What’s something you buy which is cheap/basic that is really good?

[Earbogeys]

Mine is bars of unscented soap from (predictably) Aldi, and also Waitrose own salt and vinegar crisps.

What gems are in your life?

Bacteria feeds on cornflour. You are better off using talcum powder.

I wouldn't go anywhere near talcum powder. Isn't it dangerous?

@Lampzade

Astral moisturiser. I have extremely dry skin and used to pay a fortune for expensive ‘ hydrating’ lotions. Most were crap Started using astral and my skin looks great. May not work for everyone, but it worked for me.

Do you mean dry skin on your face or body? I need something really hydrating for face but not sure if astral is good for face?

@whatnumber

Bacteria feeds on cornflour. You are better off using talcum powder.

I wouldn't go anywhere near talcum powder. Isn't it dangerous?

I think talc is only dodgy on your neither regions. Makes its way upwards to your ovaries I think I read. Its fine for feet, under boobs, armpits etc.

I have ridiculously sensitive skin and eyes, the only moisturiser I can use that doesn't give me spots, rashes and puffy eyes is a Nivea sensitive one with spf from Savers/Poundland etc for £2-2.50.
Nivea Cashmere shower gel for £1 is the only one that doesn't dry out my skin.
Poundland gel nail varnish for £1.50 is as good as all other gel nail varnishes.
Essence make up from Wilko is very good.
Aldi pasta sauce and pasta bake jars are nicer than Dolmio and Homepride for about a third of the price.

@Blossomandbee

I have ridiculously sensitive skin and eyes, the only moisturiser I can use that doesn't give me spots, rashes and puffy eyes is a Nivea sensitive one with spf from Savers/Poundland etc for £2-2.50. Nivea Cashmere shower gel for £1 is the only one that doesn't dry out my skin. Poundland gel nail varnish for £1.50 is as good as all other gel nail varnishes. Essence make up from Wilko is very good. Aldi pasta sauce and pasta bake jars are nicer than Dolmio and Homepride for about a third of the price.

Poundland nail varnish is really good. We have loads of different brands here it's no different.

@whatnumber

Bacteria feeds on cornflour. You are better off using talcum powder.

I wouldn't go anywhere near talcum powder. Isn't it dangerous?

Only if you put it on your fanjo. It's not dangerous in general

Take talc to the beach. I used to say baby powder but imperial leather my god it's amazing. Use it to remove sand before you get in the car. Cheap and extremely effective. That's the only purpose of talc in our family

@BertieBotts

A rice cooker. Cost about £20 but it's saved me hundreds in replaced burnt on pans/time scrubbing them plus we actually eat rice regularly which has saved money because rice is cheaper than oven chips or whatever else we would have had with the food instead.

I've always had trouble cooking rice, so a couple of years ago I bought a small rice cooker. Absolutely worth it.

Why

I like using shampoo and conditioner bars from KinKind. One shampoo bar lasts at last 50 washes, and price per wash is lower than an average liquid shampoo.

As I have psoriasis on the scalp, I had been looking for a soothing shampoo without the problematic chemicals like SLS, etc. And this one does the job. Cleans well, lathers nicely and my scalp is the best it's been for ages. Last time I looked, Lush shampoo bars contained SLS, so were not an option for me.

In fact, I switched over to using bar soap for the body as well. I like Lux, cheap, smells nice, lathers well, lasts for ages, and no harsh chemicals.

@Madmoose

Why

Why do I use a rice cooker?

Uses less energy, no more burnt pans that need either throwing away or hours of scrubbing, and it cooks properly with the right amount of fluffiness.

Microwave rice cookers are brilliant there is no waste

I always wash the rice in very hot water for a few minutes. You will use less rice as it separate more (my family is south asian rice isn’t as sticky as Chinese rice)

Just add enough water to cover the rice by about 1/2 cm cook for six minutes then stir it may need a few minutes longer and sometimes a bit more water (a few table spoons)

It takes practise and different packets of rice may need slightly longer or less time and always basmati

I love Dr Bronners Castille soap too - you can buy it from Holland and Barrett and Ocado. They also do a great lavender scented hand sanitiser.

Nivea in shower moisturiser is great too just slap it on, rinse briefly and towel dry. I use it with Palmers Cocoa Butter body scrub and the combination of the tow smells really nice.

Also Emma Bridgewater True Love and Roses diffuser smells amazing, is long lasting if you turn the reeds and is a lot cheaper than the likes of Jo Malone Red Roses.

@betwixtlives Astral is for your face but also good on body as it’s quite rich. I used it last night on my face and was all absorbed this morning. My dry feet are loving it.

The library. Free books, what's not to love!

Also dispersible aspirin as a face scrub or mask. Salicylic acid for 20p.

Another one here who loves my rice cooker. All the people who say "just cook it in a pan" - if I stir it turns to mush, if I don't stir, it sticks to the bottom of the pan, ruins the pan and you lose half the rice. I've tried microwaving it in a regular bowl but even the biggest bowl it always boils over and covers the microwave in rice water. Rice cooker cooks all the rice perfectly, no boiling over, nothing sticks to it, chuck it in the dishwasher.

Value brand baking ingredients and a few easy recipes.

Being frugal means that sweet treats are the first to go.but fast breads like sodabread or griddle cakes (no need for a trip to the shops), simple cakes and biscuits cost pennies to make and fill the need for something sweet.
I usually make them when there’s something else in the oven and freeze them fresh for another day.

@pastypirate

Take talc to the beach. I used to say baby powder but imperial leather my god it's amazing. Use it to remove sand before you get in the car. Cheap and extremely effective. That's the only purpose of talc in our family

Great tip, I'm going to take some in holiday.

@Alwaystheplusone

IKEA garlic press - the best I’ve ever used

Yep, mines 15 years old and still going strong!

I gave up on garlic presses when last one broke. I now grate it on a mini grater. Mines a Nigella one I got over 15 years ago. The handle is broken but I use that thing all the time to grate garlic and frozen ginger.

I gave up on fresh garlic. Lazy garlic all the way here.

@KurtWilde

Is it only me who thinks this thread has been a wealth of handy money savings tips and belongs in classics?

It's not just you... seriously brilliant thread. Already filled a couple of pages in my notebook.

I was looking for rice in M&s and ended up buying 'ordinary' long grain rice as I dont know/ can't see the difference between that and Basmati rice. It looks the same. I figured out that the smaller grained rice is for rice pudding but other than that, I've no idea which rice to use for what dishes. Hopefully, some ladies in here will be able to tell me as you're from across the globe.

I am hesitating to share incase it’s stopped but the Aldi Toilet paper, the Four ply one is very good quality and value. Cheap loo paper is false economy. Also, the pomegranate hand wash, No3 I think, from Aldi and Lidle smells very expensive. I am dumb struck by some posters who seem to have just discovered bar soap! Hand wash and shower gel was not invented in the 70’s, it was always bars of soap, usually Camay or Imperial leather for the posh end, or Coal Tar soap, or dettol for economy, or packs of four unscented. Bars are far better for the environment, last longer and don’t involve plastic.
My other cheap bargain is citric acid from Wilkos. Great for descaling the Kettle and a third of the price of Calgon or similar.

@Ineke
Camay!!! 😍

Now that WAS posh.