Sneaky ways to save the pennies

[Deleted User]

Back in the mists of time (1967) cotton wool and water was all we had to use.When my youngest daughter was born in 1969 nappy liners had just come onto the market, and all my friends and I thought they were the best invention ever.I had two dozen Harringtons terry towelling nappies that did for both of my babies, a bucket with Nappiesan powder in it under the sink, and a big black huge saucepan that was used to boil the nappies in on top of the stove every couple of days .I eventually bought a baby burco boiler for nappies and whites that I had for years. I also had a glass scrubbing board that was used everyday for my husbands collars and cuffs.No automatic for me until the late 1970s .Our flat that we lived in in South Norwood had no bathroom, and we shared a toilet with two other families. I had a tiny gas water heater with an arm that went over the butler sink for hot water. I couldn't imagine buying the big packets of nappies that Mums do today I couldn't have afforded it anyway.Times were hard but we managed to get through them I still to this day have four old nappies from those days that I use as polishing cloths for my silver.They are very old and well washed but I couldn't bin them they hold too many memories of my babies when they were small
P.S. I only use one persil capsule in a wash as my clothes are never that dirty and it seems to work just as well as two

[Deleted User]

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Invest oin a bread maker - they can be had for £30-ish now but if you use it rather than buying loaves it will pay for itself in no time. Try to get one with a dough-only setting as then you can also make rolls etc.

Is it worth it for one person, I only ask as I have a breadmaker sitting on top of my cupboard that has been there for about two years and never been used.It was one of my silly buys that I bought with my Sainsburys points and so far haven't tried. I may have a go though if bread keeps going up like it does.I only have a couple of slices a day and would home baked bread freeze well or not .

gunsandbanjos

JackieO wrote: »

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Is it worth it for one person, I only ask as I have a breadmaker sitting on top of my cupboard that has been there for about two years and never been used.It was one of my silly buys that I bought with my Sainsburys points and so far haven't tried. I may have a go though if bread keeps going up like it does.I only have a couple of slices a day and would home baked bread freeze well or not .

I would at least give it a go if i were you. I've not actually tried to freeze my bread(due to a freezer packed full of bargains:D ) However i find my HM bread stays a lot fresher than shop bought stuff. No stale corners etc, my loaves last about 5 days.

Andy_Hamilton

Maria575757 wrote: »

Just wondering, has anyone any idea for a 'recipe' for everyday shower screen cleaner please? At the moment I use Tesco or Sainsbury's and I don't like giving them my money, when I might be able to concoct my own! I also find that the Sainsbury's one isn't good for my chesticles (being asthmatic).

I buy mine from poundland, the mr muscle stuff!

SuziQ

shetitasatic wrote: »

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)

I think this is a terrific idea (although as I split with my hubby recently not much use to me now!)

It reminds me of my parents though. Their Wedding Anniversary is Boxing Day,so obviously it took some planning to make sure the card etc was bought. One Christmas night I find my mum,slightly tipsy (she only drank at Christmas) giggling and rummaging through a cupboard in her bedroom. She triumphantly pulled out the card she had bought my dad the previous year,found a clean envelope and gave me a smug wink.

The next morning,my dad presented her with a beautiful card in a box,which had one of his 'famous poems' in. (my dad would make a little poem or rhyme for me,my sis and mum in every card we got,and until recently he also used to do it for my Children.) He had also bought her a gorgeous solitare diamond ring to replace the very tiny diamond chip and sapphire ring she had for her engagement.

All she had for him was the recyled card-and worst of all, he remembered it from the previous year as there was a spelling mistake in the verse inside. They ended up having a very hurtful row and not speaking again until new years day,Christmas was ruined really for everyone!

Andy_Hamilton

JackieO wrote: »

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Is it worth it for one person, I only ask as I have a breadmaker sitting on top of my cupboard that has been there for about two years and never been used.It was one of my silly buys that I bought with my Sainsburys points and so far haven't tried. I may have a go though if bread keeps going up like it does.I only have a couple of slices a day and would home baked bread freeze well or not .

I make a loaf for around 25p including leccy using lidl bread flour. I then slice it and keep it in a "lock and lock" box. It stays fresh for around 3 days. If I know I'm not going to use the bread I slice it and freeze it in sandwich bags as 2 slices only. When I have to make lunch for work I just pull the frozen ones out and make them the same way as normal but I can't cut them. By lunch they are totally defrosted and keeps the filling cool.
Fresh bread frozen tastes as good after it has been frozen and defrosted.

kippers

My girls love a lolly on Friday after school but it costs over £2 for two lollies from the icecream man.

So I take an old lunchbox (the coolbag type) to school with 2 lollies and an iceblock, when i go to pick them up. I buy the lollies from Aldi/Tesco (the sort that are 10 for 99p).

I take them to school and produce them before we get to the icecream man and my girls are quite happy and the lollies never melt (i live approx 10 mins walk from school).

*Jellie*

Well worth using breadmaker for one. I make pizza bases of right size for one person bake for 5 mins and freeze. Also part bake and freeze ciabatta rolls as well as freezing bread I've made.

EssexHebridean

Hi Jackie

Yes - I'd agree with others that it would be worth you using your breadmaker just for one - I imagine you buy bread anyway, and a loaf can be made SO cheaply in the machine if you're savvy with the ingredients. It's also so much better for you as you control exactly what goes in. The bread freezes brilliantly - you could even just make the dough in the machine then divide it into a couple of "mini loaves" - freeze one and use the other over a couple of days? You could do the same with rolls too - just bake them off then freeze what you don't want to use immediately.

With two of us both taking a sandwich to work each day our loaves don;t last long enough to go off anyhow, but we do occasionally make an extra one and freeze if we know we won't have the time to put the machine on - works a treat!

Uniscots97

Been experimenting with this one to try and reduce the amount of conditioner I use as my hair is very long (ridiculous the amount I was going through). Found if I use a wide toothed comb to distribute the conditioner through my hair (half way down my back now), I can get away with only using a blob the size of a ten pence piece and my hair is still lovely and soft.