Can I have your best frugal living tips please?

[MushroomTree]

I'm nearly back on my feet after leaving an abusive relationship and I'm looking to move into my own flat with DD (13 months).

I can afford it but money is going to be tight so could I please have your best frugal living tips? TIA

We use face flannels instead of jaycloths or kitchen roll, they're a bit stronger and wash really well, and you can get them in a colour to match your kitchen. Also we use 50/50 washing up liquid and water in a pump soap bottle, which makes it last.

Cloth nappies might be worth considering, and cloth wipes. You can pick them up reasonably cheaply on Facebook selling groups, and it cuts out the ongoing cost of nappies and wipes. I also get a lot of clothes bundles on Facebook and eBay for my ds, I picked up a bin bag full of 9-12 months baby clothes for £12 this week.

Some things are depressing mum889 you're right. But if it makes for a better future then so be it!

The cheapest thing of all. Happiness and freedom from being away from an abusing a'hole.

Well done op. Money can't buy your courage . Every time it's super tough remember how much you have improved yours and dd's lives. Love is free.

I left an abusive relationship with nothing too. It’s hard but it’s bloody rewarding when u get back on your feet!! And you will.

I scoured the free cycle ads. I was a regular visitor at my local recycling centre too. I managed to furnish my little 2 bed house on about £50.

I shopped at times when things were being reduced and bought loads of veg and things that could be frozen. I stocked up the tin cupboard with loads of tomatoes, lentils, different types of beans, cheap pasta and lived on a very Mexican style diet for a while.

I would buy stuff very cheaply at the recycling centre and do it up and then sell on ebay

Don't forget there are always food banks and most Gps or schools can give you a referral

Not sure if these have been mentioned already but often you can bulk out meals with tinned lentils. Things like beef hot pot and lasagne. Can't tell the difference.
If you want to get your eyebrows done or hair try your local college they will sometimes do this for free or very cheaply.
Also if you like reading see if your local library have an online service with free ebooks I do this and also have an account for my ds you can find some really good new books and also audiobooks to read/listen to completely free.

Corned beef hash is another really tasty dinner. And costs less than £2 to make a big panfull that can be frozen.

If you like liver then liver and onions with mash and veg is an really good meaty dinner that is very inexpensive.

Well done for getting away from an abusive relationship op. If you pop into your local supermarkets ask someone what times of day they do their reductions- you can get great discounts off meat and fish for the freezer this way.

I know it's an expensive shop usually but M&S discount their food a huge amount of if you have one near you. If you know what time they do their last reduction you can pop in and get some good stuff- this week I got two cod fillets for £1.15 down from 4.25 and 12 sausages for a £1 down from £4. Straight into my freezer and will provide at least 3 meals.

Car boot, car boot car boot sales if you can get to one!

I've just been today and there can be so many bargains on clothes, homeware, toys.

Most things I own are second hand albeit for environmental reasons.

The easiest way to be frugal is to think ahead, what clothes are needed, gifts, events are coming up...planning helps save in the long run.

Mine are older now and when we go places I give them a set amount to spend (depending on what I can afford) they can have or buy what they like but when its gone it's gone.

Always bring your own drinks... I loathe paying £1.50 or £2 for a bottle of water!

If you have others who are buying birthday or Xmas gifts for you or your DC - don't be afraid to ask for what you need, especially if they are going to spend alot. New clothes and shoes or an annual pass to an activity is better than giant plastic toys that get in the way

Good luck with everything, you sound like a great mum

Really cheap meals I sometimes have are...

Ham, egg and chips
Jacket potatoes with different fillings
Anything on toast... mushrooms, scrambled eggs, beans and cheese
I sometimes buy a tub of humous and a pack of pitta breads...just over £1 for both from Lidl...that is my lunch for a few days...can add carrot/cucumber batons.

My local college has hairdressing and beauty courses, and you can go in for a small price and have haircuts and facials, etc, done by students. They have a page on the college website, so it's worth looking at your local college.

DCs and I go out for picnics. We'll all sit together to eat, then often DS (14) will go off for a brisk walk (with phone, of course) while DD and I wander round the gardens. We then meet up around an hour later for desert, and a sit and natter. I've got a dodgy knee, so this way we're all still getting something out the day. Both DCs enjoy this and are planning more. Works out quite cheap.

Meal planning, I second that, for several reasons. DD's mental health has been poor as a result of living with ex, but she's getting much better. One way for her to eat properly has been to meal plan, as trying to decide on the night means she'll often not decide and go without. Both DCs get involved with meal planning, and we've tried new foods as a result. It's had them both eathing healthily and happily. I find a good selection of herbs and spices to be invaluable.

firsttime it's how most people were growing up in 70's though. It's only recently that thinking about how and what you eat is considered " poor". It's no biggy really

Has op got a car? A cheap old banger costs loads in repairs, so manage with buses if possible. Baby doesn’t pay.
But without a car you can’t bulk buy food or bulky household items or get to Lidl or boot sales. Use charity shops for clothes and baby toys.
Don’t get a pet, if you haven’t already, vet bills are massive.

My cheap meals

Soup - fry onions in butter. Fry other veg. Potatoes and carrots are cheap. Add stock. Simmer. Yum. Costs next to nothing.

Egg pie. Whisk eggs. Add veg/ ham/ cheese/ dash of milk. Bake in the oven.

Dahl and rice. Boil red lentils. Add greek yoghurt, lots of cumin, garlic and coriander. Stir. Serve with rice. Can stir in spinach for extra nutrition (you can buy it frozen).

Jacket potatoes.
Beans on toast.
Fish discounted at the end of the day, frozen, then used when you wish.
Pasta and pesto.

I agree that it isn't a bargain if you wouldn't normally buy it. No ice cream is cheaper than cheap ice cream.

Toddlers don't need to eat berries and pom bears. Buy apples, bananas, plums, satsumas... all cheap. Snacks can be toast, homemade cakes, fruit.

Scones and biscuits are dead easy and cheap to make, and fun!

Cottage pie / spag bol recipe
1/2 onion and 1 clove garlic chopped, sautéed till clear, then add one 500 g pack of beef mince (can bulk buy, or get cheaply in Lidl), cook, crumble (4 if cottage pie, 2 if spag bol) oxo cube onto cooking mince, stir in, then add (800mls boiling water if CP, 500mls tomato passata if SB (42p in Lidl)), stir, then add 1kg of chopped mixed veg (you can either throw in leftover Steamed veg, or get the frozen mixed packets, or fresh veg, but I stick all mine in the electric chopper thing and chop really fine so my kids don't complain about all the veg), then mix and stir, if CP I add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, if SB a glug of red wine and a good pinch of mixed herbs, then leave to cook for 30 mins or so. This is enough for 2 adults, 2 teens and a little one for 3 to 4 meals..... So for two of you, should be enough for a good 10 meals. If you batch freeze it, if you take out the spag bol, you could add some chilli powder, cayenne and a good tin of kidney beans and it would pass as a chilli...

Rainbow fried rice, (great if you have a fair bit of leftover Steamed rice in the fridge) 1/4 pack of the cheapest bacon you can find, dice it and fry in a large wok till crispy, then add a diced onion, finely chopped garlic, 3 cloves and finely chopped ginger, about an inch. Fry. Then add chopped vegetables (I use 3 big carrots, I large courgette, broccoli, beans and maybe some corn) and cook for a bit, add 2 tablespoons of light soya sauce, stir, then add the cold rice. Make sure the rice is broken up and mixed in with all the veg, then add 1 to 2 eggs, (if you prefer you can scramble them first in a different pan), make sure they are mixed in well, cook for a couple more mins, then add a good few dashes of white pepper and a handful of chopped spring onions, and serve with a bit of sweet chilli sauce. You can freeze leftovers again in portion size, and just reheat in microwave.

Sometimes if I have found a really cheap deal on either chicken or stewing beef, I will buy a few kilos of it, then stock up on other veg that are great for stews, make sure I've got the spices I need, then I'll pre chop everything up in bulk, get a load of sealable freezer bags, and then literally bung in the onion, garlic, meat, veg and spices (everything but potato) enough to make a slow cooker meal for my family, then seal and write on the outside (chick leek cass, add potatoes and chick stock) or whatever you have made and bung in freezer, then say sun pm, take a bag out freezer and defrost overnight, Mon am before work bung into slow cooker, add what needs to be added and turn on. When we get home, dinner is prepared! Yum.

On another note, well done you for making your lives safer, and happier, you brave mumma you! 💐

Oh and nice biscuit cutters. Angels and stars make for really fun sandwiches and toast.

I think this thread is inspirational 👍 not depressing.

Don't buy books, go to the library. Go to car boot sales towards the end of the morning when people are marking down prices.

I said it earlier but well done. You have already taught your DD that you have strength.

Well done for leaving it must have been really scary. My advice would be to look at every bill you pay and ask yourself can I get a cheaper tariff? I look at everything - gas, electric, phone, insurance etc on a regular basis and use comparison websites to get the best deal. If I was really desperate I’d probably do something like have beans on toast / jacket potato for dinner every other evening. Do you own anything you can sell? I’ve sold a lot of old baby clothes and equipment on local parenting Facebook groups.

Haven't rtft but if nobody has mentioned this yet, going to NCT sales to buy clothes and shoes in the next size up saved me lots and lots of money.

Another vote for corned beef hash it is delicious.

Great thread. I'm feeling inspired to try some new recipes, especially the dhal

I don't think anyone has mentioned cashback sites like Quidco. Recommend your friends and get money for referring them as well! Soon adds up.

There are some great ideas on here.

Useful Stealth Veg Sauce:

Fry a couple of onions. Bung in slow cooker. Add 1 kilo over ripe tomatoes (this works for me as overseas where produce is cheap, lovely but doesn't keep - but 2 tins would also work). Add a couple of peeled, chopped carrots, a couple of chopped peppers & anything else that is sitting in the fridge looking sad - aubergine, courgette, etc. Lots of garlic - fresh or from a jar. Bay leaves & a good whack of dried oregano or basil - Lidl etc do great deals on herbs. Add a few tbsp of tomato puree & half a mug of stock, either homemade or water plus a cube.

Leave the whole lot to stew gently away all day, then attack with a stick blender.

You should have about a litre & a half of good pasta sauce - freeze 2 portions & eat 1.

To turn the one portion into Bolognese, brown 500g of mince with some more chopped onion, then add sauce plus a bit more stock & simmer for an hour. Chuck a handful of red lentils in for last 20 minutes.

This should give you enough Bolognese to do one lasagne & another portion for the freezer to have another day with pasta.

The other portions of sauce can subsequently be used on their own with pasta, or add a tin of tuna, or for pizza (make your own bases or buy them, add whatever toppings you like & any cheese you need to use up).

Variations: chilli sauce - add a couple of chopped chillis or teaspoons of chilli powder. Simmer with mince as above but add a tin or two of kidney beans.

Or curry - add chilli plus cumin, fenugreek, coriander, turmeric - or just curry powder! Half a tin of coconut milk if you can (often cheap in pound land etc). Add browned chicken thighs, frozen or fresh veg, chick peas etc to make a curry.

Not wildly exciting or how I'd want to eat every day, but a really easy way to fill the freezer with straightforward cheap food to last the month.

Cake baking sounds lovely but it's relatively expensive ( 3 eggs, third of a pack of butter) and uses up essentials which need to last.
Biscuits are better.

Frozen puff pastry is brilliant as its £1 and you can keep it frozen until you have something to use up - apples, courgettes, meat and onion, cheese.

I buy a whole chicken and use the breasts sliced on a giddle pan to make grilled chicken paninis. The other great becomes stir fry or fajitas. I roast the remained and it makes it easy to pull the meat of the legs for a curry.