Hello i'm new here. Can I make a cheeky request?

brokeinwales

Hmm - I have some lavender oil somewhere, I may try that. Will "baking soda" work as well as bicarb? Is it the same thing?

RE: the pasta maker - is that really cheaper than buying dried? If so I'd love one! Can you make wholemeal pasta just using wholemeal flour, because most of the recipes seem to say to use semolina.?

moanymoany

I buy Tesco value whole tomatoes after having three tins of chopped with just juice! If you blitz them with a hand held - or whatever - they make passable passata.

I like haricot beans and it seems as much effort to soak and cook the whole pack as a 'portion'. I then freeze them in 100gs per person portions. They thaw really well.

I think that the value red kidney beans are so cheap it's not worth the soaking and cooking. I also use the liquid out of the tin as it has a lovely 'beaney' taste and is a shame to waste it.

A sack of spuds can prove economical.

It could prove worthwhile to take a trip to a large Chinese supermarket like Wing Yip - if it is within a reasonable distance. Then you could stock up on your faves. Also check out Lidle type supermarkets. We have to go to a neighbouring town, but they have cheap laundry products and it is worth stocking up.

Get a little value notebook from Tesco and compare prices of items wherever you go. If you go to Lidle's you need to know what the equivalent costs you at Tesco.

I do my shopping online and it saves me loads - check the Tesco codes on the forums, last shop I saved £12. The Tesco liquid washing powder - iyswim - is good. If I'm washing on a low temperature I have dissolved the value powder before now.

Try the brand below for some of your branded items. The Tesco 8pence noodles are really good. I never use the flavourings as I don't like them.

You can make 'no knead' bread http://steamykitchen.com/blog/2007/09/10/no-knead-bread-revisited/

http://www.deliaonline.com/cookery-school/how-to/how-to-make-wholemeal-bread,19,AR.html

Home made bread is cheaper. If I can get Dove flour at 60p a big bag it is even cheaper.

ceridwen

weezl74 wrote: »

razra, I like your suggestions, also wanted to add: icing sugar sweets flavoured with a little peppermint essence are a tenth of the price of a polo mint.:eek:

kitchen cleaner spray, I've has a bottle of stardrops for 8 months now, was 68p, use it in a diluted spreay gun, and have cleaned kitchen and bathroon with it once or twice a week, still over half left!:j

Mix bicarb of soda with mormal cheapy toothpaste for the same effect. I used a washed out jar that has contained eye cream, mixed the two, and now dip the bristles in that before brushing.:o

Hope these help!;)

Weezl x

At this rate I think we may just be holding a "competition" (friendly variety of course) to see if there IS anyone out there who can beat our Weezl at budget living!:D

ceridwen

Willowx wrote: »

Whole tinned tomatoes may be slight more expensive per tin but by weight you normally get more than the chopped ones. They are easy enough to chop with a sharp knife while still in the tin if you need them chopped.

Me - I use kitchen scissors for chopping canned tomatoes in their can. Would think thats easier than trying to do so with a knife.

mophead

Hmm - I have some lavender oil somewhere, I may try that. Will "baking soda" work as well as bicarb? Is it the same thing?

Hi baking soda is the same thing, but baking powder is a mix of bi-carb(baking soda) cream of tartar and sodium aluminum sulphate with some cornstarch.

brokeinwales

I just had to say - from a newbie - I've spent the past couple of days following up all your links and reading the old style board. I never realise dthere was so much here! I almost don't know where to start!

brummiebabe

I think a good place for you to start would be to join the May Grocery challenge (when it starts shortly!) Say if you spend £150 per month normally - your own challenge could be to cut this to £130 for May. You could then try some of the things suggested to you here - and see how you get on!!

The people on the grocery challenge are really friendly & helpful (as are most on MSE;) ) - you can post regularly to update your spending & post a running total in your signature - it all helps to keep you motivated!!!!

Hopefully I'll see you on there - I've missed a month or two due to life generally getting in the way but really need the challenge now - to stop my over spending!!:cool:

purpleivy

weezl74 wrote: »

razra, I like your suggestions, also wanted to add: icing sugar sweets flavoured with a little peppermint essence are a tenth of the price of a polo mint.:eek:

kitchen cleaner spray, I've has a bottle of stardrops for 8 months now, was 68p, use it in a diluted spreay gun, and have cleaned kitchen and bathroon with it once or twice a week, still over half left!:j

Mix bicarb of soda with mormal cheapy toothpaste for the same effect. I used a washed out jar that has contained eye cream, mixed the two, and now dip the bristles in that before brushing.:o

Hope these help!;)

Weezl x

I'm still on my first bottle of stardrops, which I dilute with water and vinegar in equal measures. It's a great cleaner!

Kaz2904

How about getting a jar of boullion (SP?) instead of stock cubes? It doesn't have MSG in it and can work out cheaper as you only use what you want rather than a whole cube at a time.

brokeinwales

Kaz2904 wrote: »

How about getting a jar of boullion (SP?) instead of stock cubes? It doesn't have MSG in it and can work out cheaper as you only use what you want rather than a whole cube at a time.

Ah yes - I tried that once, went back to cubes for the same reason I use laundry tablets instead of liquid, and bottled wine instead of boxes - my OH has no sense of portion control! Thanks for the suggestion though.