Sneaky ways to save the pennies

Lesley_Gaye

Toothsmith wrote: »

I wouldn't agree with the grapefruit thing.

Citrus fruits are acidic, and can cause errosion if eaten too frequently, but having one each breakfast is not excessive. If he was eating oragnges at regular intervals throughout the day, that would be excessive, but a grapefruit for breakfast isn't.

As for mouthwashes, I think her suggestion was quite good. Nowadays though, there isn't much in a mouthwash that's not in toothpaste. The advice I give to patients is just not to rinse out after brushing your teeth. That way, the fluoride and antibacterials are against the tooth surface for much longer - especially at night - and do a lot more good.

I don't think mouthwashes are necessary at all, apart for a few specific conditions, where the use of certain ones over a short period can be helpful.

thanks toothsmith, that's interesting. I think I'll just do the no rinsing thing then, although as ubammother says, don't you need to get rid of the dislodged bits of food?

I take it from your signon name, and your avatar, that you are an expert on teeth in some way?

tim_n

After a good brush my fiance will have a quick swish with mouthwash - it doesn't help with her tooth hygiene but gets rids of the garlic twang from the humous!

debbiemc_2

Hi everyone - newbie here. I've read this thread all the way through and there are some fantastic tips on here, some I have been doing already and others that I will be doing in future!

nickyhutch

Save on loo roll - wee in the shower!

Toothsmith

Lesley_Gaye wrote: »

thanks toothsmith, that's interesting. I think I'll just do the no rinsing thing then, although as ubammother says, don't you need to get rid of the dislodged bits of food?

I take it from your signon name, and your avatar, that you are an expert on teeth in some way?

As you brush your teeth, you generally keep spitting out mouthfuls of froth and bits of food anyway. And even if you rinse afterwards, there still may be a few bits left.

If your mouth is particularly full of 'particles' then give it a good rinse round with a bit of water before you begin toothbrushing.

Toothbrushing is really there to get rid of the smaller plaque deposits rather than half a chicken sandwich that's still there from lunch!

And yes - I'm, a dentist. And No - I don't do any NHS!!

surfsister

mancbird wrote: »

I love this thread! Lots of great ideas so far, I love the one about the brillo pads!

I've been trying to think of the things that I do but I think it's still a bit early in the morning for me! Some of the things we do include:

* Buying a lot of toiletries, groceries, household goods from cheapie shops like Wilkinson's, B & M and Home and Bargain. You can get loads of branded goods for half the price, e.g. shockwaves hair easy endz (which used to be £2 odd in Boots but I haven't seen it anywhere for ages) for 99p, heinz soups 4 for a £1, John West tuna 3 for £1.50 etc
* I do surveys etc for companies such as pinecone and get paid in luncheon vouchers which go towards the weekly shop
* I'm trying to remember to take bags with me when I go food shopping, but I use carriers bags to line my wastepaper bins rather than buying the plastic sacks
* If something I normally buy is on offer, I always buy it in bulk and throw it in the freezer, under the stairs etc until I need it
* We use supermarket own brand fabric softener, washing powder and dishwasher tablets. I only buy the "good" stuff if it's on offer. I tend to be allergic to overly perfumed things (e.g. Surf) and have found that the asda / tesco / morrisons powder doesn't bring me out in an unsightly, itchy rash
* If I'm at the supermarket I always check out the reduced section. If it's freezable I'll get it and stick it in the freezer. Quite often washing powder and dishwasher tablets are reduced if the box is a bit battered too
* I make all my own cards etc rather than buying them. Handmade cards cost about £2-3 in the shops and I make my own (much nicer) cards for a fraction of the cost
* I am an avid reader of magazines and have subscriptions for the ones I buy regularly (I'm trying to wean myself off magazines though!)
* If we're making a curry, spag bol, chilli etc, we use a small amount of meat and put loads of veg, pulses etc to bulk it out. This way it makes enough for two meals so my and my oh can take it to work for lunch the next day
* I used to always use expensive body lotion and make up remover but one of my friends (who has gorgeous skin) told me she just uses baby lotion. I now use Asda's own (Johnson and Johnsons is too perfumed for me!) brand baby lotion and my skin looks better than it has for years and I smell yummy to boot!
* I have quite wild hair that can be a bit frizzy if left to it's own devices but recently I have been using Boot's own brand shampoo and conditioner. It's got coconut in it and has left my hair soft and frizz free
* I joined the library and rather than buying books (even though I got them from charity shops I was still spending a lot of money on books!) I have been getting them from there. The libraries near me are great and have lots of the new releases so you can always get the books you want to read

I think that's it for now but I'll have a think and see if anything else comes to mind!

I think you deserve to have magazines as a reward for all your efforts!! I get mine through Tescos clubcard points so low cost then pass to an elderly friend. Good tip about the boots shampoo which olour is the bottle please? I use alberto balsam coloured hair but they've stopped making it and nothing else suits but will try this one. Ta

Frugalista

Hi, yet another newbie! Have picked up some fantastic tips from this thread - keep posting folks...

My tip is when I go to Azda/Tesco cafe (we take my elderly MIL out shopping at the weekends and she doesn't do many to the gallon these days ) I always grab an extra handful of napkins. Back home - have cut the bottom off a 2 lt milk container, leaving it about 3" tall - napkins fit in there perfectly. Use them to wipe up spills/ wipe butter knife before putting in jam, etc. Saves loads on kitchen towel.

Aril

Out of date diaries [big ones] bought at the end of the sales make very good notebooks. I have one I use specifically for writing down all the recipes I like from the OS board
Aril

sb44

We have a 10 month old puppy who gets a small treat if she comes in from the garden when called.

She is getting better and does come in now, at first she would do about 5 laps of the garden before I could get her in!

Didn't think Lhasa Apsos were that quick.



Anyway, as a treat she is given a small piece of one of those meaty strips from Tesco, 28p for two.

That isn't a bad price but I have just managed to save myself 56p a week (not a lot but it all adds up).

I tried her with a bran flake (don't laugh) and she absolutely loves them.

Now she gets a bran flake instead of a bit of chew.

What a tight mummy!

NewFoundGlory_2

sb44 wrote: »

We have a 10 month old puppy who gets a small treat if she comes in from the garden when called.

She is getting better and does come in now, at first she would do about 5 laps of the garden before I could get her in!

Didn't think Lhasa Apsos were that quick.



Anyway, as a treat she is given a small piece of one of those meaty strips from Tesco, 28p for two.

That isn't a bad price but I have just managed to save myself 56p a week (not a lot but it all adds up).

I tried her with a bran flake (don't laugh) and she absolutely loves them.

Now she gets a bran flake instead of a bit of chew.

What a tight mummy!

Another pet tip kind of...I also talk extra napkins, sugar, sauces etc from cafes etc...anyway I always make sure I take some little pots of cream and I give those to my kitties as treats - they love them!