Can we have a 'best money saving tip' thread please?

[PlateSpinningAtAllTimes]

Myself and DH have decided that we really need to have a frugal couple of years to start properly saving some money. I think the MSE website is good but can be a little overwhelming- so much info! What are your best tips for curbing spending?

My tip: meal plan, cook in bulk, freeze individual portions. Lasagne and pasta bake seem to freeze well and are cheap to make.

[gutted2014]

Check out Groupon & other similar sites for all sorts of things - I have just bought a £10 Starbucks giftcard for £5, I have had family days out for 40% of the original price or less and much more.

[Supermum222]

Lelivre, thanks for that. I may have to try it! Trouble is, I will probably eat more than 2000 on the 5 days!

[DoctorRock]

motoring - keep your tyres at the right pressure, as even slightly soft tyres use significantly more petrol.

Set an alarm 15 minutes before the car park rolls into the next hour, and make sure you use the cheapest car park in town of course.

Leave a good long stopping distance so you don't need to waste precious momentum that you've already paid for - it's the brake pedal that increases fuel consumption, not the accelerator.
But don't crash - a good, long no claims bonus will save up to 60% if you shop around.

Don't carry excess weight like half empty water bottles from four days ago or any other litter.

[Lelivre]

Supermum222 yes women have 500 calories and men 600. There is a forum for intermittent fasting (or 5:2) on mumsnet now. Often I have salad and boiled eggs or a veg curry for my fast day meal which is a very cheap filling meal.

[Madratlady]

I've decided to stop using the tumble drier and buy a second clothes horse so I can dry a load of washing indoors if it rains.

I'm switching hairdressers to a mobile one although I will miss the expensive one who makes my hair look all lovely.

Check on ebay for cosmetics you usually use. I've started using body shop skincare and I can usually get it cheaper there.

Freecycle, facebook selling sites, ebay, charity shops. So far this week I've got: Go Ape vouchers for 1/3 of the usual cost, a bread maker for £10 and a 4ft fish tank for £80. None of them essentials but all things I wanted for much, much less than full price.

Buy multipacks or special offers if you can. I've been so focussed on keeping the weekly shopping costs down when I'd save more if I did a bigger shop at the beginning of the month and stocked up on stuff.

Try a Taste Card if you eat out regularly. Normally £60 but you can get a free trial and are often half price. You can get either 50% off or 2 for 1 meals in loads of restaurants. I reckon we'd save more than the £30 if we used it 3 times a year.

Bake your own stuff.

If you can, make presents rather than buy. I love knitting and I'm reasonably good so I knit christmas presents from June onwards. I still have to pay for the wool but it spreads the cost and i get to do my hobby. I've also been saving ideas on pinterest.

[43percentburnt]

If using cloth nappies, make some wipes too! I used bamboo fabric. Chopped up using pinking scissors. Then sewed the edges to stop fraying using a sewing machine (it's not particularly neat), cost me £12. In the last nine months I have only used bought wipes on holiday. I make my own spray too, water, tiny bit of olive oil, tiny bit of baby wash, 5 drops tea tree, 5 drops lavender. Even better no nappy rash at all even when teething!

[Icantcook]

Oh and if possible have a set amount of money going in to a savings account each month. This could go towards quarterly bills or be your savings

[Icantcook]

Take a certain amount of money out each week and stick to it. No using a debit card. This is after essential bills are paid

[Supermum222]

Do you eat anything on these fasting days?
I was reading about the Lighterlife diet the other day (as someone at work has lost loads of weight on that) and it said about eating normally for 5 days and then 2 days eating their 'fasting' foods (low calorie). I was wondering if I could do similar but eat fruit for 2 days? I need to lose about 2-3 stone. Money savings would be great too :-)

[MsVenus]

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pan-fried_chicken_pie_32885

I make pies from left over chicken & bits in the fridge which is fine for dinner with salad & veg and then cold for packed lunch.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/

I refill handwash with cheap white bubble bath from Aldi or Lidl.

I buy cheaper cuts of meat & cook it in the slow cooker.

[Lelivre]

On the fasting thing - that's interesting ...We mostly follow 5:2 my husband and I and it has meant huge savings on the groceries. We plan to go to 6:1 for the long term for health reasons.

Our budget wasn't why we started it and it didn't even occur to as at the time (health and weight) but it's a welcome bonus!

[Lookrightnow]

Adults can fast once a month for 3 days

What?

An adult in the uk in 2014 shouldn't eat for 3 days in every 28?

Really?

[vdbfamily]

We use Lidl for most things but great value for Cereals,fruit juices,tinned stuff,loo roll,toothpaste/brushes,ham, Nurenberg sausages(kids favourite!) cheeses,yoghurts etc Also keep alook out for their non food stuff.Changes all the time but once got black leather school shoes for kids for £5.99 and they lasted as long as a Clarks pair. Trouble is , they are such good value you can be tempted to buy stuff you don't need too!!

[Tallandgracefulmum]

Pay your self first if you work on payday put money into a notice account.
Have a weekly no spend day, where no matter what comes up, where you are, you dod not spend any money.
If you spend a pound save 2. ( if I spend 5 pounds I put 10 pounds into a jar at home, if there is not 15 pound in my purse, then i can't spend the 5 pounds IYSWIM. If I bought a packet of crisps for 0.50p then I put 1.00 away, I save for my holiday spending money this way
Don't give things to charity but sell on ebay.
If you eat meat, substitute meat for chunky veg once a week.
Buy less exotic juices and opt for squash.
Plan your meals.
Go 6 months without buying your self clothes.
If you have DIY projects or things have broken check out you tube for tutorials before paying some one to do thw work.

Switch to a pay as you go mobile
what's app instead of texting.
Adults can fast once a month for 3 days.
If you go on holiday stay in youth hostels.
Limit showers to 2 minutes, have a timer in the bathroom.
Get to know your neighbours, someone may have a unique skill or can lend a hand.

[Solo]

Use cash, not cards. If you take a list and an appropriate amount of cash, you can't go over.

[Orangeisthenewbanana]

I joined a couple of online survey companies. I just do them as and when I get the time but have so far earned 5000ish Nectar points, £30 Amazon vouchers, £30 Sainsbury's vouchers and £10 John Lewis voucher. Takes a bit of time sometimes to build your totals up but it's nice to just have that little bit extra for something I can sit & do on my laptop when I have a spare 20 minutes.

[OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly]

If you are paying your utilities on one of those deals where they average out the cost over the year, check your balance and if you've been overpaying, ask for a refund, rather than a lower payment for the rest of the year. I got my iPad out of that last year!

Plus I took the secateurs to the Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago and now have 3 plastic boxes of dried out pine needles and logs from the trunk. Gives a great boost to the fire, and no trip to the dump with a tree dropping needles all over the car.

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Fab thread!

• cut face wash-type containers in half when you think they're finished. I usually get another 2 weeks use that way.

[Whereisegg]

marking place to read later...

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

And planning ahead I bought my daughters' teachers a beautiful bracelet each in Accessorize . The bracelets were 70% off and gorgeous gift boxes were 22p each. So two lovely end of year gifts for under £6

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

Birthday cards 10 for £1 in Card Factory now! Certain range only but perfect for kids.

[YoureBeingADick]

one I've started doing the past few weeks. I have tried to get away with no fabric softener and using asda smartprice wash powder. poweder is fine but no lovely smell so I got a 5ltr bottle of fabric softener in poundstretcher. I poured a capful into a washed out 3ltr milk carton and topped with water. I use about half a cupful in the wash and you still get a lovely smell but not overwhelming and it uses a minimal amount of FS.

[confusedofengland]

Just a small tip I have discovered since ds1 started school. Use freebie prepaid envelopes from junk mail for dinner money, saving a little on the real thing Plus, it's recycling.