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 :)

Travel off peak to taek advantage of lower fares and use family, young persons railcards etc

Have you thought of offering ironing services? I use a company which charges £30 per bag - and they always seem to be busy - also something you could fit in round DC.

And when you allow yourself a treat, the Tastecard is brilliant - just google and you can have a free trial - lots of 2 for 1 and 50% off offers at lots of restaurants from very smart to chains such as Zizzi.

work don't like me travelling off peak as that means I am always late

Haircuts - local college hairdressing courses often have really good rates
Make sure you make the most of the oven when it's on - batch bake or cook tomorrow's meal at the same time. Also make sure you have full load of washing when using the washing machine.
Pull the curtains as soon as it gets dark in the winetr to help keep the house warm
If you have no money for food because of an emergency see if you have a local foodbank
Try to factor in some money for the occasional small treat - even a small pack of sweets can be a treat - and don't forget the occasional treat for yourself
Make your own ice lollies from frozen juice or yoghourt
Ensure you have the best rates for utility bills, it can be as simple as phoning you electric company and asking if you are on their cheapest rate
Minimize energy use - be strict about turning lights off in empty rooms, only boiling as much water as you need in the kettle, turning off TV, chargers etc when not being used
Before you throw out anything, think whether you can reuse it. I used to keep all sorts of packaging - great for crafting and toy making with dcs.

Sale rolls of wallpaper make really good giant colouring pads (use the inside not the side with the pattern!)- we made a fabulous picture of Noah's Ark and all the animals, it took ages and was about 10 foot long when it was finished.
Use old fashioned methods for cleaning- vinegar and washing soda can be much cheaper than "specialist" cleaning products
Buy as much in bulk as you can

Good luck

Poundland have actually started selling some great toys, I got my son a magic set and he loved it and it was actually pretty good as were the tennis rackets, set of four tennis balls and spongebob stationary! Obviously buying a load of tat is wasteful but one or two along side a quality toy or some useful gifts can be fun.

Above were birthday presents. but don't take them to pundland if you plan to get them pressies from there it ruins the illusion!

School uniforms - buy in June or July as they're discounted (M&S good) and buy at least one size too big. If the school has any flexibility over uniforms go for the polo shirts as they look better in the wrong size and avoid anything white if you can as you end up replacing when it's grey rather than too small.

Get trousers with adjustable waists that are too long and then turn them up before your DC wears them, let down turn-ups the following year and then cut off the ones that go through the knees into long shorts which will last a couple more years if you have a skinnyish DC. Cut any jeans/ trousers that get too short into long shorts and they go on forever.

Shoe dye is fabulous - use to cover scuffs and to convert charity shop shoes, as it's always the other colours in charity shops, to black for school. Clarks Doodle sandals, though not cheap, will last through several kids and don't outgrow quickly as the toes are open. Buy gender-neutral clothes with things like coats so more can be handed down and just accessorise with pink/ robots.

Use nametapes so you're not replacing lost items and have them made with just your surname so you only buy one set and things will find their way back to you.

If you prioritise good waterproofs/ fleeces/ wellies for all of you there are lots of free outdoor things to do all year.

Oh and a slowcooker is great - I stick a ham in at breakfast time Saturday to cook on in the afternoon using a time switch (buy two or three for £10 and freeze the spares), it doesn't seem to matter if it's frozen when it goes in. We have it hot for tea, then I slice it cold for packed lunches all week and use the remains for risotto or something on a Friday night. Much nicer and cheaper than pre-cooked ham.

I think slow cookers are useful and I leave mine on when out of the house as have only ever burned porridge. Its worth experimenting with dishes to see if the meat and veg really need browning because I think thats a bit of a faff. Iuse our slow cooker for whole chicken then sometimes finish it in the oven to brown a little. It only seems to need a few hours in the slow cooker though def less than indicated in the book - bit trial and error. Must try ham in a slow cooker sounds really nice, do you add stock or does it cook in own juices? Pretty sure food hygiene would say don't put a frozen joint in though as the slow cooker might not have sufficient time to get hot enough to kill all the bacteria but clearly no harm done to your family so must be ok, guess it depends how slow your slow cooker really is. We have a crock pot one but I bought my brother a morphy richards and the food burns by the time they get home which means it doesn't really get used.

Just had a good idea! Use alarm function on phone to alert you when library books are due back. Fines can mount up quickly and sometimes is not worth the saving on buying it second hand from amazon . Having an online account for renewing books also useful.

Back to slow cooker sorry, Boffin mum what is your bol recipe please? mine was tough, watery and greasy not popular!

Hi Pookey, I haven't tried cooking a ham in its own juices, if I did that I'd soak it first to get rid of some salt, and maybe lob in in a tin of pineapple. I have slow cooked in water then put it in the oven to bake sometimes which is also good. I just put it in water with a fistfull of dried bay leaves. If it's frozen it does have the morning in the water to defrost before the time clock starts it cooking or I'd do it for about 4-5h rather than the 3h (on high) I do for an unfrozen one. When I first did this is was a bit pink in the middle once or twice so I just served the cooked end slices for tea and put the rest back in for another couple of hours, but tbh it's horrible if overcooked so I err on the side of caution. Cool and fridge before cutting up for sandwiches as it's too crumbly hot. Probably all highly dangerous, but we haven't got sick yet

Always keep some spare crunch bars / biscuits / bottle of water in the car and in your handbag so that when you are out and you or dcs get hungry you don't spend money on expensive snacks.

Avoid all bank charges by getting an interest free credit card every 12 months. never use to withdraw cash. This way any small overdraft ( which I occasionally got and paid a standard £5 plus interest every time) that may occur over the year can be ridden out. Pay off card before end of term and keep yearly cash in a saver - little bit of interest mounting. Never pay bank fees now.

ah I see so it kind of defrosts in the pot for a couple of hours before cooking. pineapple yum!

I use my pressure cooker quite a bit to make soup, and a lovely thick meaty stew that makes one good meal of stew, and the sauce with lovely meaty bits makes a nice pasta sauce for the following day. Not for me, am veggie!

Thanks Bodfinmum :)
Love your blog btw!
Am so determined to be more frugal...well, have got to be!
Am going to start shopping at aldi...any tips on what's best?
I am also going to use slow cooker when the weather turns.m
Dh and i are on a health kick ATM and have both lost weight but I am finding that the healthiermthemfood the more it costs?
Going to be using the library more instead of my kindle.
For the kids too.
I would love to ask for a sw
I would love a sewing machine for Xmas so I can alter/make stuff myself but I can hearnthenhowls of derision from family members now....:)

Healthy food is cheaper than buying easy made stuff! Well usually - I still can't get my head around why tinned sweet corn with sugar and salt is cheaper than without anything!

I cook nice veggies and grown lovely herbs in my window boxes. Look out for recipes that look interesting - lots of the food magazines have those 'ten miles for 5pm' type of articles.

Badvoc, I find in aldi most of it is good apart from the ready meals.

Dont try the toro loco pink wine, you'll never get off it.

I try everything, if I dont like it I take it back. I'm buying spaghetti at the moment for 24p and it's 100% durum wheat, not a mix of durum and soft wheat.

While your there try the body lotion in the BLUE bottle with white cap and the pressed powder.

I usually find healthy food cheaper as we pad it out with lots of frozen veg and brown bread.

Oops ten meals for 5p. Autocorrect and a whinging 8 year old!

There are things you can do which may not affect your lifestyle too much - I looked into shopping at aldi but it doesn't work for me as its far away and I work and just don't have the time:

a) Double check every penny you spend - eg I shop at tesco but buy value cottage cheese, chopped tomatoes, big pots of yoghurt, eggs (rather than small kids ones), only buy luxuries like berries / crisps / chocolate / snacks / granola bars / ice cream if on offer, and impress on the DC that its a treat and when its gone its gone. My kids take a couple of cream crackers to school as a snack. I use the points for days out - so whereever possible avoid paying entrance prices for days out.

Stop buying expensive kids products - and only dish up to your kids what they will eat, you can always give seconds; and if they don't want seconds you can have it for dinner or they can have it the next day. Never cook fresh food if there is still left-overs.

Never ever buy snacks when out and about, always more expensive. If you are working take packed lunch.

Always see if you can manage with the cheaper option - eg my DD can use tesco or boots cheap on brand hair conditioner and not feel deprived rather than l'oreal hair conditioner for kids etc. Same with handsoap (apart from maybe downstairs loo where guests see) and shower gel.

Also I go to asda roughly every 2-3 months to stock up on cupboard stuff thats cheaper there and kids clothes.

b) Boots is expensive - I hardly shop there - most stuff they want you to buy isn't actually needed, although often good three for twos. Actually doesn't matter if card is in H's name, you can still spend the points. Look out for little things that save money eg can use calpol 6+ but half the dose instead of baby calpol if your kids are aged 3-6.

c) Mooncup and never buy sanitary products again. Eplitator and never spend any money on hair removal again. Try and space haircuts out more, dye your own hair, cut DS's hair with clippers.

d) Recycle around half of the birthday presents your DC get, and buy any others needed in the sales. Look out for cheap wrapping paper and never bother with cards.

e) Stop using kitchen / bathroom wipes - and look out for cheaper cleaning products.

Wean yourself off outside teas and coffees. Take a bottle of water with you and a small snack, then you won't be tempted to nip in for a coffee and, oh alright then, a Danish pastry. Take delight in pulling our a home made muffin or slice of cake - a million times better than shop bought!

Have 'film nights' at home and make your own popcorn. Lots cheaper than the cinema and you don't have to suffer annoying people talking through the films and fiddling with their phones!

Shop with a list and stick to it. Don't impulse buy and think about what you are buying - unless there is an absolute bargain that you need so nappies or washing powder.

If you are popping out for a pint of milk, just put some coins in your pocket - don't take your purse or you can so easily be tempted to buy that bottle of wine, or a magazine.

Just practise saying 'we don't need that' and 'can we just use what we have in the cupboards' when shopping, or you will come back with loads of things you don't need.

Have a massive clear out, be ruthless and eBay stuff you don't need any more. Then you can have a sum in your PayPal account to use for buying other things. 'invisible' money really.

Encourage the kids to be 'careful' too - the best thing you can do for a child it to teach them that money does not grow on trees and 'a penny saved is a penny earned'. Let's face it, our kids generation will probably not have state pension or healthcare by the time they retire (we may not either!).

You're not being mean but sensible - remind yourself that when you pick up the own brand loo rolls! Decide what you can cut back on and what you can't I do draw the lean at cheap loo roll - I need the soft stuff on my bum!

Worth keeping Boots Advantage card if you have a PAYG mobile. You get the points on top ups you buy there even if you don't buy any thing else.

Hi, brilliant advice here, I'm still reading it all.

Boots card - I bought a Phil & Teds and a crib which I would have bought anyway online. They were a really good price with good service and I earnt enough points for an electric steam steriliser (Boots online has loads of stuff not in their shops.
Tesco direct - pretty much sells everything you could want and you also earn points.
Old ladies hair dressers - I changed from my usual trendy (but by no means the most expensive) london salon to one that caters more for old ladies (look for line drawings in window!) They tend to have a large weekly client base so prices are lower (they are even happy for dcs to be there when having a cut). My bill went from £120 for colour, cut and blow dry to £43. Did I notice the difference? Er, no and neither did anyone else.

False economies - beware the false economies. I recently bought a few kids clothes from primark. 6 weeks later and random holes are appearing. Better going for places like M&S or Next which are relatively cheap but last (some of that stuff has done 2 kids for me). Or good quality 2nd hand. This also applies to adult clothes (never buy anything you are not 100% happy with in the shop, no matter how cheap, you will have less clothes but wear them all).

If you do go anyway such as museums, cinema etc. ALWAYS buy your own food. Sandwiches in British museum are all over £4 and our local Vue charges £4.75 for a 'junior' popcorn.

One thing I didn't realize that I did until someone commented on it...when the dish soap (liquid kind) only has a very small bit left I fill it with water and use it as cleaner for the table, counters, etc.

Decant pound shop hand soap/ shampoo/ whatever into posher containers (if you have them!). Pump bottles are best for minimising waste.

If you buy a shampoo that doesn't suit your hair, use it as shower gel.