Help need your money saving tips to help survive - you guessed it - the credit crunch (and can anyone think of another name for the credit crunch while we're at it?)

you don't need fabric softener at all.

if you do feel the need for it, put a scoop full (use the scoop from your washing powder) of white vinegar and add a few drops of whatever essential oil you like and put it in fabric softener drawer.

my other tip is hot drinks - instead of turning up the heat. doesn't have to be caffeinated beverages. sipping hot herbal tea warms you up and tops up your fluid intake.

keep non-perishable snacks and juice boxes/pouches in a hard-shelled container in your car instead of nipping into a shop when the kids nag you for snacks or you fancy a quick sugar rush.

Clean your own oven.

Do your own ironing.

Also cut down on the number of nights per week you eat meat- we only have meat meals two or three nights per week and it does save loads of money.

Second all those who say meal plan, too.

Buy Christmas decorations, wrapping paper, presents etc. in the January sales- we never buy crackers and suchlike full price.

I buy generic presents and cards whenever I see them on sale, and I no longer have to rush out and spend £10 on a present for a child's party. Given that there is a party every other weekend when they are little it really saves a lot of money. I saw Barbie dolls for 99p in Sainsbury's the other day and bought three of them as I know they will come in handy for birthday parties.
I have a big present box which I keep all these things in under our bed.

And for petrol- don't fill your tank up fully unless going on a long journey- I never put more than £20 worth in at a time and although I have to fill up more often it serves to save money in two ways- firstly I am more economical with journeys if I know I have not got a full tank, and also if you have a full tank the weight of the fuel actually decreases fuel economy.

We have a nice fleece blanket tucked down by the sofa- if you get cold while watching TV it's easier to pop that on instead of turning heating on.

Also, I believe it is cheaper to have the heating on all the time on a low level than to keep reheating it from cold, say twice a day. But that might only work if you have a combi boiler.

the Dearer Era

ok, no tips from me, so here are a few rebranding suggestions, as i too am bored of Credit Crunch...

the Save Wave
the Brassic Age
the No-Dime Time
the Dearer Era

Number one tip - buy nothing until you have saved the cash.

Forget about a sat nav - use a map.

Ditch all delusions about the 'dream home'. As long as it works reasonably well, don't replace it.

Meat should be expensive. Eat vegetables and pulses.

Instead of shopping being your number one past-time, try walking in some of the deserted woods/beaches/hills right next to you.

what do u use instead of fabric softner then?

stop expensive afterschool clubs and do your own thing with the dcs mates
so instead of forking out a fiver a week on footie club get the dh's to take it in turns taking the kids to the park for footie practice

We have saved loads of money by getting the milk delivered in the mornings- just think of the countless times you nip out for a pint of milk and find yourself returning with £20-£30 worth of stuff you don't really need.

Plus we don't run out of milk anymore!

Accept that exchanging christmas presents with other adults is a waste of money and usually results in unwanted goods stored in the attic. Agree with all family/friends that to buy presents for the under 18s only (and set a price limit).

Stop freecycling and sell your stuff on Ebay.

Never buy online without finding a discount code first.

Threaten to leave your mobile phone provider until they offer a better deal.

Buy kids clothes that are a size too big.

Go on a diet.

For me it's online grocery shopping. I spend a fortune if we actually have to go into a shop - yes even Aldi or Lidl.
I also bought a few fleecy blankets in primark and have been using them the past few nights to sit under and watch TV, use a hot water bottle if it's really cold
Switch lights off - my Dses are terrible for having every light in the house on at times. I walk back form work- if my health allows it - 2 days a week.
Unfortunately DH needs to take the car for work every day, so we use a lot of petrol

Before you buy ANYTHING ask yourself "Do I really need this?" You almost certainly don't.

Even children's birthdays can be done cheaply with some imagination: one year we gave ds homemade cards, which dh had designed to look like Yu Gi Oh cards, and they allowed ds to produce a card to get things like 'an instant bar of chocolate' or 'get out of making your packed lunch' or 'an hour of Playstation' or 'mumsnet banished' - which meant when he produced it I had to get off mumsnet IMMEDIATELY and do something ds wanted me to do. Went down really well as it gave him control over all sorts of nice treats.

His party was a treasure hunt and we made up the clues, designed the map, hid clues all over town and buried chocolate coins at the end of it. After hot dogs and cake they went home and I reckon the whole thing cost about £20, including food, for about 15 boys.

I also get my SIL to cut my hair - £40 every 6 weeks saved

Expat, I just came on to say ditch the fabric softner! You just don't need it do you?!

move to the middle of nowhere.

no costas, takeaways, restaurants or shops to drop a few quid.

the only shop near here is a Premier attached to the petrol garage, and the publications they usually have on offer are motoring or farming mags and the Scottish Sun.

if you fancy a bevvie, i hope you like lager in a can, FuckBuckfast or cheap whisky .

needless to say, it's easy to keep your money in your pocket.

Cappucino - I do have a milk frother! And I buy the Starbucks vanilla syrup as well

I agree about he coffee actually - Costa Coffee is nicer

LOL @ spending more in timpsons than shoe shops! NOT ME! I LOVE new shoes!

I would second the grow your own herbs and veg
Menu plan
Use a slow cooker
Bulk buy and share with family or friends
Hold a swap clothes event with freinds or family (IOt shoes I am getting old when I managed to swop some stuff with my mum)
Blankets on beds - inc the childrens.
Lovley throws, again even for the children they love snuggling up on them
Aldi and Lidl
Make christmas presents
Check all insurance policies and utilities
No takeways
Use student nights for haircuts
contact the local colledge regarding beauty treatments.
Buy eggs and potatoes from the farmer
make your own bread - get all those hardlu used machines out of the loft
buy own brands

I know the Sunday Times won't use this idea but stop buying papers and magazines. You will be surprised how much you can save. We are saving £10 a week on this alone.

Plan your meals and write a shopping list. Then you will not be tempted by all the crap at the supermarket.

If you are cold put a jumper on. Save the heating for when it is freezing.

Cancel Sky and stick to Freeview.

If Xmas is going to be a struggle then tell all the adults you would normally buy for that you are skint this year and that you cannot get them a pressie. They will understand. You could always make them certificates offering to babysit for them or mow their lawn.

Try not to use the tumble dryer.

Keep a money diary. You will be surprised what you waste money on. Normally the guilty culprit is all those coffees at Costas.

i dilute washing powder with washing soda crystals. a couple of scoops of soda crystals cuts back on the amount of powder we use and boosts stain removal.

forgo the fabric softener, too.

buy kids clothes one size bigger than they need so they last twice as long
Use bibs or napkins round necks while eating, it really cuts down on washing.
Only wash clothes when they need it rather than after every wear, the clothes last longer and it's better for the environment too. It is also less work.

i have, Spandex , and this is cold, dark placeu p here. even now the nights are drawing in.

i've always been a candle freak. i remember one time, whilst living in Denver, there was a blackout, so i lit all the candles in my living room. there were 41!

IKEA is quite far from us, so we go once a year.

next week is our big trip!

we do savings stamps for our car tax. it doesn't cost any less, but it spreads the cost around so that you don't find yourself hit with a big bill at car tax time.

READ your bank statements! they can reveal ways in which you might be frittering money away needlessly.

expat - i'm assuming you have loads of candles instead of lights on?

e&h - yes they're fab arn't they the stamps - even got DB doing it! - he seemed amazed when i reeled off a load of money saving tips to him!!!

also he was amazed by buying own brands he says he's saved about £45.00. i'm not sure he's ready for value stuff yet thou!

grow your own herbs - not much space needed and much cheaper than buying packs of fresh herbs in the supermarket

brew your own wine and beer