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Original poster

Best money saving tips ...

118 replies

littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 17:10

Hi all, just wondering with the cost of everything going up in price what are your best money saving tips ...

I'm trying to batch cook more and use all my left over veg for soups etc

Buying food on sale on its sell by date and freezing it - something i never did but you can get great bargains on meat, pizzas, ready meals etc

Using cheaper (own brand) washing powder/fabric softener

Trying to cook fake aways instead of eating out at weekend

Ordering off the saver menu at McDonald's and bringing our own drinks 🥤

Anyone got more to add ? It's actually quite fun when you realise you've saved £30 by tweaking what you normally do lol

OP posts:
Wafflefudge · 13/02/2022 17:13

My suggestion is negotiating bills. I phoned my broadband provider and asked them to lower it and got £8 off.

ureterr1blemuriel · 13/02/2022 17:15

Shopping at Aldi for the bulk of our shop - saves us about £2k a year and pays for a holiday!

Original poster
littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 17:21

@Wafflefudge

My suggestion is negotiating bills. I phoned my broadband provider and asked them to lower it and got £8 off.

That's a great tip!!! Thanks you

OP posts:

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Original poster
littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 17:24

@ureterr1blemuriel

Shopping at Aldi for the bulk of our shop - saves us about £2k a year and pays for a holiday!

I really wish there was an Aldi where I live... we have Lidl! Great tip tho. I agree there no point paying extortionate prices for basic stuff like pasta etc

OP posts:
BobHadBitchTits · 13/02/2022 17:29

Delete the Amazon app.

Original poster
littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 17:34

@BobHadBitchTits

Delete the Amazon app.

10/10 for accuracy lol

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 13/02/2022 17:41

Cancel random channel subscriptions. Don't ask, just do it, and see if anyone notices Wink

Original poster
littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 17:44

@FindingMeno

Cancel random channel subscriptions. Don't ask, just do it, and see if anyone notices Wink

You know, that is a great idea!

OP posts:
tabletopgreen · 13/02/2022 17:47

Unsubscribe from all marketing emails. Saves me a fortune. I wouldn’t have said they even made me buy stuff but they really did.

Catalogue all the stuff you HAVE - and use that up before buying anything new.

Buy 5litre shampoo and conditioner - faith in nature

Minifigure282 · 13/02/2022 17:47

Mine is to really think about the purchase before you buy it, do you actually need it or do you just want it? When you get to the tills in B&M have a look in your trolly and I bet you could put half back on the shelves.

Cut down on cleaning products, hot soapy water for bathrooms, floors, kitchen surfaces and bleach for toilets is just as effective. Use microfibre cloths.

alexdgr8 · 13/02/2022 17:49

do you even need fabric softener.
try without for a month.

Theyearsareshort · 13/02/2022 17:50

The money saving expert has a list of things to do in a day to save you money. Mostly checking your deals etc. It is a pain and some take more time but can be worth. On a smaller level, taking snacks with me out and always checking for vouchers or deals.

londonmummy1966 · 13/02/2022 18:04

Halve the meat content in recipes and bulk out with grated carrot/lentils etc and a teaspoon or two of marmite.

Save the stalky bits of broccoli, cauliflower, kale etc for soup

If you have a garden or room for some planters buy a couple of packets of salad leaf seeds from poundland - rocket grows like a weed as do spinach and chard - you can pick them all summer.

RosesAndHellebores · 13/02/2022 18:07

Use cash rather than a card or phone.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 13/02/2022 18:11

Cut up tubes of toothpaste and creams to get the last bit out.

Ditch shop bought lunches and spend a little extra on ingredients to make a levelled up lunch at home. Nice bread rolls, pastrami, cheeses etc

Original poster
littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 18:14

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

Cut up tubes of toothpaste and creams to get the last bit out.

Ditch shop bought lunches and spend a little extra on ingredients to make a levelled up lunch at home. Nice bread rolls, pastrami, cheeses etc

I have started doing this and honestly I couldn't believe how much I was spending per day on food... one day it was £11 on coffee and bun then lunch and a drink. I think food is my biggest expense.

OP posts:
Svara · 13/02/2022 18:18

Regularly make a big pot of soup with cheap veg and any leftover veg, tinned tomatoes, lentils or similar for some protein.

The too good to go app can be useful depending on what shops use it locally. We get a huge bag of organic bread for £5 that I slice and put in the freezer. We don't eat sandwiches so don't need fresh, it's great for cheese, beans, egg on toast. In comparison a tiny Tesco sourdough is £1.80.

Shop at Lidl or Aldi.

Porridge is cheap and filling. If you make it up the night before then it cooks extremely quickly in the morning, so saves time and gas. We add frozen berries and sliced banana.

Svara · 13/02/2022 18:22

Take your own picnic food on days out

Svara · 13/02/2022 18:24

What you don't have you don't need. If you've run out of something or done without it until now, think carefully about whether you actually need to buy it.

SeaMeat · 13/02/2022 18:55

These are great tips. I was also able to get money off some subscriptions by ringing up, which as I'm a pushover made me realise quite how willing they are to lower prices.

When I'm really broke and have only a few pounds to last the week, it always amazes me how much I can stretch it, then it all goes to pot once I'm paid Confused

Original poster
littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 19:06

@SeaMeat

These are great tips. I was also able to get money off some subscriptions by ringing up, which as I'm a pushover made me realise quite how willing they are to lower prices.

When I'm really broke and have only a few pounds to last the week, it always amazes me how much I can stretch it, then it all goes to pot once I'm paid Confused

I definitely agree! We can be so good at budgeting when we have too but it's all short lived when the pay check roll on lol
OP posts:
purpledagger · 13/02/2022 19:12

If something in your home breaks, look online for a fix before replacing it. When my washing machine door wouldn't open (filled with wet clothes) I took the top off and checked there were no loose wires etc. I couldn't see a problem, but when I turned it back on, it worked!!!

Join your local library. I can borrow e-books and e-magazines for free.

Sometimes, buying in bulk can be cheaper. Go halves with someone you know, so you each pay half the costs for half the product.

Original poster
littlemamawithoutthedrama · 13/02/2022 19:18

This is probably really stingy but we have now started getting a jug of juice when out for dinner- usually costs £2 for a large jug yet a coke can be £2:50 each.... kinda pays for dessert - or again, skip desert and opt for an ice cream from the shop lol 😝

OP posts:
NannyGythaOgg · 13/02/2022 19:29

As well as 'Too Good to go' there is also Olio which may be active near you.

It's a free sharing app and Tesco is signed up to it in some areas. Food on it's best before date is collected by volunteers. Listed on the website and can be requested and collected free of charge.
Some of the fruit is well passed it's best but most is absolutely fine although it won't last long. I have had loads of veg including asparagus and fruit including pineapple and mango. Also eggs, potatoes, loads of bread, onions, bananas, humous and lots more.

I joined at Christmas and, according to the app, I have had over £100 of free food so far. I wouldn't say it is actually worth as much as that as it is all on it's last day to sell so has been marked down substantially before being given away but my freezer is full of home made soup that hasn't cost me a penny for the food.

There are even red roses on today.

You can also give away food and other items through the app

dipdye · 13/02/2022 19:31

Unsubscribe from promo emails I. E. H and M, 50% off or whatever

It's just too tempting.