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?

Baked potatoes for dinner once a week and spaghetti and tinned toms and olives.
Less meat.
Frozen veg.
Meal planning.
Delete shopping apps from phone.

I've been putting the slow cooker on before I go to work and by the time we get back from work/school,the house smells great and the food is done.So far,we have had mainly casseroles and stews etc,but I am trying to expand my repertoire to cottage/shepherd's pie plus give some puddings a go.

I'm just trying to resist putting the heating on as much as I can and layering up with jumpers and blankets etc

Say meat is sold for £5 per pack. Check the actual weight of each pack and pick the heaviest.

That way you're getting the most meat for £5. Could end up being an extra chicken fillet or whatever.

Some dead good tips on here.

I've started making pies as they seem to be so filling and use less meat.

Chicken and veg pie:

An onion, diced
Two carrots, diced small
Two chicken fillets, chopped small
Heaped tablespoon flour
Chicken stock cube
Garlic power
Teaspoon dijon mustard
About half a pint of full fat milk.

Fry onion and carrot till soft. Add Chicken, cook for five mins on low heat. Add flour. Stir to coat veg and chicken. Add the milk slowly, stirring. Add stock cube, garlic and mustard. Simmer on low heat for 20 mins.

Line a pie dish with pastry. Put chicken mixture in. Cover with pastry. Make a couple of cuts with a knife in the lid. Bake for one hour. I put some jackets in at the same time.

Very yummy, had leftovers too. You could make it even cheaper by replacing one of the fillets with a chopped potato.

Really frugal tip of mine is that I take one of those Thermos bottles (12 hrs hot) to work in the morning and use the boiler at work to fill it in the mornings for my cups of tea and then fill it again just before leaving work for a hot drink in the evening. Really naughty of me 😏

I use the work facilities a lot now as well.We get unlimited hot drinks so I use the sachets of posh teas and have coffee from the machine as well as the soup.I might start taking a thermos in as well,thats a good idea@ItStartedWithaKiss72 .

Make sure you check any discount schemes your employer offers. For example, we can get 4% top up on Tesco and Sainsbury's vouchers. There's cashback on other retailers as well. Every little helps as they say.

We have really,really cut down on the amount of meat and fish that we eat.I have been making lots of soups and risottos.The veg boxes that you can get for £1.50 from Lidl are brilliant value and really useful for soups,stews and sauces etc.

Yes,@Drillingsaucer,the Lidl boxes are great value.We are lucky as we have 2 Lidls close to us,and the selection of veg is good plus the boxes are filled well.I blitz the tomatoes and onions and use to make pasta sauce with.Any of the fruit which hasn't got long left,I use in smoothies.

I have been resisting turning on the radiators,which admittedly hasn't been too bad so far.To trap the warmth,I have been leaving the got water in the sink when I've done the washing up,leaving the water in the bath until it goes cold and opening the oven door once I've done any oven cooking.Finhers crossed it will make a difference,however small.

I have been wearing extra layers,not flushing the toilet after a wee,drinking water from the tap and also completely stopping buying lunch from work and taking my ow

Sorry,posted too soon,taking my own sandwiches in and only leaving the house with £5 in cash each morning

@ItStartedWithaKiss72
I'm just curious, it that to avoid boiling the kettle at home? Apparently it costs just 1.28p to boil a kettle?

Every penny helps lol

Code still valid if anyone else wants a free box x

It's www.simplycook.com/invite/N6FYNV?t=cp&pg=ref&via=dt

I now get free prescriptions ( at 60) I now save that £10 trying to reduce impulse food buys, do save the change and not replace things.some items are cheaper at eBay with free postage

Save the change is a great function.I bank with Lloyds and the pennies here and there save up really quickly to something worthwhile if you try to 'forget' about the money you are saving for eg 3/6 months at a time.

We have been eating lots of toasties,soups and stews made in the slow cooker and also going around 90% vegetarian as the price of meat is soaring.

We have also given up buying new clothes unless essentials like school shoes,uniform etc.I can't remember the last time I bought myself a new top or accessory just for the sake of it.

I have been trying out batch cooking in an effort to cut down on time,money and waste.So far I have been spending around 3 hours on a Sunday cooking,sorting,freezing different meals and bases.I will keep going for the next few weeks and see if there's a noticeable difference in my food shopping spend.

I have been enjoying the efficiency and the lack of having to choose meals each evening,so for that alone,it has been a good experience.

There are some great videos on YouTube such as depression cooking,cooking on £1 a day,foraging, etc which really open your eyes to different ways of thinking and experimenting with foods.I have been watching lots of content recently which has made me think more about different ways I could save money/adopt different methods etc.

Use your library! Ours has audiobooks, ebooks, newspapers and magazines (online) all for free.

Get a Chase çard - you can move money to there from your standard current account, as Chase give 1% cashback. It soon adds up.

Do surveys/website testing etc from home for a few extra pounds.