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 :)

[nipitinthebud]

Oh another thing is using the peel of veg you might ordinarily chuck away or the woody ends of things and make soup with them. Great to do after a roast dinner - so all the carrot peelings, half bits of onion, potato peelings (I don't ever peel my pots for soup anyway - all good fibre) and after boiling the chicken (or whatever) carcass to make the stock.

Also the end of the day specials, I bought a large head of brocolli for 20p - there was a very minor amount of yellowing - just boiled it up with an onion and stock cube, then added a bit of milk and an end bit of blue cheese looking very past its best in the fridge - brocolli and stilton soup for next to nothing. And can always freeze if you're not going to use it.

And a site I've heard of through MN - Approved Foods. its all things on clearance, with very short shelf-lives or past best before (but no fresh stuff....so all OK to eat). Very, very cheap! Haven't done it yet, but worth a look.

[zookeeper]

I found out this week you can get headlice treatment and a nittygritty on prescription. This would certainly save me money.

[javotte]

We have a "leftover day" (usually Monday, or Sunday if I'm too busy / tired to make a Sunday lunch). Everybody picks something from the fridge or the freezer (I freeze leftovers in individual portions if there isn't too feed the whole family).

[javotte]

I meant "enough left to feed", of course

[amigoingmadhere]

oh wow - it's discussion of the day

These are all so so helpful, thank you all so much. Keep the tips/ideas coming!
I am feeling so down today but am going to make myself feel better by noting these all down in some kind of organised fashion tonight when the dcs are in bed hopefully

[SundaeGirl]

Only cook what your children will eat. Sounds obvious, but it's depressing to scrape worthy meals into the bin.

[benjalamummy]

Sorry I haven't had time to read all the posts so I may be repeating something .. but three of my nearest and very dearest have found themselves in the same position in 2012 and I know how tough it has been for them. All coping brilliantly, but it's the worrying that they won't which as been hard.

Check if you are eligible for Income Support - the Citizens' Advice Bureau can help. Even if you are only eligible for a very minimal amount, I understand it opens up other things, like free school meals, legal aid etc.

Good luck with everything :)

[WoodlandHills]

as seriously need to learn to budget better and be more sensible with money.

[ivykaty44]

get a new Boots card (old one is connected to my stbxh's email account)

I buy christmas presents in boots in January when they reduce all there christams ideas - I will buy so many presents and get points, then using the points buy more presents - keep in wardrobe till christmas (never buy stuff that will go off)

• get Tesco clubcard (shop at lidl)
  
• get Nectar card (shop at lidl)
  
• always scour the internet etc. for vouchers / codes etc. (do this anyway but in a more random way)
  
• only ever buy presents in sales, start looking at presents now as the summer sales are on -espcially gardening presents at the end of the summer.
  
• when moving house, try to get as much as possible from charity shops / freecycle etc.
  
• use library more - set phone alarm for return date otherwise you can awful large fines
  
• see if Surestart still exists (a while since I used their services)
  
• start looking for any local free/cheap gym / sports facilities -use bikes and park - with dc, go in the evenings two or three times a week. I used to run whilst dc cycle and now it is the other way round and we play games of catch up which keeps me working harder
  

I have no tv and no landline - as it saves me 260 pounds per year

I get internet on virgin so no need for phone line and one fixed price.

We use dvd's and youtube, which you don't need a licence for however much they try to convince you you do - you don't need a licence for a laptop or pc

[ivykaty44]

We have a popcorn maker that dd wanted one christams many years ago - it is well used.

Popcorn is cheap as chips to buy unpopped and it is also good for you unsalted or sugared. We use chinese five spice and place in freezer bags - you can use paprika, thai 7 spice - the seasoning intensifies in the bags so use sparingly. or if you want salt, sugar

See if you can get a bread machine on free cycle or second hand - many people buy and then use a few times and it clutters a cuboard.

I buy flour in bulk from a local mill - I googled to find one and it costs me 8.50 for 12.5 kilo bag which makes 31 loaves of bread, so with electric and a teaspoon of sugar, yeast and salt costs me approx 35p per loaf

good price as new would be nearer 100 pounds

You can make dough and then rolls and freeze for packed lunches, pizza bases are really easy and I make pizza for around 1 pound each and they are much much nicer than the luxury style pizza you can buy.

[domesticgodless]

ivykaty do you find the tv licencing people really hassle you cos they assume you stream tv through laptop? A lot of my students complain about that.

[domesticgodless]

I'd happily exist without tv but my sons would riot :)

[ivykaty44]

I sorted that one DG

Write a letter withdrawing rights of access -I kept getting the threatening letters and having two dd's it wasn't mice (murder in area and a rape where the man said he was boiler man and raped a 12 year old in own home) So nice man at tv licencing told me to look it up on internet

I used a smith name they wrote and told me they would catch me another way - I don't use a tv so have nothing to fear. They haven't writen since.

Apparently they will in about 3 years - to repeat action will be required.

We just watch what we want when we want on youtube or itv catch up etc - which is legal. TBH very little by me but dd watches stuff - she does a lot of sport so she wouldn't ever see tv live anyway!

[domesticgodless]

their harassment even of people who don't have a tv is absolutely awful!!

good on you ivy

[LIttleMcF]

Also second the Matin Lewis website - I've nearly bought all our Christmas early for the very first time due to amazing deals on there.

Grow your own vegetables. We've got sacks of onions, potatoes and garlic. We've got a freezer full of courgette, sweetcorn and soft fruits. We'll soon hopefully have lots of pumpkins to last through winter. Sign up for a allotment (or a shared plot if you don't feel like taking on a while on); if you don't have space to grow at home. A half-plot where we are is only £20 per year. Grow Your Own website has a fantastic forum to assist with everything you don't know. We take the DC up to our allotment to cook sausages on a makeshift bbq and dig for 'treasure' (more potatoes). Depending on the age of your DC, there's lots to involve them with and make it fun. If you only have a windowsill, grow herbs and salad leaves.

Learn to forage - it's coming up to a lovely time of year to find sloes, berries, mushrooms etc. Me and the DC picked tons of wild garlic this Spring, and we've got a load of wild garlic pesto in the freezer now. Depending where you live there's usually someone, somewhere who does organised foraging walks to teach you about what to look for. Brilliant fun for kids too.

When you've grown some stuff, swap it - I give blackberry jam (free, in hedgerows, saved jars) and a few courgettes to a neighbour, and he gives us fresh eggs from his chickens.

Make bread (sorry, I - buy a sack of flour (Amazon have lots and deliver free) as it works out MUCH cheaper.

Good luck - sounds like you have a really positive attitude, which will help enormously.

[ivykaty44]

I will add, though not frugal, I set up different traditions when I became single.

dc have to set the table for dinner every night and we eat as late as the youngest will allow. The table is set with kitchen roll and a jug of water and glasses - so it is a real meal time for out small family to get together. We still do this now.

bath time was another big ritual and never rushed leaving one hour for bath time so it was relaxed and our time.

Don't know why but these two rituals made me feel so much better

Didn't cost a lot...

[Fluffycloudland77]

It's true, I mean a picnic with lovely homemade sandwiches and a wedge of homemade victoria sponge with a flask of tea is nicer than just one stingy pot of tea and a tiny slice of cake when your out and about.

If you get a blanket and a picnic set off ebay you can have some lovely days out op.

I love my picnic hamper, it was £20 in homebargains and has crockery plates and proper cutlery. It feels quite luxurious.

[Loopy4got]

I went to the supermarket yesterday to buy a baguette for lunch and £75 later...........the day before I went to get milk that was about £25 later........basically I would say, follow me around and dont buy what I buy and have a giggle at how I put "on offer GU's " into my trolley when I am on the worlds biggest diet, also giggle at how I cant resist a " wine offer " when my house is full to bursting with wine......

I was hoping some humour would help... I do hope you will be ok and it sounds like you have been given some very good advice. I should probably follow it. BTW cant you use up the points on that Boots card before you go? One last little treat?? Your fav bottle of perfume for example? Would be a shame to let the points go to waste. Good luck with things xxx

[NetworkGuy]

Just to recommend www.HotUKdeals.com (they e-mail the hottest deals around noon each day)

Although a fair few 'hot' items are gadgets, there are sections concerning food and clothing (and toys too, for that matter) so get yourself signed up, costs nothing and can help you find bargains.

I was low on sugar this week and while the cheapest 1 kg bag is at 99p stores for 82p (!), at least I felt it worth looking in Aldi and Lidl and bought some at 86p, not the price that local Tesco [Express] or Asda charge.

You can search it too, for specific items and general terms (eg 'Sugar Puffs', or 'mobile'). There are also tips on voucher codes for buying things online. With thousands of individuals spotting bargains and posting, there's a pretty high number of new listings each day, and of course some won't be nationwide or could be the 'manager specials' at just one store, but still worth a look, whether for run-of-the-mill purchases or gifts for Christmas (since DCs will be looking forward to something) and birthdays.

[ANTagony]

Treats don't need to be expensive. For days out write down lots of things on different cards and let the kids pick. You can have
trip to the cinema ( kids am is £1 a person near me),
day out to the beach,
foraging,
pick your own ( there are things to pick April through to October in most areas), geocaching,
bike ride,
mystery tour (exploring a new area where child in front of car says left or right at the end of each road and you rotate the one in the front. My kids loved this to explore a new area and so long as I kept them roughly in the direction of where we were intending to head we didn't get too lost and learn't our way around.)
McDonalds or Pizza hut for icecream ( mine would rather just have dessert)
Proper sweetie shop for 50g their choice sweets from a jar
Pond/ stream dipping.
Sledging!
Collecting kindling for a garden bonfire, don't forget the marshmallows.


I get my kids involved in selling their old toys to raise cash for themselves to buy more. They love watching them go on eBay and are really keen on bartering at the car boot even though things aren't as tight now (I've remarried and have a third child). DS2could be called tight he negotiates things to be free with his big blue eyes and then walks away because he doesn't want to part with another toy on the one in one out rule.

The biggest important lesson for life my boys learn't when money was impossibly tight was either/ or. They understand icecream in McDonalds or pack of icecreams/ donuts from supermarket and actively enjoy making that decision.

Tesco club card vouchers were my saviour for holidays they allowed us days out that I just couldn't have justified. I didn't shop in Tesco but got points through energy supply and from my mum who had a duplicate/ the partner of my club card.

Travel lodge do £9ish rooms if you book well in advance sign up to their newsletter and you will get advance warning of when they're releasing the next lot. This in conjunction with Tesco vouchers gave us the odd mini holiday for under £20 with eating out (breakfast at supermarket, packed lunch, pot noodle type tea in travel lodge).

Money doesn't make you happy, it can make life easier but keeping control of your own money, however little, is quite empowering.

Make sure you help yourself by claiming what society says you're entitled to by going on a site like benefits checker.

Don't sacrifice yourself for your children. Whilst no doubt all of us would do anything for our DC it is vital for you and ultimately them that you look after yourself. Don't turn yourself into a second class citizen. Keep a little bit back for getting your hair cut/ buying a nice bottle of wine to share with an old friend/ getting a take away when the kids have gone to bed, getting the odd new item of clothing. You need to be happy to fully enable them to be happy.

You can be happy on a tight budget.

[BoerWarKids]

This is a brilliant website. It's both money saving advice and minimalism. The man's got six kids!

I think minimalism as a philosophy marries really well with thrift and frugality.

I used to be very consumerist, also had the latest gadgets, frittered away a fortune on clothes, make up, takeaways, etc. I've totally changed my outlook.

[CherryBlossom27]

Hi OP, I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if I'm repeating any tips!

First of all make a list of all of your outgoings and income. Check if you are entitled to any benefits and make sure you claim everything you are entitled to. On the outgoings, look at each one individually and search online to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. It seems like a hassle, but if you do it after the kids are in bed it won't take too long!

I really recommend joining the money saving expert site, there is excellent advice on there and the posters are amazing and so helpful!

I find meal planning helps massively as I only buy what I need and I'm not wasting food. I do buy things when they are on offer e.g. toilet rolls (I never pay full price!), meat (keep it in the freezer), bread (again keep it in the freezer).

Don't necessarily buy your toiletries and cleaning products from the big supermarkets, I find Wilkinsons and Poundland have great offers and this has saved me money.

If you can get to a local market, do as the fruit and veg is cheaper than the supermarket, although I do find it doesn't last as long.

Also if you have any Indian or Chinese supermarkets near you, they are a lot cheaper than the big supermarkets and often have much bigger packs of things such as rice, lentils and spices.

Personally I avoid browsing in clothes shops so I don't want what I can't see! It's horrible not being able to buy something you want, so I avoid avoid avoid!

Surestart Centres are great as they are usually free and mine caters for ages 0-5 years. We have 3 parks within walking distance, so I usually take my baby to the park as it's free and he enjoys watching the bigger kids playing. My local cinema has a kids screening at 10am on Sundays which is £1 per ticket, I think this is brilliant value, so worth looking into for your kids as a (monthly?) treat. Arrange play dates with your children's friends as this will be as good as a day out, they can entertain each other for free!

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but good luck to you!

[lucysmam]

I swear by lists. After dp having been laid off several times the past few years & I'm struggling to get back into work after not working for 5 years (SAHM).

Our weekly incoming is just over £200, on benefits. I 'allow' us £180 ish for everything...bills, food, days out, travel etc. I literally plan outgoings from Tuesday morning's bus ticket buying to the following Mondays bottle of milk for a pound. That leaves just over £20 for ice cream/sweets/beer/treats through the week, when that money's gone it's gone.

As we run out of food/grocry items I start a list so they form the basis of my next weeks online shop.

I write a list as I go from Tuesday to Tuesday of the things to be picked up on market day with the kids. This list normally ends up with a note that I can spend a few extra quid on the kids scribbled on the bottom of it.

I buy xmas cards in after xmas sales & wrap (think I picked them up for about 25p a pack & roll of paper in wilko's this year. Card factory £1 for 10 kids birthday cards. Budget of £5 for xmas/birthday presents per person (except the kids)

If you have a garden, poundland have some not too bad garden toys atm. My two will play for hours with a couple of cheapy water guns, bubbles and chalks on the path.

Try to have a stash of 'emergency money'. Our washer broke earlier this year so bought a second hand one for £90ish, was a nightmare that week & I'm glad I put a bit aside each week otherwise there'd have been no food shop /travel. Can be handy for smaller things too, we've had times when we've literally handed over a couple of quid in coppers in Tesco for bread/milk.

Oh, and I don't mind Sains basics tea bags either, go through about 3 boxes a week

[iloveberries]

Haven't read all the thread so sorry if I missed this but where do you live?
If you're in south east you should sign up to do market research groups - you can earn up to £100 for an hour talking about x or y branded products.

Also - whenever you buy food or any products actually and its a bit off or not what you expected, you should complain to the retailer/company. They will always send you lots of vouchers.

Good luck op!!

[girliefriend]

hello some really good ideas on here!

I would add don't be snobbish about buying smartprice/ morrisons savers etc I have been guilty of this in the past but not these days

I save money by being mostly vegetarian, not drinking much alcohol or smoking therefore I can justify the occasional back massage (£20) !!!

Good luck - you will be fine