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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your most ingenious money saving tips

954 replies

Toothiehurtie · 28/08/2022 20:51

my Best one is…

a visit to the card factory for cheap cards and gift bags and then picking up presents from car boot sales or charity shops. I have got some brilliant kids party presents for 50p so with the card and a cheap gift bag I have brought the cost of a present in for a pound before.

looking for any tips at all, obviously you can buy porridge oats in bulk cheaper than buying expensive kids cereal etc but anything clever or that people might not have thought of before.

don’t know how bad the fuel crisis will be but considering charging battery packs to charge phones at work and taking a thermos of boiled water home 😂

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
nannykatherine · 30/08/2022 19:22

nannykatherine · 30/08/2022 19:22

Put the lid on the saucepan to keep heat in and cools pasta sooner ..
this applies to all cooking in pans

Show quote history

Sorry I meant cooks

Lemming20 · 30/08/2022 19:24

MsBullseye · 30/08/2022 19:07

Eh?

Show quote history

Was this meant to be on the rude celeb thread 😂

BlueYazoo · 30/08/2022 19:24

martinsmoneysaver · 28/08/2022 22:45

We managed to get put water bill down to a mere £1.00 a month by
▪︎cutting baths out
▪︎very quick showers, whole family jumps in and out with eachother (2 adults plus 4 kids)
▪︎keep the plug in the bath to save shower water to mop floors, water garden, even flush toilet and when I get round to it, clean the bathroom.
I don't need fresh water to wash my toilet.

Visually it helps to see just how much water things use. It cam be a pain carrying the water in the watering can outside at first but its saving me my whole water bill. (it's so low because we were in so much credit. I'm expecting a £10 another bill next year down from 40)

This came for us just as prices were increasing, the original reason was an ethical one. I hated the idea of wasting water, but I didn't think we would get our usage down so low we would have a year of virtually no bills for minimal effort really.
I only mop once a week, so it's not that big of a task.

I know it seems overkill but its easy enough and the benefits outweigh the minor chores.
Plus I can easily carry 10 litres of water with one arm now so double win!

This has actually made my week

PayPennies · 30/08/2022 19:31

jewishmum · 30/08/2022 18:25

Every time we outgrow an item of clothing we cut the shape and length of 2 pieces of toilet paper and put it with the rest of the pile in the bum wipe box.

But I have free on-site laundry here so I'm able to truly save this way.

Sorry but what is a bum-wipe box?

impossible · 30/08/2022 19:37

HelebethH · 28/08/2022 21:05

The tip I always give is menu plan and shop once a week but actually make your week 8 days. On day 8 use up all the odd bits and pieces in the fridge. That way you have 46 shopping weeks in a year and gain 6 weeks extra housekeeping money. This funds our xmas.

Love this - thank you!

Qik · 30/08/2022 19:42

Without wishing to sound condescending, I wonder if people are considering options other than cutting costs.

Focus on income. For some perhaps this is an option, even if not for everybody. It is an employees' market at the moment. More flexible working also.

Income (A) - costs (B) = spare cash (C)

At the moment, the Tory government and a large minority of (irresponsible) capitalists want you to learn to live with less.

What you should be doing is earning more while at the same time saving. But do not spend an hour trying to save £1. The NMW is more than that and there are better hobbies.

Mollymoostoo · 30/08/2022 19:53

We have the heating on a timer in winter and all wear snuggies.

Don't use tumble dryer.
Wash up once a day, put cutlery in a jug of water and cover washing up bowl to stop flies.
Wear clothes more than once.
Shower less and have a strip wash.
Some of these are just better for the environment and for my aging skin!

Blueink · 30/08/2022 19:54

.Small household, definitely no pets!
.Cut out takeaways and crisps, biscuits etc. No meals out. Take a flask of coffee (or tea) and refillable water bottle when going anywhere/commuting.
.No cleaner (& declutter to make cleaning quick and easy rather than letting it build up).
.Bath and strip wash (use less energy than power shower unless you are really going to be in and out in under a min).
.Shower outside home (includes some workplaces).
•Municipal facilities rather than private gym membership
.Switch off water when lathering soap/shampoo, or brushing teeth
.No tumble dryer, iron-free. Warm delicate cycle, 600 spin and air dry. Hot wash only underwear, towels, bedding. No fabric softener.
.DIY hair colour or treatments. Hairdresser who works from home
.DIY beauty treatments
.Litre botties of soap, shampoo, refills.

.Old fashioned butter - rather than £5
Lurpak spreadable
.No car, walk or take public transport, shopping delivery (only when you’ve already gone into store cupboard for a day or 2!)

Petlover9 · 30/08/2022 19:55

Riverlee · 28/08/2022 21:24

I’ve stopped watering the garden - hope to save water on our water bill that way (sorry plants).

Get water butts! I have 4 and they are always full by spring so I keep all my milk bottles etc.and fill those and keep them in a shady place.

EugeneLevysEyebrow · 30/08/2022 19:59

@Qik i think that’s a really good point on focusing on income and not just looking for savings,

I read somewhere that when it comes to money management women generally have more of a tendency to focus on ways of saving money while men tend to look at ways of maximising their income.

And yes, time has value and so ‘saving’ £1 when it takes you an hour to do so is not really much of a saving.

CallmeMrsPricklepants · 30/08/2022 20:00

Please don't leave baths of water unattended with young DC in the house.

Chaiandkaafee · 30/08/2022 20:06

@jewishmum is that a joke? You wash your poo ridden cloths at work?! Really?

Chaiandkaafee · 30/08/2022 20:08

Those saying they use water left in the bath……..you are mopping your floors with filthy water?!

fuzzwuss · 30/08/2022 20:12

My best saving so far is a solar charger. I leave it out, then can charge my kindle, phone, iPad and everything. Am thinking of getting another one as it is always in use.

impossible · 30/08/2022 20:12

If you buy coffees out, on the way to work perhaps, (and if you can afford the initial outlay) - buy a non expensive coffee machine. I was given a (Swan Retro Pump Espresso) coffee machine in March (£89) and haven't bought a coffee since.

chillipenguin · 30/08/2022 20:13

impossible · 30/08/2022 20:12

If you buy coffees out, on the way to work perhaps, (and if you can afford the initial outlay) - buy a non expensive coffee machine. I was given a (Swan Retro Pump Espresso) coffee machine in March (£89) and haven't bought a coffee since.

Or a jar of instant from the supermarket and just plough through your initial disgust

chillipenguin · 30/08/2022 20:14

fuzzwuss · 30/08/2022 20:12

My best saving so far is a solar charger. I leave it out, then can charge my kindle, phone, iPad and everything. Am thinking of getting another one as it is always in use.

This sounds amazing!

impossible · 30/08/2022 20:16

Also, boil water for cooking in a kettle rather than on the stove and tip into pan. Thus is quicker and cheaper as water in a kettle is being heated from the inside rather than outside.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 30/08/2022 20:21

a visit to the card factory for cheap cards and gift bags and then picking up presents from car boot sales or charity shops. I have got some brilliant kids party presents for 50p

So your first tip for saving money is to spend money?

Just stop with the cards and useless/unwanted crap!

I've just paused my daily contact lenses for three months. I can wear specs instead.

downbythewoods · 30/08/2022 20:22

This has to be a joke comment.

WhatASmashingBlouseYouHaveOn · 30/08/2022 20:23

I have a magnetic white board on the front of my fridge freezer, on one half I write what's currently in the freezer (main meal type foods only) and on the other half I write down things I need ready for the next shopping trip. Makes food shopping much easier and saves forgetting things I need and likewise buying things that I have already got in the freezer.

I also cook once eat 2x or 3x. Example things like boiling up pasta, I cook more than is needed then freeze the rest in bags.

Ive also saved some of the shower water and cleaning washing up water to water the garden, not mop floors lol.

downbythewoods · 30/08/2022 20:24

The comment about charging phones at work is stealing, has to be a joke I mean.

Partyatno10 · 30/08/2022 20:24

Bichette · 28/08/2022 22:26

Get a job with accommodation included.
My employer pays all my bills.

What's your job if you don't mind me asking? The only live in jobs I can think of is nanny or carer. Am I missing something?

Zone2NorthLondon · 30/08/2022 20:27

I’m scared to ask what’s the bum cloth wipe box? A cloth you wipe your skitty bum with and then wash?

TmFid · 30/08/2022 20:27

Devo1818 · 28/08/2022 21:23

I do all my debit card spending through Chase - you get 1% cashback on everything you spend. I've had £60 back so far.

Also, every time I cook I cook double and freeze half - that way we have a meal good to go after a long day at work and that means we are able to resist convenience foods and take aways... most of the time...

What is Chase, please? Is it a debit card? An app? Thanks