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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:
Svara · 13/02/2022 22:51

Don't wash things that aren't dirty. I will put pillowcases in with towels weekly but change other bedding less often. We wear pyjamas or boxers and t-shirt to bed which are easier to wash than bedding. Most clothes washing is t-shirts, underwear and socks. I dry on a drying rack or washing line, no dryer.

Three minute showers unless hair washing

Heating on three hours a day at the lowest temperature I am comfortable at wearing normal winter indoor clothing (jumper and jeans)

user1471439310 · 13/02/2022 22:59

I live in the US and our food prices are high. Every week it seems there are empty shelves of one thing or another. Chicken breast are very high right now. I have found meal planning, buy meats that are on sale, and not wasting anything is the best thing.

Selok · 13/02/2022 23:12

@SeaMeat

Would anyone recommend an air fryer? Someone told me they're cheaper to run than an oven and we mostly only cook small things.
@SeaMeat since I bought Ninja foodie I hardly use my oven- mine has also has pressure cooking option as well as air fry, grill, bake/roast honestly it is briliiant

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living General food General money
D0lphine · 13/02/2022 23:21

Look at the biggest bills you have and start there first.

You can save £5 or £10 here and there at first but once you've gone through all your bills and got good deals and downgraded your food there isn't that much different you can do.

The big things are house and car. Can you do without a car? Can you downgrade your car to a smaller one? Can you go from two cars to one? Can you move to a cheaper area? Can you move to a house with fewer rooms? These are the big hitters.

Don't rule out second jobs or moving jobs for higher salary.

D0lphine · 13/02/2022 23:23

[quote littlemamawithoutthedrama]@vixeyann do you make much on surveys? [/quote]
No you absolutely don't.

If you want extra money the easiest way is to get another job one evening a week.

Needhelp101 · 14/02/2022 00:20

I've become very frugal lately.

Today, I managed to get at least a week's worth of food for to three people, including a couple of bottles of wine for £30. Sainsbury's too! Yellow sticker food, 'imperfect' veg (eg. a bag of carrots was 30p).

Also, hot water bottles. Wilko have them for £4 at the moment. When me and the kids are watching TV etc, I turn off the heating and we have cosy, soft-covered bottles on our laps and by our feet, with soft fleece blankets covering us.

starray · 14/02/2022 03:02

@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

What did you say exactly to make them lower the subscriptions? I wouldn't have a clue how to negotiate!
HumbugWhale · 14/02/2022 06:27

Check if you would save money on a water meter. We pay a lot less with one even though there are 5 of us. Your water company should have a questionnaire for you to complete on their website. Our water company (Severn Trent) also have lots of water saving tips so if you are on a meter it's worth a look. A water butt if you grow things in the garden will save quite a bit.

Toanewstart23 · 14/02/2022 06:33

Save up for what you really want
Rather than going for the cheaper option just becuae it’s cheaper
False economy
I waited an extra year rather than go on a holiday I could easily afford
In order to save for the one I really wanted
No regrets!!

Save for what you really want
Rather than go for what you can afford right then

Toanewstart23 · 14/02/2022 06:36

@CoastalWave

Because saving money and what that involves isn’t only for those on the bones of their arses

My children are in private education, I am a high earner. Very financially comfortable
But….
I still want to save where I can
Why?
So the money I save can go towards extras for my children and luxuries and more towards my pensions

Toanewstart23 · 14/02/2022 06:38

Top cashback!

Over 5 years I have received £739 back. No thanks fort whatsoever.

Best money saving tips ...
Toanewstart23 · 14/02/2022 06:38

Effort

ememem84 · 14/02/2022 06:38

@Wafflefudge

My suggestion is negotiating bills. I phoned my broadband provider and asked them to lower it and got £8 off.
If you have sky try and cancel it. They’ll usually offer you a deal to stay with them.

We really wanted to cancel but we’re offered 6 months at half price for all the services (movies abs sport included) and a new box.

After the 6 m we cancelled. And sold the box on.

ememem84 · 14/02/2022 06:40

@londonmummy1966

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.

Cut the stalky bits of broccoli up for stir fries or grate into pasta sauce too.
Svara · 14/02/2022 06:42

@Toanewstart23

Top cashback!

Over 5 years I have received £739 back. No thanks fort whatsoever.

Is this off money you've spent so you have to spend a lot to start with?
Toanewstart23 · 14/02/2022 06:44

@Svara

No.

This is money that retailers paid ME

So for instance
Say I wanted to buy a coat from John Lewis for my son
I search on top cashback and JL may be offering 2.5% cashback on purchases. So I click through too cashback to JL website.
Buy the coat.
Then 4 weeks later, I receive. 2.5% cash back from JL

Toanewstart23 · 14/02/2022 06:45

I bought travel insurance through it with the post office for example and received 25% cashback

Toanewstart23 · 14/02/2022 06:46

@ememem84

Can’t have been a Q box as they have just sent me packaging to return it back to them

Svara · 14/02/2022 07:02

@Toanewstart23
That's what I thought it was. You still have to spend a lot to get a lot of money back though right?

ItsCanardBruv · 14/02/2022 07:04

Yep.

Best money saving tips ...
ememem84 · 14/02/2022 07:15

[quote Toanewstart23]@ememem84

Can’t have been a Q box as they have just sent me packaging to return it back to them[/quote]
No. It wasn’t. It was the old astyle plus/hd box.

dottydodah · 14/02/2022 07:16

Been using EBay a while now .Just go straight there if I need anything .Got a really nice leather Clarks bag for a tenner! Monsoon dresses and so on .Seemed really expensive when out shopping in Salisbury!Also doing my bit for enviroment at the same time

Svara · 14/02/2022 07:22

Thanks for the topcashback tip, I think I'll sign up, is it free? I just doubt I'd get a lot back if it's relative to spending. There are unavoidables like men's trainers, a suit for sixth form in the summer, but I saved more buying a second hand coat on ebay for example.

GeneLovesJezebel · 14/02/2022 07:26

Wasn’t there a thread recently where some had money taken from their account, and it was an annual subscription to one of these cash back sites ?

GeneLovesJezebel · 14/02/2022 07:27

Don’t forget to use your Blue Light card if you work for the NHS/emergency services.
I’ve got over my embarrassment of asking at every shop now !