I still use liquid hand soap - DS is a bit flummoxed by bar soap and I don’t like it in the kitchen - raw chicken etc. But I should defo try filling up dispensers with cheap bath stuff.
The frugal things I do (most of which have been mentioned) are:
- Take lunches to work, often leftovers
- Chilly bottle for water
- Contigo for tea (though it is almost too good - stays too hot to drink for hours!)
- I buy most of the DCs clothes in the sales (buying the next sizes up, iyswim). This works because DS doesn’t care what he wears and DD is too little to have an opinion - not for long though I suspect!
- I use Kidstart as my main cashback site as it rewards JL and Amazon (though Amazon doesn’t always track). Have earned over £150 for DS since I started!
- Use own brand washing powder and less than advised - doesn’t seem to make much difference
- I buy massive 5kg bags of pasta and rice which last a good while. Unfortunately I don’t seem to find huge bags of wholemeal pasta though
- For stuff I use regularly i stock up on offers - things like coconut milk, peanut butter, tinned tomatoes, cereal, butter for baking...
- Use own brand for most staples (very few exceptions)
10. Batch cook and freeze portions of things like chilli for a quick dinner - we almost never get takeaways. Also batch cook for the kids, who eat very little processed food (not on principle though -DS just won’t
)
11. Don’t buy crisps and processed snacks (except nakd bars for DS) - kids mostly eat fruit or hm biscuits or cake
12. I mend things! Little holes in jumpers, split seams... taking care of little things makes them last longer and look better. I clean my shoes regularly too, use boot shapers, sweater shavers etc.
13. I don’t buy fast fashion - I’m not especially fashionable and don’t like the feel or appearance of most very cheap fibres. I buy nicer wool or wool mixes and look after things. Probably doesn’t save money but also doesn’t cost me more to buy less but nicer stuff
I love some of the other tips people are coming up with - I’ll defo take stuff back if not worn in the first couple of weeks!
I’ve spent the afternoon installing the printer on my work and new home computers - I am determined to start the new year having actually sorted out all my major niggles! I have also got the wireless printing to work from my phone and tablet 💪🏻
Tomorrow’s Jobs: put up the key rack in the hall which I had to move when I got the alarm replaced over 6 months ago . Then I won’t keep losing my keys. And plant the violets in the hanging basket out front (been there for weeks ). And go through DD’s next size of clothes and put the ones that will fit her from now in her drawers. And finally take the Boden returns to Collect +.
Not spent much today - £3 on bus fares to take dc on a bus ride to a different play park (they were thrilled! And took hm peanut butter cookies for a snack) and £2 on a bag of spinach.
Meadow I pm’d you about clothes for your DD. Have a massive box of them 