Ways to save money.

[Ilovetheseventies]

I have a plug in heater dryer from home bargains, cheaper than a tumble dryer.
Washing on line too.
Strip wash (time and place for this i know)
Foot off gas down hills coming to junctions.
I have been wearing a onesie in the flat again time and a place not when DP visits !!
Hussle can get one gym visit a time for those who have monthly gym memberships.
Anyone else ?

I'm cutting out the hairdressers, mine is charging 60 bloody quid for a cut & colour, going to colour my own with box dye & go to a hairdressing school for a dry cut if & when it's needed... Just can't afford it anymore & hated going to the salon

I live in a top floor (3 floors total) flat so I only ever put the heating on when I need to dry washing quickly as I find everyone else's heat rises up to me!
Bulk cook on cold days as the oven makes the flat hot (then I can reheat using microwave, oven or slow cooker) and then when finished leave the oven open not to waste the heat 🤣
Add lentils, grated carrot etc to everything that they go with to double the portion size
Buy second hand clothes or heavily reduced sale items then sell on clothes when I/dc need new ones.
Try to make money from paid referrals etc
Earn loyalty points/cashback where possible (most things I can!)
Use airtime rewards to earn cashback to reduce phone bill
Have round ups turned on with my bank so the loose change goes into a pot which I then transfer into DC investment ISA

I've got quite a lot!

slow cooker
freeze meals
more lentil based meals

We don't cook meat at home for cultural reasons but it's also a good way to save money, the planet and your health. My grocery bill is less than 60 quid for 3-4 people because we eat so much veg and lentils. Appreciate it's not for everyone though:)

Also got DH to colour my own hair last weekend. Can't say it's any worse than the salon.

I am loving this post ! Brilliant ideas

I trimmed and coloured my hair but then visit hairdressers every year or so and that seems to work.

I have one of these. It's so warm www.marksandspencer.com/teddy-fleece-hooded-blanket/p/hbp60519402 . It's definitely helped me avoid boosting the heating, though whether it's saved me £25 of gas yet, who knows?

Always keep supermarket pizza in the freezer for days you can't face cooking. Less temptation to get a takeaway.

I'm taking shallower baths (no shower) not filling tub, just halfway.

I've switched to washing bedlinens every fortnight not weekly ( no flaming please) we WFH so we are clean- I just love clean sheets but need to cut back.

We are only having meat on a Sunday, roast joint of ham/ the mythical MN chicken rest of the week I'm using eggs/chickpeas/tofu/paneer/red or green lentils to add a bit of protein (mainly curries as we are not from UK originally). We aren't veg but meat is something that needs to be a treat now.

We are all in fleecy hoodies- heating off since Jan as it's £££.

Using vinted for clothes, we haven't bought new for a while now.

I switched to bars of soap as they -for us- last longer and seem to help us.

Not recommending any of the above, just saying what we've done so far.

Following with interest as more inspiration needed

Buy yellow-label fresh food from supermarkets. I got all our bread, fruit & veg for the whole week, including some extras, plus meat for 3 main meals for about £11 last night. Still need to go to Aldi for a few bits, but expect to spend less than £20 there.

Visit your library for free books, a warm place & often activities & refreshments too.

Walk or lift share where possible.

Not using the car for small journeys
Meal planning and shopping once a fortnight
Only putting a full load in the washer

I was thinking about how much water I waste by turning the shower on and waiting for the hot water, so I was thinking of putting a bucket in the shower, with the shower head in it, to catch that cold water. Then use it for a flush, or to water plants in the summer.
Am I mad or a genius ? 🤣

Oh yes the library. I used to buy too many cheap ebooks but now have stopped. I also used to go to cafes to get a break from WFH and spend too much on coffee and cake. I now go to the library to work.

I also shop at Asian stores for groceries which are cheaper for many things.

@Feelingthepinch22

I'm cutting out the hairdressers, mine is charging 60 bloody quid for a cut & colour, going to colour my own with box dye & go to a hairdressing school for a dry cut if & when it's needed... Just can't afford it anymore & hated going to the salon

Good plan, though have a wet cut, I only have wet cuts and it's £18. I can style it myself.

@GeneLovesJezebel
or you coudl stand under the cold shower before it heats up and convince yourself you are Wild Water Showering

My heated blanket is a fab investment - whole house heating can be off and I am still super cosy.

Also the dehumidifier - shut into a small room with washing it dries it all very quickly so I don't need to use the tumble dryer. Cost over £100 but definitely made that back now in avoided energy costs as it costs pennies to run.

Cooking from scratch in bulk saves money, I fill the freezer with ragus, stews, curries etc. Much cheaper than ready meals.

Cut our Sky subscription right down. Considering getting rid all together and buying a Freeview recorder.

[quote MrsLargeEmbodied]@GeneLovesJezebel
or you coudl stand under the cold shower before it heats up and convince yourself you are Wild Water Showering [/quote]
No, I’m not that brave !

@Paddingtonismyspiritanimal
You can the only person I have come across who like me doesn’t have s shower!!!

I’m also a fan of the strip wash on wfh days, and splashing around in a shallow bath with a plastic jug. Hair wash at the gym