Money saving tips for the new year

[MushyPeace]

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 embarrassed. 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.

So what's your top tip?

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

[HellesBelles396]

liking the freezer list. couldn't you just write straight onto the door with a dry wipe though? (my freezer has an enamel coating)

I was going to ask about freezing eggs eg egg mayo in a sandwich.

[HollaAtMeBaby]

I don't think that would work HellesBelles - mayonnaise doesn't freeze well.

[Piemother]

V motivated by this thread. Declaring war on the freezer today. I have a 4 drawer one and a dinky chest freezer. Why I haven't categorised it before I dunno but that's the plan since I have no idea what's under there!
Same goes for the larder which is huge and like a black hole.
I'm going to find a cheap shop and bit lots of storage containers so I can split up pack lunch dry food, cereals, tins etc. I think (know) half my pproblem with shopping is I worry I don't have enough of things to last but actually I have loads knocking around.
I only shop when dc1 is at nursery (twice a week) which is good in some ways as I never top up shop (I can't I'm a lp and find small shops with 2 dc too stressful) but I also slightly panic buy.
Going to try the ongoing list you add to when things run out too

[Binfullofgibletsonthe26th]

I freeze nearly everything - cheese, eggs, bacon, ham, cream, milk, herbs, left over citrus fruit chopped up and pushed into the ice cube tray with water, leftover crusts of bread zapped in the food processor or grated to make breadcrumbs (use for schnitzel, rissoles or Queens pudding).

If I have veg that looks due to expire, and i can't eat that day I blanch or steam it and put into freezer bags. Most veg blanches and freezes well.

If I have potatoes starting to go soft I peel and cube them, steam for 5 mins, cool and bag up for the freezer. You can defrost and microwave into mash, or put them in a pan with olive oil and roast in a hot oven.

I don't have a fancy stacked steamer, I bought one of those metal inserts from IKEA that fits inside a normal saucepan.

[BoffinMum]

Hard cheese freezes well, as does whipped cream piped into sticks or rosettes (freeze on a tray first on greaseproof paper, then bag it up once it's frozen). Berries can also be prepared and frozen on trays, although strawberries go a bit soggy (fine in smoothies and crumbles, though).

[HellesBelles396]

Thanks hola - mental note not to freeze egg mayo!

[HellesBelles396]

Ten sandwiches in freezer for next week:
ham
tuna (no mayo)
cheese
chicken

It only took 20 minutes which is how long it takes on a morning when I'm trying to do 20 things at once!

[13Iggis]

Thanks Jenduck, lots of good advice on that site!
The tips on cooking/freezing food that's about to go off are great, ashamed to say I throw a lot away.
I often write a list of what's in the freezer, but never thought of a whiteboard. I don't know if freezers would be like school whiteboards, the pen tends to show through after a while.

[littlemonkeychops]

Thanks mathanxiety -lentils on the shopping list! :-)

[HellesBelles396]

good point 13iggis not going to write on the freezer!

[BoffinMum]

Don't sandwiches go soggy if frozen?

[OliviaPeaceOnMumsnet]

lentils
Will someone tell me about the lentils? Which ones (tinned please?) for bolognese??

[Pan]

Lentils. Bolognese.




You've been reported, Olivia.

[BoffinMum]

Red, but you didn't hear it from me.

[LilyVonSchtupp]

I just add red lentils with the stock / passata. No soaking, no pre-cooking. They take 20 mins to cook and IMO make it taste better.

Tip: I went to Oxfam today - bought a load of random and varied birthday cards for sending to friends & family through the year. All 49p each. All some quite nice. Saves me both money and hours agonising in Paperchase over whether to go Humorous or Sincere.

Also money goes to Oxfam.

[mathanxiety]

'Test in an inconspicuous area first' HellesBelles.

Mayo separates when you thaw it out after freezing and is pretty much impossible to re-emulsify. You live and learn..

[Fluffycloudland77]

You can also use green lentils in spaghetti Bol if you use tinned.

Frozen sandwiches don't go soggy. Promise. Unless you add salad.

[Piemother]

With the cards I buy plain ones from tesco I think it's 3.50 for 50 or thereabouts. I give them to dc to decorate with stamps/stickers they love it and it makes the cards special stickers v easy but using paint stamps is probably the cheapest option. Which reminds me I must find some new ones as crowns/Xmas trees don't quite cover all occasions!

[HellesBelles396]

Inconspicuous areas of the freezer are tucked into the wall so I think I'll find a less ricky option

Re-organised freezer yesterday into:
Top Drawer: accompaniments - oven chips, steam fresh veg (I know but I love them), frozen yorkshires (I know but I hate making them), crusty bread rolls.
Middle drawer: ingredients - frozen meat, onions, garlic, chilli, veg, fruit
Bottom drawer: leftovers, and, now, frozen sandwiches!!!!

Also stacked meat in the fridge into date order so the meat that needs using on Monday is at the top ready for cutting up and putting into the pot tomorrow ready for the slow cooker being switched on on Monday morning! Quite excited

Not excited that I may then only be on mumsnet once a day....

[HellesBelles396]

just loaded slow cooker pot with a beef stew to put on in the morning

[13Iggis]

I wrote a menu plan for next ten days or so and shopped strictly to it today - went to Aldi's for first time, and bought what I couldn't get there in Asda's. Spent £80 - would normally be about £100 with loads of top-up shops, so we'll see how it goes!

[BluelightsAndSirens]

Feel free to post your meal plans, mine has gone to pot due t a sneaky Chinese take away last night and chips beside the sea tonight although. Dd do the lulled pork ready for tomorrow and it smells lovely with so much meat from a £6 shoulder of pork.

[AudrinaAdare]

Tesco Everyday Shampoo

40p per litre as opposed to £1 for 400ml alberto balsam

I bought some on Friday and it isn't strongly perfumed (good, because I don't like my body / scent and hair to clash), doesn't lather up as well, but it got my hair clean using the same amount. It was fine.

Then again I wash mine every day as it tends towards greasy so I don't need TLC from my shampoo. Even so, t would be great for the DC / DH who don't have coloured or damaged hair.

[Breadandwine]

Hi folks

Been watching this thread with interest, and thought I'd add my two pennyworth.

My passion is breadmaking! And there's no doubt at all that you can save quite a bit of money by making your own loaves and other bread products - pizzas, Chelsea buns, that sort of thing.

I've put together a post on my blog:

nobreadisanisland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/on-tight-budget-make-your-own-bread.html

where I've gathered together some ideas, especially with a view to saving money.

If you have any questions or suggestions about other breads you don't see on my blog, please feel free to come back to me.

ATB! B&W

[13Iggis]

Bluelightsandsirens - heavens you wouldn't want my meal plans - baked potatoes, omelettes, stir fry and pasta pasta pasta is the order of the day! (We are vegetarians) (and crap cooks).