Frugal/money saving tips

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AIBU to ask for your top money saving tips and tricks?!

I'm living in my overdraft at the mo. Family of 4. DH works full time. I'm a SAHM looking for part time work. A 4Yyo and 2 year old. 2 cats. One family car. One work car (included in job)

I'm asking for tips on anything! Food bill, bills, activities for the kids..

Thanks!

mailTo there's no indication that the family or the children are 'suffering' here.
The OP has an overdraught, she's asked for tips to save money in order to pay that off. That isn't 'suffering'. As examples, watching something on freeview instead of on skytv isn't suffering. Playing boardgames or going to the library instead of paying for entertainment isn't suffering. Mending clothes instead of buying new ones isn't suffering.
There's absolutely no reason why she can't keep the family pet and still meet the needs of her children.

if you write your outgoings then someone may be able to show you where to save

you say you are looking for a job, that will help

petsare part of the family,no one would say get your child adopted out

It wasn't random, unlike some.

OP, it's difficult to suggest how to help in practical ways without knowing what you're already doing or how bad you're struggling. Eg, if you've already changed to value brands, etc, it's pointless for us to give advice like that.

As a pp suggested, if you can explain more about what the issues are and what you've already done, the responses can be better tailored to suit your needs.

Good luck.

@noeffingidea

I said "struggling" not "suffering". Very different words!

I understand that people like epiphora on MN but you got carried away there.

When I left work (last September) I went through all my outgoings; I changed Gas and Electric supplier (halved my monthly bill, thanks to Money Saving Martyn!) and looked at cutting the (hugely pricey) Virgin media down to freeview (which is available on the TV anyway). I changed my Household Insurance down from £750 !!! a year to £300.

I bulk up meals with red lentils which break down completely- the dc don't even know. If you add carrots as well, they think and 'orangey' bits are carrot and you can use 3/4 of the meat.
Use the freezer for everything. This time of year is not good for 'gluts' of anything, but in autumn, freeze apples, blackberries, tomatoes - whatever you can get cheaply.

Don't be brand loyal - choose the fabric softener etc that is on offer every time - don't use fabric conditioner! It's not necessary. In fact, use the washing machine less - less detergent, less electric.

If you use a dishwasher, break a tablet in half and use that - most things will come up just as clean.

Don't use the car if you can help it - I walk absolutely everywhere.

Things not to buy

Ready meals. convenience food, pre-prepared food.
Cook from scratch, buy large tubs of yoghurt, or even better make your own.

Branded groceries - go for own brand or value brand.

Expensive cleaning products and detergents. All you need are washing up liquid, vinegar, bicarb, washing soda and maybe bleach. Cut dishwasher tablets in half. Buy a huge box of Aldi/Lidl laundry powder and use a bit less than the recommended. Pretreat stains.

Lunches/sandwiches out. Make your own for pennies.

Snack food. Pop your own popcorn, make your own flapjacks (while something else is in the oven), oat cakes etc. Compare the cost weight for weight potato crisps vs potatoes. Cheap cream crackers with smudge of butter or wafer of cheese are good.

Expensive cuts of meat. Eat mince based meals, bulk out with red lentils for bolognese, kidney/haricot beans for chilli, put a layer of baked beans under a shepherd’s pie. Get cheap cuts of meat that need slow cooking like pork cheek, ox heart or beef shin. Cook 2 or 3 days worth to get value from extra fuel use.

Breakfast cereals. Eat proper porridge, toast, or even better something protein based but cheap like eggs that fill you up longer.

Mobile phone contacts. Try to extricate yourself if you are in one. If you are (nearly) out of contract go onto GiffGaff if you want a rolling monthly package bundle. Ask a friend for a recommendation code… you’ll both share bonus credit. O2 is good if you want a cheap classic ongoing PAYG. Ideal if you’ve downgraded to a basic Nokia/Alcatel handset. Try to use skype etc when connected at home to wifi to call people.

Takeaway coffees. Buy a leak proof flask like a Contigo. I think Morrissons do a cheap version for around £5. Buy an Aeropress for £25, or a French press from a charity shop and make your own fresh coffee in the morning.

Meals out. Stop these, unless it is the birthday or anniversary of someone in the immediate family. If you are socially obliged to go, just drink water and order something simple like a starter + side dish.

Takeaways. Buy a copy of “The Curry Secret” and/or “The Takeaway Secret” (v cheap paperbacks on amazon) and make your own. Make up batches of curry house style sauce and freeze.

Magazines/newspapers. Read online. Go to the library.

Entertainment/media packages. Try to cancel if you can. Otherwise try to renegotiate how much you pay and what you receive. Even try to get rid of your TV license - just watch Youtube etc and buy cheap DVD’s from the charity shop/borrow from the library/friends. You don’t need a TV license as long as you don’t watch live broadcast TV or BBC iPlayer.

Books. Borrow from library, or buy cheap from charity shop.

Adult clothes, unless worn out. Mend and darn small holes - tutorials on youtube. Look first in charity shops/Ebay/FB local selling groups.

Don’t put the heating on or up till you’ve put on a thermal vest, jumper and cosy house socks. If you’re extra skint, wear a beanie hat, snood and wrist warmers & wrap up in a fleece/heated duvet.

Shop at Aldi/Lidl for basic groceries then visit one of the main 4 at teatime-ish to get final reduction 10p bargains on meat/veg/chilled foods/bread.

Use less toiletries - eg a pea sized blob of toothpaste is fine - just enough to foam up and taste minty. You don’t need to double wash your hair, if you’ve got lots of lather cut back. Bar soap is more economical than shower gel and leaves you feeling cleaner.

I do thank you for your concern over my cats! Lol. I didn't add them in to suggest that they were suffering at all. Just so you knew who I had to cater for. As I said, they are insured and are covered for everything. They are regularly wormed and given flea treatment and all the other bits that come with cats.

Although I said I was living in my overdraft, what I meant was that I'm living pay check to pay check. By the end of the week/month I'm relying on my overdraft for anything other than essentials. My DH pays the bills with his income and I pay for everything else with mine.

I'm not so desperate that I need to worry about boiling water. But I appreciate the tip! And there are lots and lots of other tips that I will definitely use and have found helpful.

So I am grateful! Thank you from myself and the cats

I find that spreadsheets of outgoings really help (if a bit nerdy ) I do them every month and can account for every penny, I find it really helps my money stretch. I budget for everything. It reduces a lot of anxiety too particularly with big expenses like holidays etc as I can plan ahead and know how much money to put away each month

Cheap and easy to make multi purpose cleaner.
Buy a bottle of star drops and a bottle of zorflora ( both a pound in wilkos) use an old spray bottle and fill with one quarter stardrops and a cap or 2 of zorflora. Top up with tap water. You can use it to clean anything. Kitchen surfaces, sink, bathroom, wooden or Lino floors and even washing up. The stardrops and zorflora should make enough cleaner to last 6 months of normal household use. Saves £££’s on buying different types of cleaning products with added benefit that you can mix which zorflora use.

If the famous Mumsnet chicken will do 3 meals then I reckon you could probably get at least two out of each cat. You'd probably want to make sure it was heavily spiced though as I suspect the meat could taste a bit strong

I've just discovered this great site, www.loopster.co.uk and they sell second hand kids clothes-all checked, the brands go from Gap up to designer. I just received my first order for my three year old today, a lovely Jojo Maman dress, a Gap cardy and some John lewis cords all for less than £15!

Home bargains for cleaning stuff and laundry. Also cat food is cheapest in home bargains.

They do decent food isles too. You can buy branded products cheaper than big supermarkets own brands.

I'd then top up at Aldi.

Make a rough list of what you have in so you know what you need to make a meal.

Make a big pan of bolognaise. Bulk up with red lentils. Have it with pasta. Next night put a portion with peas in, mashed potato on top and make a pie. Next night add a tin of chilli beans and serve with rice.
You can do three nights very cheaply with a pack of minced beef from Aldi.
Big chicken, roast with veg one night, then curried with rice, the carcass for leftovers makes good soup.
Eggs make a cheap supper. I love them boiled, whole, in curry sauce with rice.

Walk to places if you can.

Wear layers and slippers and turn down the heating.

Press leaves to sell on eBay. Paint pebbles. People like to buy unusual things.
If you sign up to eBay they often do a capped fee weekend so you will only ever pay £1 max selling fees. This is worth doing if you have anything that will sell for more than £10 including postage.

Use charity shops for children's clothes. I'd go in and ask which day is best for donations coming in. Or use face book selling sites. You'll need to check things before you hand over cash as there are no refunds.

Keep your eye out on the local face book selling pages. People will often clear a child's cupboard in time for new toys coming. I've often picked up a bundle of toys/ clothes cheaply. I've washed and sorted them and put them onto EBay the same day. You can make up to £50+ a go doing this.

I always time car journeys so the engine is warm for multiple journeys. I don't use the car to pop out, ever.
Drive with minimal acceleration but in the correct gear. You can get a third more miles out of a tank of fuel doing this. It really works.

Present giving can be making sweet treats with the children and wrapping nicely. Home bargains do good ingredients and gift boxes.

Go through your house top to bottom ..anything you dont need /want/use sell on a fb selling site.You would be amazed at what people will buy ... sit back and watch the cash add up then put it in your bank for your overdraft! This really works OP and you get a tidier house too!!!

This was more because my hair became dry but wash your hair less, I wash mine every third day and it’s in really good condition now.

I am from the era of spot cleaning clothes and ourselves with strip washing at the sink. I don’t want to go back to those times and I do love a nice clean house. But really think how much product your using. I prep all my food on chopping boards and then they go in to the diswasher so I don’t see the need to squirt product all over my kitchen tops when I wipe them down. I have a window open and don’t have air fresheners and scented candle. I also don’t buy stuff till it genuinely needs replacing.