Your number 1 money-saving tip

[PupInAPram]

What is your number 1 tip that saved you the most money on regular household spending?

I used to do a big shop prior to the weekend, now I don’t bother. Everyone does their own thing and when we do have a Sunday lunch we all really enjoy it. It started cos I was being lazy but I’m saving a fair bit and no ones noticed.
I also do a big shop once every 3 or 4 weeks and spend about £200. I’m lucky I have them all at one retail park, so do Sainsbury’s, M&S, Wilko,
Lidl and Superdrug. Saves me going every week.

@SpringLobelia

Never go on Amazon or ebay when drunk.

( posted under another user name once how DH and I bought a baby grand piano once when shitfaced on pink champagne. neither of us play the piano. Nor do we have room for a piano).

You sound fun!

Incidentally, I've grade 8

@Peppapigforlife

Turn the WiFi off when you're not using it.

Don't eat meat (not everyone can do this, but it worked for me at uni!)

Supermarket brands for things

Don't drink

Create different budgets for your weakness. Food budget, bills budget, then if you know your weakness is take away, or wine, have a take away or wine budget and stick to it. Gradually cut down the weakness budgets.

Stick on the 'save the change' feature with your debit card.

Meditate, write on paper, or exercise when you're bored, to save money.

Stick the heating on overnight and you'll wake up so hot and stuffy the next day, you won't want it on for a good few days. Or go and stay with someone you know who is tighter than you are with the heating and has a cold house. You'll come home thinking your house is boiling.

My mum has her thermostat at 5 degrees. She also has every light off in the house and her curtains always open ( she lives opposite a major hospital so the street lights are on. Sleeps in her coat. That always makes me feel super rich when I come home. Except I'm broke and she is minted. I wonder why? 😂

Today I have wrapped an old red hair bobble round the hot tap in the kitchen. It's to remind everyone to use the cold tap as much as possible.

No. More. Deliveroo. Ever!

@jytdtysrht

Never buy makeup - people look fine as they are. As people, not Instagram works of perfection.

Never buy skincare (I don’t know anyone IRL who does all this skincare malarkey - tubs and tubes of shite that cost £££).

Hair care - another malarkey. I just have shampoo and condition occasionally. If it needs more than that, it’s too long. Don’t have straighteners, hairdryer or dye. Just leave it how it is.

Don’t shower every day. Totally unnecessary.

Don’t wash bedsheets every week. Totally unnecessary.

I mean it's sensible to save money, but walking round with greasy hair and BO with no make up. No thanks.

We use our drill as a cake mixer as well by just putting a mixer attachment in from the old broken cake mixer. Works like a dream! Actually better than the motor on the cake mixer.

Clothes swaps for clothes. Far cheaper than charity shops usually.

Share bathwater where you can.

De flea the cat and dog alternately not both together- bit of a gamble but worked so far for me.

Was once told " you can only spend money once ". Aware I often spend unexpected money several times over...

If like me you have long hair and need to use a hairdryer then use a microfibre hair wrap after washing your hair as it'll cut down drying time. I also dry my hair in the same room as my clothes airer so that the hot air from the hairdryer helps dry the clothes too!

Meal plan, also use the Olio app to get and give anything you need or won't use (to save wasting it) also check out apps like CheckoutSmrt etc where you get money off items (you also get a free box of chocolates on your birthday, you have to pay for all the items then claim the money back).

Use receipt scanning apps like Shoppix and HuYu to scan any receipts you do have to earn a little extra

I've recently discovered it freezes well chopped up so I now buy when on offer in aldi, chop a whole one and just use a handful whenever my cooking needs it.

This comment was about celery. But there’s only a need to buy celery infrequently. Keep the bottom and stick it in water and it will regrow.

Spatchcock every chicken you cook. It’s simply to do and takes seconds but will dramatically reduce the cooking time.

Unplug everything you can, some appliances (vampire) cost you even when not In use and standby can be expensive. cook dishes and freeze when veg cheap and in season. Cut down on meat, three times a week is good for your wallet and your belly. Dont overdo the scrimping, if your miserable what's the point.

Buy clothing and furniture from charity shops. Diverts from landfill, cheaper than new, and gives money to good cause.
Checked entitled to, or similar websites, to make sure you claim all benefits and grants you are eligible for.
Buy yellow ticket or close to date food. Buy from approved food, best for its gone etc.
Buy in cash rather than card where possible. More mindful of spending habits when counting out the notes.
Shop around for food bargains. Don't assume the bargain chains like Lidl are always cheapest. Tesco are cheaper for some items, for example.
Get the bus rather than take the car as often cheaper if you factor in parking costs.
Don't impulse buy. Sleep on the decision or leave it a few days to see if you change your mind. Then shop about online for the best deal.
Get a train discount card like friends and family, senior etc if you are planning a journey.
Go on eventbrite and look for free or cheap local events to attend.

Some county libraries have a free audio book service. Ours has trillions of audio books to listen to for free with a (also free) library card.

On Amazon, unless it’s something I absolutely need, when I see something I want to buy, I add it to my basket, then click ‘save for later’. That list appears under the basket. It’s not often I buy them in the end. My DH, who unfortunately, isn’t great at keeping track of his money, went through his paid for apps/subscriptions (with my prompting) a few days ago. After he cancelled those that he doesn’t need (including several he has never used 🤷‍♀️), he’s saving over £80 per month!

I’m only on page 4 but no one has yet said
‘Ask for a payrise’

Sometimes the input increase is better. As most women are underpaid, there must be room for improvement.

If you lived near me I'd give you a brand new electric pressure cooker, a Pressure King Pro I think it's called. I bought it on a whim. It is still in the box, never used. Now I'm on my own I really don't need it. PM me if you're anywhere near Bromley and can collect.

Loads of great ideas. My suggestion is an extra rather than a primary idea. Learn to do one thing really well and you can use your skill to make gifts that are way more valuable than the components.

PS I can't find the poster to whom my above post is addressed without trawling through every page! However somebody said they would use a pressure cooker if they could afford the initial outlay so I'm hoping they'll see. I'm afraid I don't have an air fryer. :-)

I thought about selling up and moving into a cave to be honest! Worked for my ancestors all those years ago and I love a bbq!! No utilities or mortgage would solve all of my problems and as caves tend to be mainly grey they are on trend in the colour department too! Win win!!

@Graphista that’s very kind of you, but I’m not entitled to anything at all. I have equipment in my personal name that I use for my business which in theory I could sell (but then I wouldn’t have a business or any hope of improved income at all!) so it’s a (hopefully short term) least worst option. It will be better in a few months, so I’m luckier than a lot of people.

Placemarking but over lockdown I got in the habit of buying loads of packaged snacks for the kids which add up so quickly, so I've stopped buying them. Cutting down meat and subscriptions. It was much cheaper to subscribe to a couple of channels than keep Sky. My daughter turns every light out even if she's just gone for a few seconds (school taught her leaving them on damages coral reefs) so I'm really hoping that saves some pennies too

Defrost the freezer! If it's caked in ice, it's working much harder to stay cold. So put all the food into a cooler box etc, turn it off and start chipping away at that ice (being as quick as possible). The freezer will then be more efficient, so cost less to run, AND you'll free up space in the freezer!

A few things that have helped me:
• Shopping online, as you have to wait you don't buy crap you don't need eg chocolate, sweets and wine!

• Delete Amazon and eBay off your phone, stops impulse purchases if you have to dig out the computer
• Keeping the heating on a 2 degrees lower and wearing a jumper. Bonus points DH has stopped complaining it's too warm!

@Peppapigforlife I've only just started investing small amounts, so I don't feel particularly qualified to advise - but there are loads of websites that can help you get started for as laittaa £100. Few years ago I dabbled in cryptocurrency (it look a lot of research so I wouldn't recommend it as a first point of call). I made enough to pay for flights to Italy plus accommodation.

Whoever said ask for a pay rise- yes! Women are chronically underpaid and it's partly because they are less likely to ask for a raise!

Then obviously - pay off any credit card debt. Switch you balance to a card that offers 0% interest for say, 14 months, and make a plan to pay it off.

Get a credit card that offers annual cash back. I usually get around £35 in cash back annually.

Call your utilities providers and threaten to leave. I do this annually and usually get between £10-£20 off my bills.

I'm definitely in the camp of making more than scrimping, tbh.