Which thrifty thing do you do that you're surprised that no one else does?

[Sizeofalentil]

Basically, that

I'm always surprised when people don't bulk buy things (toilet paper, store cupboard staples etc) or only buy name brands. How much tastier can a posh tinned tomato really be?

Dh is mortified when I reuse bath water to water the plants or make my own cleaning cloths from old pants. But he does love a charity shop bargain (most of his coats are from there).

What are your favourite thrifty tips or what thrifty things are you surprised that other people don't do?

I have (and use) a credit card, but also have a direct debit to pay it off in full monthly. And it gives me cashback, so they are paying me to have it.

I am frugal in many things, but I think they've all been mentioned above. And thank you for all the other tips. It is MUCH better than being in debt.

Ahh a food bag
I’d say Either disposable single use or reusable bag

We never throw food away, I freeze virtually anything. It makes the freezer a veritable treasure trove of randomness but saves a packet. I make most things from scratch. My parents have been using old Christmas cards as gift labels for the last 300 years and newspaper for inner layers of pass the parcel so they seem very obvious things to do.
And I don't buy branded food. My husband has finally realised that I don't and was amazed that the Heinz beans and mcvities hob nobs were nowhere near as nice as the own brand ones. Hurrah!

I don’t buy or use fabric conditioner, cling film or paper towel and I always look on eBay for the clothes / things for the kids that I’m buying. I don’t like to buy anything full price (again clothes etc) and will stock up on things like paracetamol etc when I go past Aldi or B&M. Going to them specially costs extra petrol though so negates any savings.

Brand names. I never understand why. They don’t taste any difference. And if they did within a week you wouldn’t be able to tell.

I have to call BS on this but then maybe my taste buds are more sensitive. Own brand salad cream, Diet Coke, ketchup, bread.....ick! I pay more for the brands as it's TOTALLY worth it. Even M&S bread is dire. Hovis all the way!

Of course some brands taste nicer,that’s why they’re popular
IMO.Heinz beans Heinz HP and ketchup,Hellman Mayo are all superior to own brands
I love a bargain but no I’ll not eke out a teabag with multiple use.
I will say Waitrose own brand wheat biscuits imo are same as weetabix

I pay with coppers, silver, etc.

I use fairy liquid in the bathroom. Works a treat and lasts forever.

I cannot understand people who don’t use libraries especially when they have children. Do people seriously buy all the books their children need to increase their reading abilities? I’d be totally broke. The books in libraries are fab and often have free reservations so you can get the latest books or the next one in a series. Also libraries often have services you don’t expect like online driving theory tests, encyclopaedias online.
My local library service has free online magazines including Cosmo, Red, Empire, TV Times, Good Housekeeping, Easycook, BBC Food, Autosport, Horrible Histories, Lonely Planet, plus about 30 more. I love using them on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I use old leggings and tops/T-shirts (past their best, saggy necklines, small holes etc) as pyjamas.

I wear underwear with small holes in, until the holes get too big

I once made a doll's dress out of a sock with the holey toe cut off.

I bulk buy as much as space allows. opening our understairs cupboard is a hazardous sport!

We buy a few brands we can't let go of - diet coke, ribena, marmite, whole eart peanut butter. I wouldn't buy stuff we couldn't afford.

Yes to using a long spoon/ spatula to clean out pb, mayo, jam jars etc.

I buy the ikea food bags and unless they are irretrievable after use, wash them thoroughly, hand up to dry and reuse. Most last 10-20 uses. This tiny thing makes me feel great.

I clip it everything that is open. Proper sealing up makes food last much longer.

We buy our furniture from gumtree... £75 for a huge L sofa, £50 for a double loft bed, £3 for 5 extension cables, £100 for rattan sofa set for outside etc etc

To keep summer shoes worn with no tights or socks fresh smelling I squirt some bathroom or kitchen cleaner inside and give them a rub with some loo roll or kitchen roll. Seems to work. Saves buying news shoes.

I put all sorts of things on their last legs into the dishwasher. When I cleaned out the shed the kids’ old beach toys were very down at heel. Into the dishwasher they went and came up like new.

I also found some old and nearly rusting metal chairs, a parasol base, a metal table and some plant holders. I bought a small tin of Hammerite paint ( very expensive, £10) and painted them all gloss black. They came up gorgeously. I also covered the tatty, stained old garden cushions with a John Lewis end-of-line-bin linen fabric and they came up beautifully too. It looked like a new and high end garden patio set and I had many compliments.

In the winter I turn the heating off about 1 1/2 hours before we go to bed and the residual heat is fine. When I cook I turn oven off 5 mins before food is cooked and residual heat finishes off cooking meal. I cut up old sheets and use as dusters to polish up windows. I take a flask of coffee if we take child to play cricket/football instead of buying two cups each. Child takes reusable water container. In summer when taking child to beach I tend to go to one that does not have amusements too, just sand, sea and a loo, that way child does not nag to spend lots of cash. I take a picnic too. I have a sim only card on my phone and only pay £10 per month for unlimited calls, text and 8gb data which is enough for me away from home as at home i use household data. I read the newspaper each day online so no longer buy one. I use top cash back. I bank with Lloyds bank both personal and joint accounts and get 6 pairs of free cinema tickets with each account each year which I give to kids. I make pasta salad for dh to take to work and he tells me colleagues spend about £2 for a small pot full. In the winter I make homemade vegetable soup, leek & potato and lentil and tomato every week for dh to take to work. Salt and herbs are very cheap in France so when on holiday I bring loads home, also spices form Turkey. I breastfed all 3 of my children.

I live in a fairly small 2 bedroom flat and have room to bulk buy if needed. It doesn't need a whole bloody room.
I don't care what people think but I don't flush after every wee, I just flush every other. Don't think it saves money but saves water.

We are becoming more and more ‘thrifty’ and I can see the benefit. We have bought bigger packets of rice and pasta and cleaned out old dolmio jars and jam jars so they are stored air tight. We bully buy toilet roll. We use our clothes that don’t fit but are good quality to make gift bags, we used Pringle tubes as concrete candle moulds. We’ve saved loads on the kiddies pack lunches by making our own beeswax wraps, reducing cling film. We’ve also bought them aluminium double walled bottles instead of fruit shoots. We meal plan, we go through our cupboards to see what needs to be used. We used shampoo bars. We used apple cider vinegar rinse instead of condition (this one saves a fortune!). When our current ‘bought’ products have run out we will make our own make up remover, bath bombs, house cleaner, room sprays, everything. Less chemicals and cheaper.
Doing my own gel nails has saved an absolute fortune and will save even more when my daughter is older and wants her doing.

Going back to bar soap is a major saving. They are very cheap, even posh ones and last ages. Less plastic waste. The only downside is the soapy residue left in sinks and shower doors. It’s not bad enough to stop me though so long as they’re cleaned weekly.

Forgot we make our own bread when we have time. We only going to the cinema with a voucher and we have stopped buying shit we don’t need - that’s a huge one. Being more minimalist has saved so much money but also saved a hell of a lot of cleaning time.

I keep butter wrappers to grease cake tins. My Mum used to do this and I think of her when I do it.

Oh and have gone back to flannels and hot water to remove makeup at night. I started after getting a Liz Earle muslin cloth with her cleanser. When it ran out I carried on and found it worked just as well with hot water. Really nice exfoliating effect too. No need for wipes or cleansers.

I save the water I've boiled eggs in & when it's cooled off I put it in the bird bath. I'm in Australia and we have water restrictions sometimes.

When I buy bananas I don't put them in a plastic bag, I just chuck them in my trolley, I am always surprised when I see people using a plastic bag for this. They already have a protective coating - their skin.

My mum still keeps butter papers too!

I use Pressreader for all magazines & newspapers WORLDWIDE! It's all totally free with a library card. And all the back issues too! I read my favourites and shite like Now, Closer etc...

I used to use my library when chn were younger but lately they don’t have the books I want to read. It’s been reduced in size and is now mainly a computer room!

I re use gift bags if they’re ok, bulk buy, use charity shops, car boot sales, jumble sales & eBay for clothes & furniture, take my own lunch to work, make rag rugs and occasionally make bread. I also use Waitrose, Made.com & other similar shops. I just feel it balances out really. 👍

I make a few Xmas decorations with children. I save Xmas cards and cut them up with pinking shears to make gift tags by punching hole in and threading through with silver twine. They are pretty and the kids like making them with me. I cut a few sprigs of trees from garden and spray with silver and gold spray paint and put in vase with holly I pick from our garden. I encourage children to plant a hyacinth in little flower pot they paint and glitter up themselves as a gift for granny.

Talking of Christmas decs. When out with my dog last week I filled 3 dog poo bags(biodegradeable of course) with pine cones. I normally collect in autumn but they were in much better condition and open and dry.