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.

I've started cutting my kids hair myself (and i'm not the leaset bit talented in this direction) but was driven to do so when ds1 refused to go anywhere near a hairdressers and insisted that I should do it at home. Have now bought some clippers (about £20) and it doesn't look too bad!

I also keep ice creams in the freezer as it would be very easy when the ice cream van makes its weekly visit to our road to spend £5+ on ice creams, but having some in the freezer means that I don't feel mean and the kids can still have a treat (but I can make them wait until after tea!).

The Strawberry Splits from Waitrose go down well with my DC, £1.30 for 6.

Morrisons cornettos are brilliant. Tasty.

Bourneville cocoa was £2 instead of £2.99 in morrisons on Wednesday (hope it still is!)

We get the Milky Bar ice creams from Waitrose. Can't remember how much they are, but I remember thinking they compared well (and they're nice!). Agree about not assuming organic veg is more expensive. I bought some beetroot a while back (in Waitrose), and their non-organic stuff priced per bunch turned out to be way more expensive than their organic beetroot per kilo.

Card factory have got 7 birthday cards for £1 at the moment- pretty nice ones too.

Today I trawled the pound shops for prizes/snacks for ds's party, stocked up on a few 'free' sandwich bags in Asda and bought some little tupperware pots and blocks of jelly (3 blocks for £1).

Also, inspired by the baby milk cost thread, I checked out prices of formula- cow and gate cheapest, closely followed by hipp organic! Who'd've thunk it?!

Well I had a serious 'duh!' moment today. Until now, I have got my newspaper delivered every day (not v thrifty, I know!). Today I found out that I can get a free paper every day with the My Waitrose card . Given I shop there anyway at least twice a week (also not that thrifty...) and walk past on another day, it means I can get three of my six papers a week completely free! PLUS it gets better - because I subscribe to the newspaper discount vouchers I only pay about 60% of the cover price - but Waitrose will reimburse me the full cover price. So on the days I pick it up there, I will actually be getting paid about 40p to get a free paper...!! I can't believe I've only just realised this....

Free paper with My Waitrose? I knew about free tea and coffee but not this?! Are you sure?

You need to have a mywaitrose card, you can pick temporary ones up to get started though.

I have a card fluffy but I though you got a free newspaper on Sunday (or weekend?) when you spent certain amount shopping? Can you get them free everyday? I haven't seen any signs about this apart from at weekend at my Waitrose branch.

I'm glad it's not just me who didn't know!! Yes, you have to spend £5 (which can include the price of the paper), and then they'll deduct the cost of the paper from your bill. (So only good if you're buying something anyway.) You can choose from Telegraph, Daily Mail, Scottish Mail, and Guardian/Observer. Link here if you don't believe me!! www.waitrose.com/home/mywaitrose/newspaper_offer.html

I think it's free every day, plus a free coffee everyday in the ones with cafes.

Ooh cross post, I am wrong. Ignore me.

It is for a limited time, you must spend £5 and it does not apply at weekends,

I suspect it is not a great tip for most as it may well make them spend £5 5 days a week and buy expensive W products in the process.

There's often 10% off various things with the card, like bread, cakes etc. They change weekly and the Waitrose magazine with cooking ideas is free as well. The free coffee is only a good idea if you don't buy spur of the moment groceries and the staff do forget to give you the newspaper for free so it can be a faf.

Xenia it does apply at weekends, I spoke to Waitrose customer service yesterday, it's a new change they have bought in a couple of weeks ago they said. Yesterday I did my shop and I chose the Saturday Mail because it has got a good TV guide!

Lady just remind them at the checkout and they have a tag they scan to put it through.

I'll ask. Makes no sense to pay for a newspaper subscription when I can get it for free.

For some odd reason another Nero's opened up next door to the local Waitrose just after Christmas. They are not happy that Waitrose are giving away 600 coffees a week!

Thanks. I had not asked again in the last 2 weeks and before that both our local Waitroses said no free paper at weekends. None of us drink hot drinks though so that side of the offer is not much use.

It's worth having, my shop is usually discounted by around £1 more chocolate for me! Better than nothing. I buy a lot of basic stuff (veg/beans etc) as they are great quality and cheaper then Tesco. I had some money off vouchers last month and the free monthly magazine usually has some great ideas inside.

Thanks Lapin we were doing our weekly shop anyway today and thanks to your heads up got the Observer for free! Hope this offer continues, I usually get the Saturday Guardian every week so it would save me £2.30 per week if so.
Also got about £2 off the shop from other "My Waitrose" card discounts, so feeling pretty good

I used my fifteen pound voucher in Waitrose on Saturday which I got free from doing four shops with them previously in the Spring I live Waitrose

'love' even!

Yes, it only makes sense if you shop there anyway. I hope they do continue it, as I've just cancelled my paper delivery !