your top tips for money-saving and a more frugal life..

[amigoingmadhere]

Right - having until now led a relatively good lifestyle, am about to be single with 3 young dcs and very little money (not going to go into background here as it's depressing and will only get me down on this sunny morning).

Rather than sit here terrified, I would like to gather the collective wisdom of MN to see how I can immediately live a more frugal life and preserve any little money we have for a house and the dcs' future.

So, here's what I can think of to start with:

• get a new Boots card (old one is connected to my stbxh's email account)
• get Tesco clubcard
• get Nectar card
• always scour the internet etc. for vouchers / codes etc. (do this anyway but in a more random way)
• only ever buy presents in sales
• when moving house, try to get as much as possible from charity shops / freecycle etc.
• use library more
• see if Surestart still exists (a while since I used their services)
• start looking for any local free/cheap gym / sports facilities

There must be more that I'm not thinking of.. would be grateful for your ideas! - shopping / cooking / kids' activities / house furnishing etc.

I'm starting afresh on a new and wonderful life.. but it's going to be hard.

thanks :)

I use hairdressers supply shops and bulk buy their shampoo. Or strangely enough, Lush shampoo bar at £5, lasts 3 girlies in here with constant hairwashing about 3 months.

If you have clothes that you want rid off and arent fit to ebay, then take them to one of those cash for clothes places, they will give you 50p a kilo for stuff.

Oh, and if you have teenagers who constantly badger you for stuff cos so and so has it, set them up with a bank account with a debit card (available from about 12/13). Transfer a small allowance eg pocket money/clothes allowance in every month. Tell them to buy it themselves or save up up. teaches THEM the value of money, and stops the "I want".... :o

Downgrade your expensive habits - we don't eat dinner out as too expensive but we do eat tea/cake somewhere often.

Downgrade your expensive habits - we don't eat dinner out as too expensive but we do eat tea/cake somewhere often.

See I can find that just as expensive as eating dinner out(depending where you go obviously). But then we eat out at Carvery's or places that do 2 for 1 deals rather than posh places.

Morrisons cafe have a kids eat free with every paying adult between 4-6.30pm on a weeknight.

Apologies if it's been mentioned but I thought I'd say it as lots of people aren't aware of this - if you are on low income/benefits and someone in your house has a particular condition that means they need to use more water, you can get discounted water rates. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the scheme or what the exact criteria are, but as my DS has severe eczema and needs bathing every night I think we just had to get a letter of proof from his consultant or something. Worth finding out if you think it is relevant to you. Saves us a lot on our bills :)

Well I am in a similar boat to you, though 2 DCs and no sad story behind being a single mum for me.

It is amazing what you can get at car boot sales, i got my double pram and raincover which is really good for £30. And agree with selling on baby stuff once outgrown.

The things I find most challenging are the cost of mobile phone and having time to do all the things people suggest above, such as internet coupons, going to stores at closing times, with 2 small DC and a job.

I manage but it is stressful and I think it is very important not to pass on this stress to the children whenever possible. Good luck.

Just been on the Mse website and companies are offering free insulation and vouchers!
So you get free insulation and £30 worth of m&s vouchers....win win!
Next month is it for me...4 months til Xmas I am determined to get my finances sorted.
Some great tips in here..thanks op!

I thought of one - find your local pizza/catering supplier. Ours accepts customers at the front office and is dirt cheap.

80% meat sausages x 80 = £4.73

Catering tub of sweetcorn 2.12kg = £1.85

Same size tub of pineapple = £1.85

plus meats/haagen daaz/cheese etc etc .

Having a group of shopping friends can be good. My sister, mum and I cover the main shops on different days, in different area and know what each other like. If we see bargains we let each other know and pick them up. It's good for two for one offers when you won't use more than one of something half price what you want is a far better deal than double what you need.

here is a traditional Italian peasant food recipe that is incredibly cheap to make and very nutritous - it's a top favourite in our family and even the dog loves the sauce on his biscuits!

Pasta Fagioli

www.italianfoodforever.com/2012/01/pasta-e-fagioli/

Marks place

Pasta looks lovely - but you give your dog beans? Does he really really fart after that?

lol!! no I give him the sauce, the odd bean might find its way into his bowl but we haven't noticed any unpleasant pongs yet!

Don't forget to tell your council that you are now the only adult in the property - that'll get you a decent discount on your council tax.

Those struggling for money might also want to look at the threads on women who earn £1k a day and also setting up a business as well as thinking of ways to cut back.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/freelancers/1538634-How-might-I-earn-1000-a-month-working-from-home
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/freelancers/1545649-Who-wants-to-be-an-entrepreneur-Start-here-and-those-who-are-help-here-please

 
Also if you work 7 days a week you don't spend much. My oldest child who has been working quite hard says one upside is that most of her salary is being saved.

Can you elaborate on the hairdresser wholesaler bargains? Recommend any brands etc?

If you are a small family and don't go through fresh veg fast enough only buy frozen. Much to exp irritation I accepted a hand me down small etc freezer and only but frozen veg. Much less wasteful especially things like sweet corn and chopped onions where you can just measure out what you need.

I am getting much better at using up produce that's going off. Going to cook a load of tomatoes going soft with some of the frozen onions and some jar garlic and make a basic pasta sauce. Then I will blend a linnet of soggy raspberries with done icing sugar and freeze that too.

I replaced a broken DVD player from British heart foundation lately - £10 with a year warranty - bargain!

Lastly make sure all your billing is online - with virgin it's £18 a year cheaper

if you have to buy some more furniture try your local auction house they usually have plenty of cupboards chests of drawers wardrobes and tables/chairs could easily get solid wood dining table and chairs for £30 also rugs lamps could also easily get a whole set of china for about £30 dinner plates tea cups etc

late victorian mahogany furniture known As "brown furniture" is incredibly well made but rather unfashionable and often the same price as argos MDF crap

not good for beds

with auctions remember about extra 15-20 % comission on hammer price you are expected to pay and remove goods that day or within 2 working days for larger items

I had really good results selling old textbooks to Fatbrain and zapper websites, just had £100 cheque. I put any money I save from coupons and supermarket vouchers etc into the Christmas jar. Also try Martin Lewis's Money Saving expert site, it has a free email each week with loads of offers and advice. Good luck and i hope you will soon feel everything improving in your life

Buy some old furniture from charity shop
Paint it up
Selling on eBay
Everyone's going mad for shabby chic stuff at the moment..... Easy way to make money.

Put carrots in the fruit bowl - saves a fortune on apples (my three were getting through ten apples a day)

Anyone at mnhq fancy putting all the tips together in a nice formatted print out and keep format? I.e. bills, groceries etc etc (cheeky but worth asking?!)

Maybe someone on the thread can do it and charge 50p per email

OP, sorry you find yourself in this position. It sounds like you have your head screwed on the right way though, and it is surprising how much you can economise when you need to. I've been there, as have most of us at some time or another. Once I found a pound coin in the street, I thought I'd won the lottery!

To those who use topcashback, do you get stacks of junk mail and cold callers? I am wary of putting my address and phone number on lots of things as I'm concerned it will be sold on to marketing companies, and also that it increases the risk identity theft.

I meant to add - buy the loose veg rather than the pre-packed, it's cheaper. Abut 70p for the same quantity of onions that would cost £1 if you bought them in a bag.

It's a bit of an adjustment but before long you will be realising how much money you have wasted in the past, and you will gain a new appreciation for the value of money.

Rest assured that your kids will be fine if you appear confident. Kids can be very cheap, mostly they just want their parents.

The adjustments...

1. Shopping

Stay away from the shops, even the supermarket unless you absolutely have to go. You'll be amazed by how long you can manage on what's in your cupboards.

Rather than look for voucher deals, switch off direct marketing (voucher) emails. You don't need them.

1. Planning

• plan meals & shopping, batch cook & freeze

• get acquainted with meat-free meals

• bake bread, it's easy and delicious

• always take food & drinks when going out with kids so you don't end up wasting money on cafe food.

• Learn how to use baking soda as a household cleaner, it's much cheaper and healthier than chemical cleansers. Infact, you can pretty much skip the cleaners aisle of the supermarket.

1. Think sustainability

• If you need to buy something, check eBay and freecycle first
• Look for clothes online or in charity shops
• Rip up old pjs or sheets for rags rather than buying dust cloths etc
• Use storage containers rather than plastic or aluminium wrap.

1. Be savvy

Scour for the best deals on utilities and services from mortgage deals to electric companies and mobile phones.
Review regularly as they can change markedly.

Remember that you just can't afford it
If you have been using expensive skincare and cosmetic products, rethink it. There are excellent quality cheaper products. Same goes for clothes, shoes and gifts.

1. Kids' stuff

Use the libraries, parks and museums. Take your own food. Use buses and trains, kids love this.

1. Gifts and cards

Make cards and consider making gifts. Baking always goes down well.