full pot

rosemary54

feeling hot and lazy so bought a Tesco meal deal,wine,steak au poivre,cheese board and chips for £9.served steak and chips with veg from garden to make meal for 3(instead of 2)with cheese and tomatoes from garden as pud leaving wine for weekend .as wine cost £6 full price I reakon I got a 2 course meal for 3 for £1 a head :):)

mama67

I prefer to have packaging that can be recycled, so I buy alot of things in glass, quite alot of which is also cheaper than its plastic counterpart.
Things if need be are decanted into a plastic for safety (eg ketchup).
This way i can buy the value/basic but the family think they are eating branded.

clutterydrawer

Just amde a tomatoey pasta sauce with no tinned tomatoes...melted a knob of butter with same amount of flour, as if i was making a white sauce.....stirred in some water i'd boiled veg in, and a big dollop of tomatoe puree and some dried herbs...om nom

It's not the same as using actual tomatoes of course but it was very delicious anyway and saved me buying tinned toms at the (extortionate) village shop.

Happy_Camper_5

I've started using a teapot instead of making tea in the cup/s as we always want another cup after the first. So instead of 1 bag per cup each time, its 2 bags in the pot for the 4 cups. Am also considering switching to loose tea and using a strainer each time. The used leaves can go in the compost too.

KittyKate

This thread is brilliant, I'd never thought of half the simple ideas on here - I've just used half a lemon hubby would have chucked in the bin to make lemon ice cubes, and I've used up the on-the-turn bananas for six banana muffins which will do nicely for breakfasts and snacks

Mine are:

- Use Lidl non-bio washing tablets (I used big boxes of Persil when on offer in Asda, but now we do all our shopping in Lidl and the tabs smell lovely ). They're £2.80 for 36 tablets but I only use 1 tablet a time. I love Comfort conditioner but only ever buy it on offer or with vouchers.

- I'm a bit of a hoarder. When loo roll is on offer I stock up and fill the bathroom cupboard - some months back it was £3 for 16 rolls in Asda (I think it was Triple Velvet) and I bought 4 packs...only just ran out, and thankfully found a similar deal on Nouvelle at Somerfield I stock up on Comfort when it's on offer - I found Fairy fabric softener in poundland and bought five bottles..hubby thinks I'm lovably mad, but we save a fortune and we're never out of the basics!

- Shop in Lidl - this has saved me a fortune, I genuinely like their food more than the big supermarkets, there's free parking, and no gimmicks in the shops.

- Hubby and I take to work each day - 1 x Lidl fruit juice carton (30p, £1 at work!!) and 1 x Lidl cereal bar (20p, 90p at work), sandwiches or occasionally cheap noodles. Saves us up to £40 a week on what we used to spend in the work canteen (I know, £40 a week!! Not any more)

- I save my Amazon vouchers from DooYoo and bulk buy essentials...with a spare £5 voucher I bought 5 packets of BIC razors (10 in each). We got used to them and haven't bought razors in four months!

- ALWAYS go to pound land first. I have bought loads of great things in the £ shop, I've made hampers for presents, with all branded things in them. Always get branded shampoo, conditioner, Lynx, yes Lynx - it's called Axe in pound land but it's exactly the same. Sells like hot cakes so I always stock up when it's in.

- Start my christmas shopping in early September when everything's at 'normal' prices and the summer sales are on. Usually have it finished by early November - I do hubby's as well (not my present obviously!)

- Make the most of freebies and put them away as presents - did a lovely photo mug for £1.99 for FIL a few christmases ago and he loved it so much, still uses it.

Mrs_Thrify

Hi again! I thought I would post my latest idea? I have had so many complements from family (all at difffrent times).
Last weekend I thought I would wash some net curtains and curtians around the house. Well getting to the point ... I put back the nets but instead of putting the old, tired curtains back at the top of the stairs. I have dressed the window with a sarong. Yep I did say a sarong. It is dip dyed orange with a deep orange and fancy embroidery at the bottom.
I tied it onto the rail at both ends and have used free orange nylon cord to tie it up or down like a blind. The cord came from a plastic bag.

angela110660

KittyKate wrote: »

- ALWAYS go to pound land first. I have bought loads of great things in the £ shop, I've made hampers for presents, with all branded things in them. Always get branded shampoo, conditioner, Lynx, yes Lynx - it's called Axe in pound land but it's exactly the same. Sells like hot cakes so I always stock up when it's in.
QUOTE]

I agree - such good value if you have already got a price to compare - not a good idea if you go in to just mooch though as spend too much on stuff.
I needed a padded envelope to send something to my son in Oz. Went to post office and a stationers and they both wanted £1.30 for one. Went across the road to Poundland and paid £1.00 for 4 in a packet !! Really pleased.

no.1swimmum

WOW some great ideas - I tried squashing the loo roll before putting on holder - there are 4 of us and we were using unbelievable amounts - wow it works becase the roll doesn't go around so easily.
I love poundland and 99p - I buy as much as I can in them, lots of bits for the childrens lunches, cheap bulbs to spruce up our terrible garden, cleaning products, food bags etc Just discovered Lidl and save a fortune on fruit and veg and basics.
Keep the ideas coming I am saving for one last family holiday before eldest goes to Uni.

Mrs_Thrify

A friend's daughter is getting married next week, so today I am going shopping for a card.For a gift I have offered them a special deal from Premier Inn. They are having a week away on huneymoon but when they get back a couple of days away or weekend could be nice as an extra...
Here is the deal.
A £58 Moneymoon deal to give couples a getaway after their big day.
Two nights stay for a newly married couple, including 1 dinner with glass of wine and 2 all you can eat breakfasts. complimentry bottle of Asda sparkling wine in the room, Asda extra special chocolates, rose petals on the bed, 459g punnet of strawberries, a hamper of Boots spa treatments, mens and womans night clothes from Primark.

All for £58. I thought that was very good with a choice of 9 Inn's.

Oh says "it is a shame the deal does not include anniversary's too".