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?

How much are people actually saving by not having radiators on? Turning off radiators in spare bedrooms or a dinning room you don't use is a sure way of saving money whilst having other rooms heated

I think there are probably easier areas to save money rather than seeing how long you can last without heating...

Ive turned the heating on today, as a friend was visiting who feels the cold, then again for 30 minutes this evening, to bring the temperature up in the house.

Nothing wrong with doing either of the above - but they are different

oh and not using the tumble dryer is saving me about £1.28 a load, dd was constant using drier but I got 3 airers instead for the utility. Yes it takes longer but its free

I think that a saving is a saving,no matter how small and people are terrified of massive bills so are doing what they can to soften the blow,I know I am.

We are eating all meals at home,plus taking sandwiches to work,culling all unnecessary direct debits and standing orders,plus really cutting down on trips/days out with an eye on Christmas/saving towards bills.

I've got electric storage heaters (rented property) and I have no idea what the cost will be once I turn them on, so am putting it off for as long as possible. Luckily I invested in lots of blankets and throws over the course of the year, and DD has an electric blanket.

I've also started using Too Good to Go to pick up food bags.

The big one for me is that I have to start eating at home more. DD and I went for fish and chips the other night and it cost me nearly £30. 😳

@ivykaty44
Yes turning off radiators in rooms you don't use much is a no brainer.. I'm talking about people not having them on in areas they are living in, even if they're cold.

@Anniebanany
Yes but I think unless you're not wasting money any where else I think it's a bit disproportionate to be sitting in the cold.

Does anyone know how much they're actually saving by not having the radiators on (in rooms they are actually using)? I'm pretty sure most people could save the same amount or more very easily by not buying certain things in their weekly shop etc..

Aren't most energy direct debits evened out over the course of the year anyway (so pay the same amount each money), they worked out my new DD based on last year's use and the new price per kWh and it's not higher (actually £7 cheaper) than what it went up to in April... Because of the energy price guarantee (which I know if ending in 6 months..)

@AuntieEntity I have storage heaters, I put them on the other day and they hammered my electric. It's actually scary how much they cost

So I've bought some halogen heaters and they are half the cost to run and so much warmer

@makemeamum Thankfully these are fairly swanky new ones and I can control when it emits heat, and for how long, but yes - it's too scary to put them on just yet!

When I moved in last autumn my December bill was £210. I was being quite relaxed about using it then, but the prospect of it being double this year is too daunting! Heating went off in April and hasn't been on since.

I have one of those fake stoves in the living room and give the room a short blast if needed just to get some warm air circulating, but mostly I just sit in my dressing gown. I WFH and in the evenings I use the laptop as a heat source!

Seeing how long I can last without heating is working for me tbh. Still not been on even once and the house is 19 now. No one is cold. Its gone down to 16 but during the day it's still around 18-19. Makes me feel less guilty about having to use the tumble drier when it rained.

My bill for the month so far is under £70 so I have saved some cash for when it's proper cold and constant rain for the heating and tumble drier. Four kids and two adults in my house. No one is complaining yet.

I swap magazines with other people. If I get left with any nobody wants I leave them on the bus/train

No tips but I’d love to join in!

Your body will adjust to being cooler if you don’t turn heating on, then when you do turn it on - having the thermos test lower is much easier. Having the heating on for shorter time periods is also easier

We have been using the Too good to go app as well,and have had some really good bags.Near us,there is a Stonehouse carvery where you get a lovely big bag for around £3,plus the BP M&S garage where you can be lucky and get around £12-15 of food for £4,I think.I have heard some people haven't done so well with the bags,or had their bags cancelled last minute,but we have only had good experiences.I suppose when you find somewhere that gives good bags like the carvery,then you have a better chance of getting a good deal.

There is also the Olio app,which I haven't used,but have heard good things about,as well.Businesses and people in your local area advertise surplus food that would otherwise go to waste,and I think,you just send them a message and pick the food up for free.I think that's a great idea as it helps people and reduces food waste.

I have storage heaters too.
Where did you get the halogen heater from please. Is it the ones that glow orange?

We haven't been using the radiators at all yet,just closing the living room door and putting the electric fire on for a 5 minute blast to warm up the room.With just one room being quickly warmed through plus blankets and slippers etc,so far it has been OK.

My two top tips would be

• unsubscribe from all marketing emails
• learn to get a thrill from saving, the same way as you used to do from spending. I’m a really big fan of “no spend days” because they feel like an active rather than passive thing to do. You get an actual sense of achievement from completing them. (Start with no spend days and work up to no spend weeks).

I have stopped even looking on Amazon,as looking=buying.

Co op tomato soup, 68p compared to Heinx £1.80. It tastes the same
Co op Honest crisps. £1.10 for 10 packets compared to £1.75 for 6 packets of Walkers. Again, they taste very similar to Walkers and have more in a packet. We also switched to Daddies and another non branded sauce as thry taste nicer than Heinz and are much cheaper for much more. Every little helps!

Dh just got us a great deal with Virgin/O2. My mobile bill. has dropped from £62 per month to £6!!

Yes, some things are neccesary and loo roll is one of those things. I buy decent but I'd rather have the thinnest, cheapest toilet roll ever than use a flannel!

If WFH buy fingerless gloves.

We luckily have a lot of room to grow stuff and had already outlaid years ago for materials for raised beds which DH made himself. So this reduces our food bill (which is our biggest spend after mortgage and nursery fees) so if you do have room I wholly recommend this. DH also made a compost area out of free wooden pallets so we now make our own compost

Sell all the crap you no longer use - all adds up

Instead of take out make your own. Recently we’ve been making own pizza dough and tortillas - so cheap to make - we make a bunch and freeze it then just get out when needed. Batch cook Tomato sauce and do same. Then you can just buy pizza toppings and make your own. So much cheaper and often nicer. We also make our own tacos - and salsa - so tasty and better than any take out. We often do this on a Friday / Saturday so it feels like a treat

if you grow your own potatoes you can make your own chips - cheap as hell.

appreciate not everyone will have room for trees but we have quite a few fruit trees which provide cooking and eating apples, pears, plums, figs, cherries. DH makes a tarte tatin so we buy ready roll pastry wheh on offer - freeze and then make when wanted - again a cheap pudding

definitely make own lunches. Cheap meal of jacket potatoes with cheese and beans once a week

the tomato sauce DH batch cooks and freezes also makes a great meal if you add a few sausages and pasta.

Mmmmm,our lovely neighbours give us apples from their trees,when I add some raisins and a bit of spice and stew them,they make a lovely pudding,especially with a bit of custard or ice cream.They taste all the better for being free!

Oh id love this! I've wanted to try them but haven't been able to afford it.is there a time limit for your code and will it work if someone else has already picked it up off here?
Also do I have to cancel so.ething I presume.how and when?

Also invest in those ski headbands.super super conservers of warmth and ok to wear anytime,in the house unlike perhaps a woolly hat.

Frankferters sausage tomato pasta is our go to fave meal🤗