I want next year to be my most frugal yet.

[TheHippywhowearsLippy]

So I've decided that I want to save as much money as possible next year in order to pay of debt & become more self sufficient.

Right now I meal plan, sell things at car boots, we don't drink or smoke, I walk pretty much every where but a car is essential for school runs etc.

I was thinking of starting the year by bulk buying the essentials for the first 6 months possibly the full year depending on what the item is.

Can anyone help? Give tips, what should I buy in bulk if anything at all? Or anything else you can think of.

Much appreciated!

[Littleredsquirrel]

Oh can I also add about chestnuts. Its been a really good year for them this year (as it has for all berries and nuts due to the late spring). We picked up hundreds last week from just one tree. An evening shelling them in front of the tv and I have enough for loads of stuffing, serving with the brussel sprouts at Christmas and for use in baking now all stashed in the freezer.

Free food!!

[Littleredsquirrel]

I use coconut oil to take off my make up too. Its fab and I'm still working my way through a jar I bought for £6.00 18 months ago (and I wear lots of make up).

I am also going to use up all my toiletries. I have things from years and years ago (some of which probably need chucking out but others will be fine).

[RevoltInParadise]

Marking my place so I can come back and strife down some of these tips!

[gingysmummy]

hi i have a slow cooker which i do use a lot due to convience,silly question do you save a lot more using them a i was unsure as soup takes a lot longer than in a pot ,i use mine mainly for curries stews etc

[Littleredsquirrel]

There may be a slight saving by using a slow cooker. I think mine uses the same energy as a lightbulb but it is of course on all day. I think the benefit comes from being able to bung a frozen chicken etc into the slow cooker and come back home to lovely cooked chicken. It's a time and convenience thing.

Other advantage is you can apparently get away with cheaper cuts of meat by cooking them slowly.

[Littleredsquirrel]

Also pinching from the cold house thread turn off your heating once the children are in bed. Sit with a dressing gown thick sicks and a blanket with a hot water bottle if necessary. Will save a lot on heating costs.

[souperb]

Littleredsquirrel Thanks so much re eggs. I will definitely be giving it a go.

gingysmummy I think slow cookers use a very small amount of electricity (less than a lightbulb usually) to heat a confined space - ie you are only heating the actual cooking pot, instead of the whole oven space around your casserole dish. So I think they are definitely cheaper than using an oven to cook something for a long time. For things on the hob, like soups, I tend to use a pressure cooker. It means I don't have to plan ahead too much and it's quicker (therefore cheaper) than using a saucepan on the hob. The really great benefit for me to using a slow cooker is that I don't need to be stirring things and generally keeping an eye on them. Making cordial, chutneys, risotto etc are much simpler in a slow cooker since food won't get too dry, burn or stick to the bottom if the recipe works. Any recipe that says simmer wants attention I just don't have. And teatime is my worst time of day with small people getting tired, school people demanding attention and wine o'clock within-reach-but-still-too-far-away.

graceholl Good luck with your target. I think reward schemes are useful, as long as I don't buy stuff I don't need just to get points. The little things really do add up. At the moment I am nickel and diming myself to death - so it really works both ways. But getting a grip on the small change will hopefully brainwash me into frugal habits again.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Our slow cooker uses 200 watts on high & 100 on low. I cooked a small chicken the other day and collected he juices for stock.

Took about 4 hours or 8p compared to 90 minutes in a 2.5kw oven.

[Ememem84]

Excited re the tips. Did not know you could freeze eggs. Will be giving that a go.

Have also bought long life milk. And the powder stuff for emergencies.

I am terrible for buying things to get points....and not using the things. Ha a clear out of make up bag earlier. 5 mascara's. Made mental note not to buy any more.

Have made dh change my iTunes password. This will help drunk sprees. I hope.

[TheHippywhowearsLippy]

Changed the rest of our light bulbs to energy savers today, hoping that helps. Going to light the fire this weekend & not have the heating on so much, it is so cold here especially at night. Going to invest in some onesies for the kids, can anyone recommend where to go or discount codes if possible?

Got my tesco vouchers & money of coupons from everywhere I could think of today so managed to get everything I needed for the next month for £61 (not including meat that I'll get that from the butchers much better quality)

Agree about the slow cookers been monitoring mine now for a few days only using 9p ph compared to 74p ph on the cooker. Also invested in a thermos, boiled the kettle just once today & drank about 6 cups of coffee/tea. Hoping the keeps the electric down because it has doubled since we had the baby. Also been batch cooking & freezing the portions in cartons from the £1 shop.

started gathering old leaves into the compost bin today so I should have enough mulch come the time to plant my veggies :)

Next on my list is Xmas presents for the IL's & the rest if the neices & nephews, all 18 of them!! Thinking frugal frugal frugal is the only way to go here, even thought most are obsessed with designer brands.

[Littleredsquirrel]

I have switched my energy supplier this evening using the Martin lewis energy switching club thingy. Should save me £469 a year just on electricity!!!

Have also been round to see what I leave switched on. Skyboxes are in constantly but have found out I can put them on standby and they will still record so that's useful. Cooker clock is always on and can be turned off and the DCs night lights aren't really needed anymore. I've also unplugged all the random chargers lying around the house!

[Littleredsquirrel]

The DCs had onesies from next for Christmas last year, a gorilla and a reindeer and they a still going strong despite masses of wear.

Generally I find landsend very good for good quality fleecy PJs and they always have discount codes flying around and cash back on quidco.

[Littleredsquirrel]

I also went to decathlon today hunting for thermals for the kids. Found some decent ones at a really good price. Ski trousers were also £14 and they had beautifully soft fleecy jumpers in kids sizes for £1.50 perfect for lazing around the house.

[Pollaidh]

Some washing tips...

• change out of smart work clothes when you get in, before cooking, toddler wrangling. Some will last another day and no risk of ruining silk tops with splatters.
• I stopped using fabric conditioner as a broke student. I've never missed it.
• lakeland sell dry cleaning bags and sachets for cleaning dry clean only clothes in the tumble dryer (20 mins on low). Much cheaper and easier than dry cleaning. Even then I only do that with clothes you really can't wash. Most supposedly dry clean clothes, cashmere jumpers etc can be washed on wool cycle with delicate liquid.

[Littleredsquirrel]

Tip for getting the fire going quickly. If you are still using the tumble dryer and haven't cut it out due to cost, keep the lint. It burns really well and makes it a doodle to get the fire going.

[MinimalistMommi]

thehippy if you're short on money people say on money saving expert that the Primark onesies are really warm and only £8. The adult onesies are £10.00.

[TheHippywhowearsLippy]

Oh dear Mini your right, I really do come across like we are short on cash. We're not really that bad it's just I am a massive tightarse who is determined not to waste money like I used to. It's just I am honestly ashamed for my pre marriage spending, it was thoughtless & looking at the hoards of designer shoes/handbags in my wardrobe that I havn't worn in ages reminds me of that everyday. (Makes note to sell them on EBay)

Primark onesies sound good I'll have a look in there today, thanks. Might pick up a few bargins for Xmas too :)

[Littleredsquirrel]

Dont be embarrassed about that though Hippy. We are in the same position. We are relatively well off but we need to spend less since we have to start making inroads into our mortgage and I became self employed six months ago so still working on building up the business and have relatively little security.

Every penny counts.

[gingysmummy]

Thanks for your replies i will try making risotto in mine i'd never thought of that before,and yes it does make perfect sense that it's only the pot that is heating.My oven is def packing in, i batch cook every week including cakes for packed lunches and they came out awful think it could be the over door seal that has gone.I have bought a really cosy hooded cape/bedjacket from primark think it was £8 in a cat design and my ds and dh wear onsies trying to keep heating costs down as that is where most of our money goes due to having a crap electric bolier

[MinimalistMommi]

Agree, every penny counts, we're not so badly off but we are renovating cottage so a lot of money needs to go into that so I need to save elsewhere. Nothing wrong with being savvy and saving every penny we can!

[MinimalistMommi]

Really worth checking out reduced sections of supermarkets, just got yellow stickered cauliflowers for 25p each and pots of fruit for 20p each and a whole pineapple for 20p. Not organic (and I 95% of the time buy organic) but at that price I couldn't resist. Going to make a huge cauliflower cheese tomorrow.