Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Ches

Olliebeak wrote: »

Anybody remember the days when tins of evap had instructions on the label for diluting it for baby's feeding formula?:eek: How times have changed!

My daughter was reared on this as this was the milk supplied by the maternity hospital during my stay there. She didn't take to dried milk after I returned home and I worried that she wasn't getting enough to eat so I put her back onto the evaporated and she thrived.

sparrer

culpepper wrote: »

I used to buy evaporated milk when the kids were little.
It is cheaper (or was then) than full cream and you can reconstitute it back to full cream by following the instructions on the tin.
OH and I have always drunk UHT skimmed as it has all the goodness of full cream but without the fat content (and ofcourse is cheaper).

It's also higher in calcium than full cream milk, so better for you in more ways than one

happytails

When your hungry drink a glass of water before eating anything - your body will not need as much food as you think. Saving you money as not piling your plate up.

We love chocolate milkshakes but buying Crusha or any other brand name is expensive. Try ice cream and milk in your blender - its colder too

Some old dark/coloured clothes can be put in with the lights to bulk up your washing if your machine isnt going to be full enough.

If you cant live without your tumble dryer, try this! air dry your clothes and bang them in the dryer for 5 minutes to get the softness back - great for towels and great for your electricity bill!

Use bicarb on your carpets instead of shake n vac. Sprinkle on and leave for 5-10mins and hoover up - not hiding the odours with fragrance but getting rid of odour altogether :T

Dogs drinking water - put a few drops of vinegar in the water bowl (gradually introduce it) as this is a natural flea repellant and helps keep coat healthy. Cuts the cost of regularly buying flea treatments.

Instead of using Jeyes Fluid or similar to clean your patio/driveway use thin bleach, scrub with a stiff bristle brush and hose down. great for disinfecting if you have dogs! Just make sure animals down walk on it or lick floor until dry.

Use old towels to line dog beds - easier to keep clean than the actual bed, and good if your dog lays on bed slightly damp

When your dishcloth is ready for the bin put it in with your next clothes wash and Bingo! a nice clean germ-free cloth to use.

Asda Smart price spaghetti hoops are a must to add to a childs plate (or adults :rolleyes:) and less than 20p tin - helps fill up the plate and is tasty too! (much better than Heinz)

Thats all i can think of for now

queen_of_string

I find I spend less if I go to a smaller supermarket. MrT extra is fatal, all those lovely things to spend on. Smaller supermarket means I buy what I actually need and they have better whoopsies too.

Always make stock from the chicken carcass and use the green leaves from the outside of a cauli as an extra veg or the next day in a stir fry.

maryb

I always use Pitrock as well mainly because I am allergic to conventional deodorants and Pitrock doesn't irritate my skin. People look a bit askance at you if you scratch your armpits furiously!!!
I agree it isn't quite up to the job on very hot days. What I do in high summer is to use Triple Dry which you don't have to use every day as it keeps you dry for about half a week with one application - I seem to be able to get away with just using it every few days. I've had one roll-on for about two years now so very economical.

And OH would soon let me know if it didn't work - no secrets between us on that score!

EssexHebridean

If you're making a stew or casserole throw in a handful of pearl barley and a handful of oatmeal - they both bulk it out a bit and the oatmeal thickens too - you might find you don;t need any cornflour or anything else to thicken! Also, both are cheap as chips!

If making a sausage casserole, make the sausages appear more plentiful by grabbing each one around the middle and squeezing it a bit until you can twist it into two, smaller sausages. cut them apart and bingo - a sausage in every ladleful! (Or so the kids will think!)

wendywitch

"Dogs drinking water - put a few drops of vinegar in the water bowl (gradually introduce it) as this is a natural flea repellant and helps keep coat healthy. Cuts the cost of regularly buying flea treatments."

Would this work on cats too?

angelfairy

EssexHebridean wrote: »

If you're making a stew or casserole throw in a handful of pearl barley and a handful of oatmeal - they both bulk it out a bit and the oatmeal thickens too - you might find you don;t need any cornflour or anything else to thicken! Also, both are cheap as chips!

quote]

Does this work if you are using a slow cooker??? i never seem to be able to thicken up the sauce from the meat

trying-very-trying

beccaoz wrote: »

EssexHebridean wrote: »

If you're making a stew or casserole throw in a handful of pearl barley and a handful of oatmeal - they both bulk it out a bit and the oatmeal thickens too - you might find you don;t need any cornflour or anything else to thicken! Also, both are cheap as chips!quote]
Does this work if you are using a slow cooker??? i never seem to be able to thicken up the sauce from the meat

It should do, it'll just absorb the juices slowly swelling the cereal. Another good tip I found from this forum was adding instant mashed potato powder near the end of cooking to thicken up the gravy in the slow cooker.

Yategirl

maryb wrote: »

I always use Pitrock as well mainly because I am allergic to conventional deodorants and Pitrock doesn't irritate my skin. People look a bit askance at you if you scratch your armpits furiously!!!
I agree it isn't quite up to the job on very hot days. What I do in high summer is to use Triple Dry which you don't have to use every day as it keeps you dry for about half a week with one application - I seem to be able to get away with just using it every few days. I've had one roll-on for about two years now so very economical.

And OH would soon let me know if it didn't work - no secrets between us on that score!

I tried pitrock but for me it was no good... I felt constantly smelly (and convential deodrants were just as unsuccessful) but I persevered with "alternatives" and now use bicarb of soda all year round with great success! Just dust a pinch under each arm as you get dressed! Once a day application! It doesn't stop sweating but it does stop the bacteria which live under your armpits off the sweat from smelling. However, having said that... I don't feel I get damp and sticky like I used to using convential deodrants.

Bicarb is cheap to buy - you can buy it in bulk (and use it for cleaning too!)