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.

We definitely save the most we can anywhere on food shopping. Aldi, Lidl etc tho not fantastic for fruit somedays. Don't buy branded things like Weetabix... Own brand taste exactly the same. Same goes for things like mayo, crisps, bread, yoghurts etc. I'm pregnant so we're currently saving a lot not buying wine etc
Pound shops sell heaps of all the top branded toiletries which over a while saves a lot

Make sure that you claim any work expenses that you can. Dh has a hectic job and travels lots which he then takes ages to claim, but I have finally persuaded him that even if he has to do the claim on the weekend it is like being paid £300 an hour once a month. Better still find time to do it at work and get paid for it.

We are going to have our economy 7 meter replaced free of charge by electricity company. We don't have storage heaters, only use about 20% at night and less since seen horror stories about appliances catching fire at night. Think you need to be using about 55% night to make it worthwhile.

I make and freeze jelly and cakes for lunchbags. In winter I put in fridge the night before but in summer I use the frozen stuff to keep the rest cool.

Sorry, forget that, just googled and it's free on-line if available within my county

Look at the end of the aisles in supermarkets as that is where all the cheap deals are displayed.

Car boot sales! We enjoy selling and buying.

Audrina Our city libraries charge 90p! which I have always thought to be a bit of a rip off!

But now I have a kindle and many of the books I have bought have only cost 20p or 99p to keep forever, without having to get up off my fat arse go trailing off to the library.

Stop thinking you "deserve" treats because you "work hard". That's just bollocks and an excuse for overspending and I learned the hard way

Are these the right sort of cloths?

www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/store-home

anywhere that has farmers will have several nearby, certainly any compost, plant feed, but the bigger ones sell everything, from clothes and tools, tractors to sheds.

for the same price as a small couple of folds of netting from a garden centre, you can get a whole roll, last you years.

Just seen a good tip on the MSE site: recycle your old printer cartridges for cash/tesco points! Who knew? www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/make-money

www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/store-home

sorry.

a PP asked about a voucher app I think?
I've got voucher cloud so if you're out and want to go for a meal theres usually one on there, prezzo, cafe rouge etc, and cause im on Vodafone theres a Vodafone VIP one with exclusive offers in it

Thanks, quoteunquote. I can't see any in Oxfordshire...

As mentioned upthread, keep a 'present box' - whenever you see something that could be perfect as a present for someone (specific or generic!) and it's reasonably priced/reduced, buy it and put it away. This will avoid those panic-stricken trips into town (more petrol/fares) the day before a birthday when you are far more likely to end up buying something that a) isn't ideal and b)is expensive.

If you can find the money to do this in the Jan sales, you can stock up for the coming year, maybe even the following Xmas! Did this last year, planning to put the money I won't be spending in Dec aside to stock up in the sales again this year. Huge time and money saver.

Keep rolls of wrap in the house, buy cards in advance (ideally on offer from somewhere like Card Factory), reuse pristine gift bags! It's these 'extras' that bump up the whole cost of a birthday present by at least a fiver. Alternatively, get your DCs to make a birthday card from all of you -constructive artistic activity for them and will save you upwards of £2.50. Nothing bugs me more than spending money on bits of blooming paper.

In fact, I feel like I've had a huge revelation in the last year or two. Capitalism is designed to make you spend money on things you don't really need. But given that you can't/won't completely opt out of it, I'll be damned if I willingly hand over more of my hard-earned cash than I need to. I refuse to pay full retail price and buy most things on sale/special offer if at all possible. It's not a miserable way to live at all, in fact it feels hugely empowering to be sticking it to The Man by paying less than he tried to con you out of in the first place! After all, they're still making a profit even in a 70% sale....Monsoon, I'm looking at you.

Yes, I hate spending money on cards! Last xmas I meant to do cards but didn't as I'd just given birth. This year I'm considering not doing them again...would that be really bad?

I read on here to only ever buy silver wrapping paper, it is ok for every occasion. Card factory cards are seven for £1! And recycle gift bags, I have a huge stash under the bed.

I use brown paper to wrap everything, buy a massive roll from the 99p shop

Batch cook,yes
Shopping list
Take lunch to work
Buy clothes out if season,I got leather boots out do season £190 to 35
Got a winter coat cheap in summer

Buy onions cheap when aldi has them on super six for 39p a kg, chop in the food processor and freeze in zip lock bags. Cheap base for curries and pasta sauces etc and also very convenient.

Look at lovefoodhatewaste.co.uk for tips on storing food so it lasts longer.

Also, if you do onions, carrots and celery together in a food processor, batch mixture up in bags and freeze, you can use it as a base for stews, bolognese, chilli, loads of things. Lidl sell cheap veg but a lot of it is in bulk, so its a good way to get value and not waste and it saves loads of time too!

Make own baby food,its economical and tasty.you know what exactly it contains
Freeze as ice cubes when wee,and defrost overnight in a tub

-Yes freezing chopped onions save time and money. Can also do this for garlic and ginger. Greengrocers usually have cheaper and fresher vegetables.
-Tesco delivery saver for online shopping esp if sign up with special offer, saves petrol costs. Can also check half price offers online

Bushbaby love your way of thinking. I think it's really important to, while being frugal, think about ways you can increase your income over the long haul.

This is a bit of an obvious one but NEVER EVER book a facial. It's a complete and utter waste. Most facialists now don't steam your face or do anything special, they mostly just put a series of products on your face to clean them. Products that are sitting at the salon that you could buy yourself for FAR LESS than the cost of the facial and do it yourself at home. I got a dermalogica facial a few years ago (lovely stuff btw) and estimated that for the cost of the facial I could have bought the cleanser, scrub and moisturizer for the same amount. Rip off!!!

If you want to treat your dcs to an icecream whilst out, if possible avoid icecream vans and nip to the local tesco metro, sainsburys local etc. and buy a pack instead, you can normally buy a pack of 3 magnums for £1.50, these are sometimes £2 each from a van.

Buy packs of nice notecards to use for children's friends' birthdays, much nicer than cheap birthday cards.