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Sneaky ways to save the pennies

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  • consultant31
    consultant31 Posts: 4,814 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Cut your spuds smaller, esp. if you are mashing, can get away with bringing to boil and leaving on warm stove for a while. Have a piggy and boil peelings, small spuds and veg scraps up for her dinner. Also, put the lid on to bring to boil - close the steam outlet on the lid, boils quicker!! Even more saving! Saving on bacon too when piggy farrows!

    We have several big guard dogs who are fed on all the peelings from our kitchen (and my daughters) mixed with their meat and biscuits. Makes their food go much further and they have the shiniest coats imaginable.
    I let my mind wander and it never came back!
  • I do the 'filling the flask up when you boil a kettle' but I fill the flask up just before I leave work and then use it when I get home. I also charge my phone and computer at work (I do use them both for work purposes so it doesn't feel like cheating).

    I always take home the fruit/chocolate/cookies/cakes etc. you are provided with at conferences etc. I don't eat at the breaks as you usually get a good lunch, but it means I don't have to spend money on an after-school snack for my daughter.

    I always ask for takeout boxes if we have leftovers in a restaurant.
  • Just thought of another one. If I'm listening to the radio and on my laptop, I make sure I turn off the separate radio and listen via the laptop.
  • ...and another one. When booking a holiday, I make sure I book somewhere with FREE wireless internet. This way I can keep in touch by email, rather than phone, for free.
  • Aril
    Aril Posts: 1,877 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks for all the tips so far. I use petroleum jelly both under lipstick to keep my lips from drying out and to remove my eye make up at night time. I've done this since I was 14 and at 41 people still comment on how young I look.
    I know if you're on a very tight budget alcohol is out of the questions but for those of us who buy a bottle of vino a week I've just swapped to drinking cider and buying cans which OH and I split. The savings are significant and because it's not a bottle I'm not so inclined to drink it as fast to stop it from going flat:D
    Aril
    Aiming for a life of elegant frugality wearing a new-to-me silk shirt rather than one of hair!
  • missphant
    missphant Posts: 5 Forumite
    hi, i've been out of the loop for ages on this site and have just spent a good while working through this thread... it's brilliant!! thank you so much for the time you've all spent putting on great tips and i shall endeavour to return the favour

    I don't think I recall seeing it on here yet but something i do every now and again is log onto google, then type in words like 'free samples' or 'free stuff' and click on some of the sites that brings up... have received all sorts of freebies in the post ranging from perfume samples, to shower gel, to tea bags...
  • H_R_Smudger
    H_R_Smudger Posts: 7 Forumite
    beedeedee wrote: »
    Squeeze a loo roll into an oval shape. It doesn't rollout so easily - and kids tend not to use yards at a time!
    Hey I am definatley going to try that trick we seem to go through 1 toilet roll a day especially at weekends with 6 of us!
  • nannaC
    nannaC Posts: 469 Forumite
    Maybe one could save all the little end bits of candles. Then, put them in the jar and melt in the microwave. Suspend a wick into the melted wax from a pencil across the top.... where does one get wicks, anyway?

    Hi, for wicks you can use string, first dip it into the melted wax to coat it run it through your fingers and leave to set. Re melting wax in the microwave, I am sure this is a no no as it is highly flamable and will easily set alight. Best way is to put it into a bowl over a pan of hot water [like melting chocolate] but again keep your eyes on it. Used to melt down all the little ends of soap this way too then put the melted soap into little cake tins [you can always add a few drops of scented oil if you have any].
  • mrs_pokemon
    mrs_pokemon Posts: 36 Forumite
    Squashing the loo rolls is such a great idea.It has stopped my 3 year old from putting a roll down the toilet every time he goes.:D
    £2 saved for every 1lb lost.:D(starting now)
  • helenhugs
    helenhugs Posts: 1,149 Forumite
    I love this thread. some fab ideas. A lot i never think of as moneysaving, like getting the last bit out of the jar by adding a dash of water & swishing round.
    I'm just tight, well thats what hubby says lol. I admit i've been squishing the toilet rolls recently & have noticed a slight difference. The children still manage to use a couple of handfuls for a tiny wee but I'll work on it.
    Lights are all energy saving & I'm another who frequently walks around in darkness rather than putting a light on lol. doesn't work in the winter with the children though, apparently we need every single light in the house on :?
    Mooncups are a fantastic invention & I admit I also use washable sanitary towels/panty liners which i bought online but I'll be making some of my own soon.
    Keep the tips coming its great to read.
    Hugs
    Helen
    We don't need to do it perfectly - good enough is exactly that GOOD ENOUGH.
    Good Enough Club member number 8
    :j £2 coin club = now in a sealed tin so I'm not sure
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