If you're trying to save some money....

[JamSandle]

Tell me your tips. I've decided this winter I want to save as much as I can.

Any advice on how to keep going? I've already decided to limit social media so I dont get jealous if I see people doing things im not. There are things I've planned so my winter isn't without its fun. I just want to prioritise saving a much as I can this winter.

Anyone else doing the same and want to encourage each other?

Sounds good. I buy too many books, so I've actually written a reading schedule of books I own and what order to read them. I figure if I just follow that it will help control my impulse to get more. I've also started borrowing from the library. Might be a bit niche, but it will save me a fortune and I'm hoping it starts to help my mindset for other things.

I've got a Plum account and that has helped me save. It number crunches my bank account and takes what it thinks I won't miss. Well worth doing.

I use Vinted for clothes. Had some amazing bargains on there. I sell stuff I don't need. I always seek discount codes before buying anything and often leave stuff in baskets because by the next day I've thought about it and decide I don't need it after all. I stick rigidly to my shopping list and meal plan each week.

I've bought an air fryer and Oodie copies to keep costs down. That's made a difference. No heating yet. Charity shops for books. I also take an amount of cash out each week and stick to that. There are loads of things you can do.

Dont throw food out. Use up all the left overs, the wee bits that you'd normally bin.

There are loads of blogs etc online to help you find ways to save here and there....I found some great stuff on here....
https://beamoneypro.com/

Go through every single direct debit and standing order to check you need them. I found I overpaid for my child’s clarinet rental.

Check for discount codes. There are so many.

Downgrade your mobile tariff. Check your insurance quotes. I saved 20 quid a month on the latter and got a 20 quid Lidl voucher for buying insurance from Comparethemarket. I cut my mobile tariff from 25 to 8 quid.

Check for supermarket own brand stuff, e.g., I buy Tesco Stockwell brand weetabix - 24 biscuits for 78p. Branded stuff is 3 quid.

Invest in Primark oodies - I live in mine at home. So cosy! I haven’t switched on my heating yet and don’t intend to until Dec at the earliest.

Work from the office (if you have one) to save on energy bills. No energy used in my house from 8am-5pm.

Always check on eBay or other second hand site for expensive brands. But first ask - DO I NEED IT? I constantly ask myself this and have cut down massively on clothes shopping. I have enough to last me years, in fact.

Switch off everything at the sockets when not in use. I’m sure I’ve brought down my electricity bill from this. I only use low energy lamps and don’t switch on the ceiling spots.

Check which companies offer perks eg O2 does. I used to be able to get a free Cafe Nero drink every week. Now it’s Greggs.

I save 20-25% a week using my Tesco club card.

Toiletries and cleaning stuff is cheaper at Supersavers (owned by Superdrug) than Boots or Superdrug. I’ve cut down on toiletries - owning using what I absolutely need. Bog roll is expensive!! Shop around.

Are you happy to read via screen?

Use the olio app in your area and see if you can get the Tesco/Iceland surplus food that's listed after 9pm. These are the boxes we get... you could freeze a lot of it and not spend on food for the month..

Use sites such as Top Cashback or similar. I have over £260 saved in my account since last Xmas. Mostly from buying house insurance, car insurance, ISA, Currys and eBay. That will buy some vouchers for adult children's stocking. They like sizzling pubs and Toby Carvery. I used to do internet, phone and TV entertainment separately now do a much cheaper package deal with Virgin. Also had eyes tested needed new reading glasses instead of buying from Boots I got prescription and bought on internet saving £80 on one pair of glasses. New glasses are fine.

Eat all meals at home

Also, not sure what you're driving / car situation is, but if you downsize to one car or even none at all, it'll save you heaps.

But obviously you may need one for work, so a moot point etc etc etc

I was going to ask this - kindly library I think allows you to share things other people have bought. I think.

My tips are:

use up what you have before buying new. I was always buying new make up toiletries etc. I have enough to open a shop. And the vast majority is unopened. So I’m using it up. Haven’t bought anything new since January.

same with clothes. I’m trying my best not to buy new unless I need it. Not even second hand new to me. Just not buying it. I was after a new winter coat this year but we’ll be away for 2 months over Christmas. So won’t get the wear out of it really. May buy one in the sale for 2023 winter. But don’t need it.

take packed lunches where possible to work. Since my kids have started school and I do lunchboxes for them I’ve found it much easier to do one for myself too while I’m doing theirs.

drying clothes outside where possible.

buying bigger if you can. Eg I bought cat food yesterday. Had a choice of a 2kg bag or a 3.5kg bag. Worked out which was better value. DH has been doing this for ages. Huge vats of peanut butter appear. Or huge tins of tomatoes (used for soups pasta sauces pizza sauces and frozen).

use your freezer. If I see things on offer which I will use I buy one for now and one for the freezer. Also cook twice if I’m making eg a lasagne or pasta bake. One for now. One for freezer. Saves time and money.

@kateandme @ememem84 sorry I'm on the app and replies don't show after quotes for some reason at the moment. If the screens comment was for me then yes absolutely. I've had many a kindle bargain.

I’ve spent the last few years moving to a frugal lifestyle and changing how we spend. The biggest savings by far are around food and monthly payments like subscriptions, insurances and things that you can change. We make every meal at home, we are plant based so lots of beans, grains, legumes, which are all cheap. I buy a decent amount of frozen food and I have outside space so I grow my own veges, mostly greens at the moment but we are increasing this slowly as we find things we can grow in and the compost is ready! We womble around our neighbourhood!
We are very strict with heating in winter, minimal hours use. We have a heated airer and dehumidifier which have saved us a lot in electricity- I’m monitoring it closely.
Be strict with travel costs.
Don’t buy new clothes.

Frugal people tend to be homebodies who have hobbies they can do at home to save on entertainment and eating out. They will use cash envelopes instead of paying everything by card and not get anything on credit, including cars. Another frugal tip is to wait before making a purchase, write it down and pin the note. In 2 weeks if you still want or need it, try freecycle.org for awhile first, then try a charity shop and as a last choice buy it new.

Then download borrowbox app. Or check with your library for waht app they use.it’s basically means you can borrow from your library to your phone/screen/device you use.it’s brilliant. All you need is a library account and then you download and sign in and start borrowing both read and audio.it doesn’t have your libraries whole catologue but I’ve been in love with it and it’s kept me in books!
free!

I’ve just borrowed the t.m Logan new one and I cannot wait😄
you can usually borrow about 20 in your account and then download as and when you want to read said title.or if they are on loan you can reserve them.
so you can have your list of to be reads but still only take up space of however many you choose to download to your device at a time.

@kateandme thank you! I do have BorrowBox but I haven't done anything with it really. Off to investigate now.

Libby is another app that lets you borrow more books for free on top of BorrowBox too

@WahineToa (wanabee) plant-based frugaler here! Not half as much as you've achieved though...

My top tip is cut a flannel into 4, or 2, and use instead of toilet roll; simply wash it with your hands, rinse and leave ready for next time. We've gone down to 1 tr per week. Not sure if I'd have risked it if the children were still at home, though...

Also I buy any reduced veg going and make a big pot of soup with it; throw in some red lentils, chillies etc and then freeze portions. Plan ahead when you want 'freezer' food and take it out the day before so you don't waste energy defrosting it.

@lifesabitchandthenyoudie hey there! Do you make scrap stock for your soups? I save vege scraps, just adding to a freezer container as I go. When it’s full I dump in my instant pot, but you don’t need one, add my herbs and seasonings and I get great stock at the end. Just don’t put super dirty scraps in!

@WahineToa I'm afraid not... I use my veg scraps to add to the dog food! chop it through the food processor, add lentils and rice and pressure cook; it bulks out the dog food so I only buy about half as much... I don't tend to bother with stock much, just herbs and salt & pepper. I do make my own oat milk and cashew nut cheese though!

Commit to buying nothing new. This has saved us so much money. All clothes come from Vinted, furniture and house stuff from fb market etc. Nobody in our household has had clothes purchased from a shop (apart from underwear obvs) in over 2 years and it saves so much money. Especially for normally expensive items like winter coats, mine cost a fiver- good brand, perfect condition!

@lifesabitchandthenyoudie that flannel idea is really awful. You just rinse the flannel?

@lifesabitchandthenyoudie oh that’s a great use for it! I rescue animals and we are building up to a dog so great tip! Thanks!

@OnTheBrinkOfChange no obviously you're washing it when you wash your hands! Then you rinse (sorry wasn't clear) 😆