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Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Can I have your best frugal living tips please?

250 replies

MushroomTree · 08/06/2018 21:07

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 Smile

OP posts:
Alanamackree · 10/06/2018 18:29

If you have a steamer pot you can cook a full meal on a single hob ring.
Always put a lid on a pot to cut down on energy usage.
If you don’t lift the lid, you can switch off the energy for the last couple of minutes of cooking time.
I often cook pizzas and oven chips in a cold oven, rather than preheating it first. I’d be more cautious with meat.
But probably best to avoid using the oven unless you are cooking several things together as it’s expensive to run.
Left over bread with milk and egg is the basis of pudding - add jam or cinnamon and vanilla for a sweet pud or cheese and veg for savory.
There is very little that can’t be frozen. And as well as popping left overs in, there are some things I put in straight away: family pack of grated cheese (just take a handful as I need it), bacon (spread out on a flat tray until frozen then put in a box. One rasher crumbled over an otherwise veggie meal/bland pasta or salad can make a huge difference.)
If you put the white part of a spring onion in a glass of water it will grow again (fascinates my dc!)
If you’re a chocoholic a bowl of Rice Krispies and a a few squares of chocolate will make half a dozen cakes.
Cook double portions of some meals and freeze for a quick dinner instead of resorting to a takeaway. But take the portion to freeze out of the pot first or you’ll end up eating extra!
I keep individual slices of cake in my freezer so I always have something to pull out for guests. A minute in the microwave and it’s lovely! Saves me scoffing the whole cake in a sitting!
Cut tubes of toothpaste/shower gel etc open to get out one more squeeze when they are “empty”
A Packed lunch, a blanket and a bottle of squash in a back pack and you can spend a day exploring the local park, or take a bus to the beach, or playground.
On rainy days a peaked cap will extend the amount of time that kids will play outdoors!
For costume days in school, check with other parents. For Christmas nativity plays there’s often someone with a sheep costume or a donkey mask going to loss from older kids.
Last years trousers = this years shorts
Last years long leggings = this years cropped leggings
If your dc are not hard on clothes, buy them slightly baggy to last longer. They don’t need a wash for every spot and stain- you can sponge out most stains and clothes last longer if you spot clean immediately before stains set.
Kids trousers often have adjustable elastic waists and if you turn up the ends you can get longer out of them (as someone mentioned upthread this is just how it was done in the 70s)
I have found primark great for dc clothes - not just cheap but easy to wash and hard wearing. I don’t rate Next at all, as I find lots of small holes appear, and more expensive brands usually require more ironing.
Learn how to store fruit and veg correctly to avoid waste: eg keep apples in the fridge but never store bruised ones as they rot faster; don’t keep onions and potatoes together, etc
Popcorn made from kernels rather than the microwave packets is very cheap, and healthy depending on what you add to it, I often make a huge bowl when we have play dates and the dc love the whole process of listening to it pop, taking the lid off too early etc.
sliced bananas frozen and then blended makes delicious healthy ice cream or a treat for vegans!

TorviBrightspear · 10/06/2018 19:45

For ease of use, I find it really helpful to freeze portions of sauces or mince, or similar, in zip lock bags, pressing them flat. Once frozen, they stack well, and defrost more quickly than if they were a frozen lump. I can get more in this way.

Ifeelreallylow · 11/06/2018 10:36

Periods!!
Use the maternity pads, masses cheaper!!
If you use pads at all.

Make up pads etc but from the baby aisle. Cheaper again.

Miladamermalada · 11/06/2018 10:40

^I sometimes use a nappy if I'm not off out and have nothing in Blush

Ifeelreallylow · 11/06/2018 12:29

The things women have to do!!

RisingPheonix · 11/06/2018 20:39

Alana

I do that with my DC's shorts, especially the school ones. I buy big, they wear them all winter and then when the knees start to get worn at school I chop and hem them into shorts for the summer.

loubielou31 · 11/06/2018 21:04

Magazines for FREE on your tablet/PC with your library membership! You need to log in but it's all very straight forward. Also e books (but not on Kindle). And at £4 a go that is money you just don't need to spend.

Griefbacon · 11/06/2018 22:23

Loving this thread. Some ideas I do but some new ones I will definitely try

Griefbacon · 11/06/2018 22:36

Great idea about trousers into shorts for school

SodTheGreenfly · 11/06/2018 22:46

Just buy shorts and long socks. Knees heal; trousers don't Grin

Miladamermalada · 11/06/2018 22:49

^ careful not to step into the stingy camp....and don't buy white socks EVER

SandAndSea · 11/06/2018 23:10

People have mentioned switching to Quorn instead of meat. Have a look at dried soya mince - it works out even cheaper and lasts much longer.

Graphista · 11/06/2018 23:37

Stock up on non-perishables when they're on offer, then don't need to buy them when they're not.

Shop around, most stuff seems to be on a cycle of being on offer in the big supermarkets.

Ime
Wilko is cheapest for cleaning materials. Also kids craft stuff. At this age I used to buy reams of printer paper rather than drawing pads - cheaper in long run and she could draw to her hearts content.

Bodycare is cheap for toiletries.

We don't use fabric conditioner as we're allergic it's certainly not a necessity.

Add layers of clothing, throws before considering turning heating on/up

Sign up to as many free loyalty schemes as possible- especially handy come Xmas.

Save if you can toward Xmas rather than risk getting in debt. At your dds age she doesn't need much and she'll still have fun.

Shop for dds clothes out of season - I'm not meaning fashion but eg winter coats are MUCH cheaper bought in spring/summer, swimsuits cost pennies in winter - as pp said but for the age she will be. I never paid full price for my dds winter coats until she was well into teens and it was harder to predict size.

Review all outgoings and reduce/eliminate where possible.

Check out local library for free/cheap toddler activities. Summer is relatively easy it's winter/rainy days you get stuck!

Do the food shop a day later each week that means (I think) one week over 8 you're not spending but you don't really notice.

Grab the free mag in the supermarket - there's often vouchers inside and it's a free magazine to read. They usually contain cheap recipes and give an indicator of what food is in season too.

I agree with Wittow's cash only tip I've done that when things really tight it's easier to keep an eye on spending then.

Join local Facebook pages - not just for freebies/cheap goods but that's where local cheap/free events that may have limited availability are often advertised/mentioned first.

I also cut my own hair. Long and straight so easy to do. Occasionally dye it too - there's sometimes dyes in the pound shop.

Torvi is right about local colleges too. Mine at end of summer term often advertises on FB page asking for models to let the students do specific techniques and because you essentially don't have a choice in the style or whatever they do it for free. One of my dds friends got ombré hair colour free this way!

Mila - I won a 4 day caravan holiday once.

Go sim only on your phone ASAP. I'm not a fan of gifgaf I'm with Tesco have been for years. Even as a sim only customer I accrued loyalty points I was able to use to upgrade my phone when my old one had absolutely had it. I'll be doing this when I'm done paying for my phone - sim only from Tesco starts at £6 a month.

Wifi - I'm with Plusnet around £20 a month and reliable.

IF you're in a cold/draughty property - hot water bottles (can be used when sitting on sofa as well as in bed), electric blankets, make draught excluders for doors out of old tights stuffed with scrap paper, old clothes/rags, hang long curtain at outside doors.

Some charity shops have specialist branches that sell larger items too. The last tv I bought was £20! Furniture is often in great condition and very cheap.

Finally - budget for a weekly small treat, sounds counter-intuitive but if you're too puritanical it will soon piss you off and you're more likely to have a "fuck it" moment and overspend. Better to plan ahead.

Fluffycloudland77 · 12/06/2018 19:14

Can we move this to credit crunch? Or it’ll be lost in three months.

LoadsaBlusher · 12/06/2018 19:59

All baby clothing and toys from charity shops and car boots
Join local library to get kids books , ours also do free seasonal activities like Easter arts and crafts days
Good way to fill a few hours

eBay / Depop for own clothes too
Also sell on things that you don’t need

Lots of pasta bakes - value pasta/ pasta sauce / cheese / herbs/ cooking bacon / seasoning
One tray can do two days of dinners
Serve with value garlic bread

Ifeelreallylow · 12/06/2018 21:15

I often get the bags of frozen chicken strips from Iceland.
It's £3 for 500g. Defrost a handful at a time and stir through pasta or chop into salad or whatever.
Says it's 100% breast meat, and much cheaper then buying the raw meat.

TorviBrightspear · 13/06/2018 20:55

Take a look at local newspapers, or ask around locally regarding second hand furniture. We have a local charity that takes in donated furniture and sells it on at low cost to those on benefits. I get universal credit so I qualify, but my Dad loves to take a look and scout out the bargains for me (and he also qualifies) so if I have any needs, he'll take a look for me. Grin As I work full time, it's a great help.

I got a good sofa set, 3 wardrobes, and a lovely old writing bureau when I was setting up home with the DCs after leaving Ex.

percheron67 · 13/06/2018 21:46

sign up to freecycle and see what they have to offer. Quite recently, I was given a beautiful Laura Ashley armchair.

Battenburg1978 · 14/06/2018 08:09

Love reading these tips! It'd be great if this could be moved to credit crunch to go back to again in the future. I've just checked out my local college beauty salon and the prices are amazing!
Something else I've recently done is unsubscribe from nearly all of the mailing lists I was on. I used to think that the emails would keep me in the loop for bargains but it just tempts me to spend money when I don't need to.

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/06/2018 08:14

I requested a move yesterday but mnhq haven't got back to me yet.

Goosegettingfat · 14/06/2018 08:18

Clean everything apart from wood with distilled vinegar poured into an old spray bottle.

Stop using shampoo (honestly my hair has never felt better, I always had dry hair though. And I follow the curly girl method, this may not work if you have bone straight hair that tends toward grease)

Goosegettingfat · 14/06/2018 08:19

And congratulations, I hope you and dd are very happy in your new life Thanks

Queenofthedrivensnow · 17/06/2018 00:33

Keep blankets on the sofa instead of turning the heating up

Plan packed lunches and snacks obsessively like me. For example we stayed in a travel lodge recently so I took a big bag of dry snack food - cereal bars and whatever to stop impulse food buys. I shove one of those multi packs of own brand fruit shoots in the car in warmer weather too so there's always something there.

Plan for adult snacks too I am rubbish at this. Buy a decent drinks bottle for the kids and adults. Buy freezer blocks to put in lunch boxes.

Buy brown bread it lasts longer.

Keep emergency food at work if you have storage. My drawers have tins of suit and cup noodles in. I also keep multi packs of crisps etc at work to stop the lunch splurge.

This time of year buy boxes of lollies in aldi and Lidl - my kids hear a lot of you can have the ice cream when we get home....

Research memberships of local attractions. Doesn't work for everyone but I renew my national trust every year - worth it for the parking alone with our lifestyle.

Make sure you kick the arse out of every work benefit you have

Battenburg1978 · 21/06/2018 22:58

Something I saw on Facebook made me come back to this thread. OP if you are starting out again with furniture/cotbed on my local face book pages there are a couple of charities that take referrals from health visitors to source items for families in need of eg baby equipment, furniture etc. There might be similar in your area that your HV could refer you to if it would help. Hope everything is going really well for you.

MrsMarigold · 21/06/2018 23:21

Get your hair cut and coloured at Toni & Guy academy or somewhere similar.

Ask if there is a discount for paying cash or if that is the best price in shops.

Make your own cards.

Charity shops are useful but live by the mantra I only have one body.

Avoid kitchen gadgets, you probably don't need them.

Buy your DC a coat now.

Only drink water.

Freecycle.

Become an eco warrior avoid too many cleaning products, walk, use less water. Teach indoctrinate your DC about plastic and landfill and encourage her to have fewer but very well loved toys.

Join a library.

Focus on the good things you have, not the things you don't need.

Have ambition.

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