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Original poster

Money saving tips for the new year

281 replies

MushyPeace · 28/12/2012 00:45

New year, new start and all that... Anyone have any fab money saving tips?

Just due to everyday costs I have somehow managed to run up £5k debt and am so embarrassedHmm. I don't budget well. DP and I have been taking about having a baby soon (not getting any younger) and I just can't go into it knowing I have this debt. AF was three days late until today and while i would be so happy to be preg I am also relieved I am not. Hmm

So what's your top tip?

I am so far trying the budget supermarkets Smile and it will be packed lunches from now on. I will also eBay anything and everything!

OP posts:
SoftKittyWarmKitty · 03/01/2013 10:49

How do you actually make that soup Wolf? I've never made soup - do you need a blender?

HellesBelles396 · 03/01/2013 11:49

SoftKitty If it's the same recipe as I have done:

Sainsburys basics chopped tomatoes can e turned into a really amazing (and super cheap) tomato soup with a little carrot, celery, onion, stock and a spoon of sugar and splash of balsamic vinegar.

Finely chop carrot, celery and onion (TBH, I usually grate them. These are the basis of almost every soup and stew I make. Once you've done this stage you can just add whatever suits you really)
Lightly fry in a little oil until soft (no colour, I tend to use olive oil)
Add tinned tomatoes and sugar to taste, simmer to thicken
Add balsamic vinegar to taste
If you like, use a stick blender to blend until smooth

Wolfcub · 03/01/2013 11:57

A hand blender is useful for soup I have a £4 one which does an adequate job.

Wolf's Tomato Soup

Chop one stick of celery, one carrot and one onion. Sweat together gently in a little oil for at least 10 mins. If you like garlic chop a clOve or two and sweat with the other veg for 2 mins. Add 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp tomato purée and a slosh of balsamic. Allow Tom purer to cook out for a minute or two. If you like add some dried herbs - no more than a teaspoon. Add two cartons of sainsburys basics chopped tomatoes and a pint of stock - veg or chicken doesn't matter which. Add a bay leaf if you like but remember to remove before blending. Bring to the boil and then simmer for ten mins or so. Season to taste. Blend with a hand blender until relatively smooth. Is nice eaten just like this but if you like it creamier you can add a good splosh of milk and simmer for a couple more minutes. Freezes and reheats nicely either on stove or in microwave. Quantity should make enough for 4-5 portions.

Wolfcub · 03/01/2013 11:59

Cross post with hellesbelles sorry hadn't seen that you'd already posted a recipe

SoftKittyWarmKitty · 03/01/2013 13:04

Thanks, it sounds lovely, I must try it. DS and I like soup but I find shop bought ones are a bit too salty. Might see if I can pick up a cheap blender in the sales. Can you freeze the soup in tubs or is it only suitable for fridging?

HellesBelles396 · 03/01/2013 13:16

wolf I've never added stock as I find the cheaper tomatoes are quite liquidy - I imagine it gives extra flavour. Thanks for the tip!

Wolfcub · 03/01/2013 13:43

It freezes happily

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/01/2013 15:14

I've got a very cheap £5 blender, that dh took from work (it was an orphan hand blender) and I can confirm it does soup just fine.

I had a sandwich today that I made at home and froze, it was really fresh when I had it so I will be batch freezing them from now on.

I must get dh a waitrose card, I have one and I got a Xmas card off them with a £5 voucher.

13Iggis · 03/01/2013 16:36

What was in your sandwich Fluffy? (Does cheese freeze? Have only just learned from this thread that milk does!)

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/01/2013 17:07

White bread, aldi spread, corned beef and pickle.

Cheese freezes too.

MinimalistMommi · 03/01/2013 17:53

Apparently peanut butter and jam freezes, but to make it work you need to spread peanut butter on either side of sandwich and then pop jam in middle of this. The peanut butter acts like a barrier so you don't get soggy sandwiches.

Grated cheese freezes very well in sandwiches.

HellesBelles396 · 03/01/2013 18:39

What other sandwiches can be frozen? I love cheese but don't fancy it every day. Since my slow cooker arrived today Grin, I want to start having sandwiches at lunchtime with a main meal at teatime.

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/01/2013 18:50

I would imagine any sliced meat or chicken would freeze well.

Maybe prawns too.

HellesBelles396 · 03/01/2013 19:03

Thanks Fluffy - I'm shopping tomorrow so will stock up.

mathanxiety · 03/01/2013 19:06

Cheese freezes. Cut it into smaller chunks than it comes in originally so you can defrost faster and defrost smaller pieces. Wrap it well in greaseproof paper and then a freezer bag.

All sliced meats freeze well. Wrap carefully.

*Remember to mark what you put in your freezer, and include the date of freezing too. Nothing worse than inspecting something you paid good money for only to find you don't know what it is or how old it is.

mathanxiety · 03/01/2013 19:09

Rashers also freeze and they make delicious sandwiches with sliced tomatoes and a little lettuce.

Steal little packets of mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup if you're out somewhere these are available and keep them for bringing with you and assembling your sandwiches at lunchtime so they won't be all soggy.

HellesBelles396 · 03/01/2013 19:11

mathanxiety half of my freezer is full of things I don't remember buying but refeuse to throw away because i'm sure it'll be ok in a stew!!

BluelightsAndSirens · 03/01/2013 19:22

this pulled pork in slow cooker is lovely and I make frozen rolls/wraps with it as suggested in the recipe for work.

littlemonkeychops · 03/01/2013 20:15

Hi - can i join? :-)

I switched to doing thd big food shop once a fortnight rather than weekly, with double the budget i can take advantage of bulk buys etc.

I also keep a list of all thd people i need to get birthday/christmas presents for and buy things throughout thd year when i see offers, makes it cheaper and stops me buying things in a panic at the last minute.

Some questions...

  1. Those who add lentils to cottage pie etc, what sort of lentils do you use and when do you add them, when browning the mince? (Lentil virgin!!)
  1. Anyone got a good tip for organising the freezer? I batch cook and buy reduced items but the freezer ends up rammed and i forget what i've got

Thanks :-)

13Iggis · 03/01/2013 20:33

Thanks for cheese-freezing info! (What about egg?)
Wish I had a bigger freezer though.

ilikesweetpeas · 03/01/2013 20:46

Marking place on this thread, some great ideas!

Piemother · 03/01/2013 21:45

I bought the soda crystals now what do I use them for apart from in the drains?
I also have the mat leave problem Hmm

I have the child benefit paid in to a separate account I only ever use for stuff for the dc. I also don't shop for them locally (I don't like what's on offer here which helps) but go to a different city about twice a year and shop at jojo/gap/John Lewis. My dc are the same gender so I invest in better quality clothes that will last through two kids why h I presume I will sell one day Hmm. It stops me window shopping for clothes etc when I have to go in to town and then the proper shopping trip feels like a luxury splurge Smile.
Accept hand me downs. If you don't like second hand you will once they go to nursery! I also buy 2nd hand from here/eBay/nct (if I can be arsed with the scrum) for nursery stuff but also nice brands if jeans etc. I would much rather have 2nd hand gap than new tesco. I learned the hard wAy about supermarket clothes with dc1! If I have to cut back more I will just but less outfits instead if going cheaper it's not worth risking things falling apart.
Same with shoes - dc1 has kickers - yes v spendy but v robust and in winter all they need +wellies as they look great with everything and they must be v comfy as dc1 is in live with them and has had the same style repeatedly just in different colours.

I need help with meal planning. I love stews/lasagne/all the stuff you can batch cook but dc1 won't eat anything like that. I am persevering with the this is what there is mindset but still need guidance for feeding a 3 year old cheaply.
I also need lunch box ideas pleas Grin

When I am at work I struggle a bit with lunches. I travel a lot so food I take gets to the office fridge and gets abandoned. I end up buying lunch at 3pm whatever I can get! Not organised I know Hmm

I need to get my food shop down to 50 a week inc cleaning stuff but not nappies. For 1 adult and 1 3 year old is that realistic?

fakeblondie · 04/01/2013 00:47

Just marking place sorry

mathanxiety · 04/01/2013 03:59

I cook the lentils first, then add them to the dish I'm making. I use the plain brown ones that can be hidden easily and turn to mush faster.

It's a pita but keep a list on a dry erase board of what's in the freezer and the date you put it in. You can stick the dryerase board to the freezer door. Try to keep similar dishes together in the same section of the freezer

jenduck · 04/01/2013 08:37

Iggis found this about freezing eggs (gotta love Google - although did come up with entirely different stuff first Hmm!)

freezing eggs