Sneaky ways to save the pennies

janp_3

I only buy cleaning materials toilet rolls etc. when they are are buyone get one free or a similar offer. I then stock up and do not buy again until the offers come back.

Uniscots97

I hate manky loos and before discovering MSE I used to go through bleach like it was going out of fashion. However after switching to Lidl's I accidently picked up their toilet cleaner rather than their bleach (never go shopping when you are choked with flu). A little goes a long way. The bottle claims that you'll get average 66 applications out of it (the side of the bottle is marked so you know how much you've used) for 72p. On my first bottle (I kept note of how many uses I got out of it, is that sad?), I got 56 applications, on my second bottle I got 67 and each time it leaves the loo lovely and clean and fresh. It comes in three scents, lemon, orange and fresh. I haven't tried the fresh one but the citrus ones are lovely. Saves me a fortune compared to buying bleach.

kirakat

Once had no dishwasher powder, read a tip to try 1 tablespoon borax with 1 tablespoon bicarb of soda ... everything came out sparkling, but OH worried about "effects" on dishwasher ... wonder if anyone knows if this is "safe" to use?

Especially if you are on your own, bought salads can go off quickly before used ... now always buy spinach, it seems to last longer, and when I know I am not going to use it in salads, I cook it and freeze it. It can later be used with ricotta cheese in lasagne, I also do gnocci with it.
:rotfl:

angelfairy

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

how odd i was thinking the same thing? got some dandelions that i need to attack. :rotfl:
also isnt blood good for feeding plants with? any ladies who use a mooncup - ive heard that if you 'empty' it into a houseplant then it gives them like a nutrients boost. bit gross but you'd have nice flowers as a result and its sort of recycled i guess and free,

"ewwwwww"...sorry, the thought of that makes me a bit squemish. :eek:

can see the merit in the idea though

rls1973

Olliebeak wrote: »

Got to thinking about the Lynx/Asda bodyspray thing - and it took some thinking about (my OH is exactly the same).

How about a bit of [strike]subterfuge[/strike] (big word for this time in a morning!) a little white lie. You could try telling him that all your friends were saying how really sexy the new Asda/Tesco/Morrisons bodyspray is - even better than 'name of something expensive'. Then, next time in the supermarket, take a sly spray of one and go absolutely delirious over the fragrance of it while asking him to have a sniff as well. He may not like the smell but if he thinks it makes YOU go weak at the knees - it may just do the trick :j !

brilliant :rotfl:
t also works the other way, (well, with straight men it does anyway): tell him you think the <insert name of expensive spray> smells girlie/flowery/effeminate etcetc.

(i mean no offence to the gay mse'ers, by the way: just that this works really well with macho straight men, lol)

ingresman

I bought some cheap carpet tiles and tied them to all of our shoes to save wear and tear on the carpet.
I also bought some pit helmets with lamps (well we don't have miners anymore !!) and refuse to have the lighting on except on birthdays or christmas. I've manafed to run a cable to the street light and I charger them when everyones is at school and work.
When it's cold we play igllos and eskimos - keeps everyone amused
And as for toilet rolls , never bought one we just use a sponge and wash carefully.
I know we all have to save money but some of these are a bit far ! (but amusing)

shetitasatic

My DH and I both have birthdays in December, so it can get ridiculously expensive. Several years ago we decided to stop giving each other Christmas cards and 'recycle' ones we'd previously given! We found 2 big really nice ones and each year we write the date and a new message - we've been using the same ones since 1991!! Each year when we pack up the christmas decs the cards go in the Christmas tree box , ready to come out next year. They are like family heirlooms and we wonder how long we can keep it going!
We have now started to do this with our birthday , anniversary and Valentine cards.
I keep all our cards as I now make all my own from recycled materials (old cards, packaging, wrapping paper etc)

Nessa56

ingresman wrote: »

I bought some cheap carpet tiles and tied them to all of our shoes to save wear and tear on the carpet.
I also bought some pit helmets with lamps (well we don't have miners anymore !!) and refuse to have the lighting on except on birthdays or christmas. I've manafed to run a cable to the street light and I charger them when everyones is at school and work.
When it's cold we play igllos and eskimos - keeps everyone amused
And as for toilet rolls , never bought one we just use a sponge and wash carefully.
I know we all have to save money but some of these are a bit far ! (but amusing)

Me thinks someone is being sarcastic :think: :rotfl: :rotfl:

v
x

curlyford

daisy_steiner wrote: »

Well I wrote a great big long list of things we do and I managed to delete it!

*Always use one tea bag for two cups of tea
*We do the squeeze loo roll thing too
*Keep old toothbrushes for fiddly cleaning
*Cut face wipes in half
*Use a tablespoon of white vinegar as fabric conditioner
* Put a teaspoon of borax and hotwater down sinks every few days - unblocks drains, keeps them clear and saves calling a plumber out!
*Always use half the amount of washing powder that is stated on the box
*Use old tin cans to make pretty tea light holders for the garden in the summer - look pretty and you don't mind if they get wrecked in the rain.
*May be taking this a tad too far, but we buy man sized tissues, cut them in half and put them in a pretty box. We can make one box of tissues last over a year and I am allergic to just about everything! And no one knows.
*Turn the oven off for the last five mins of cooking time.
*Use old clothes (boil washed) for cloths
*Always, always, always make stock from chicken bones etc
*If you have left over lemon/lime, cut into little chunks, pop in an ice cube tray, fill with water and if you want lemon/lime in a gin and tonic etc it is very handy and saves buying a new lemon/lime for one drink.


Might have a few more ideas, will come back.

Oh I knew I would remember something:
*If you have any wine left over at the bottom of the bottle (rare in this house) freeze it and pop it when a recipe calls for a splash of wine - saves opening a new bottle.

Hi i thought your idea on the tin can's for the garden was great idea....however after washing out 2 tins i've got a bit stuck of how to decorate them...thought maybe a compass type tool so i could !!!!! lots of holes into it...but any other ideas would be great!!

JAH_2

ingresman wrote: »

I bought some cheap carpet tiles and tied them to all of our shoes to save wear and tear on the carpet.
I also bought some pit helmets with lamps (well we don't have miners anymore !!) and refuse to have the lighting on except on birthdays or christmas. I've manafed to run a cable to the street light and I charger them when everyones is at school and work.
When it's cold we play igllos and eskimos - keeps everyone amused
And as for toilet rolls , never bought one we just use a sponge and wash carefully.
I know we all have to save money but some of these are a bit far ! (but amusing)

Kids think I've lost the plot. Crying with laughter - Thanks!