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Cost of living

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Uncommon money saving tips

265 replies

Clarelita · 01/05/2024 21:07

I'm wondering if anyone has any not so common money saving tips that you don't hear about that often. Things have always been tight for us and since COVID I must have read a hundred different articles and threads about saving money but it just seems to be the same tips that get brought out over and over again.

Here are a couple of mine:

I haven't had a haircut in years. When it gets too long I just cut it myself following videos on YouTube. And I always wear my hair up now so if it's a bit wonky no one will notice. Got some ideas for easy up Dos off YouTube too.

I turned down the boiler temperature and keep the showers as cold as I can tolerate to reduce the gas bill. My showers aren't cold but are warm rather than hot and I noticed a significant drop in gas consumption.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
greengreyblue · 02/05/2024 17:05

Leave oven door open after using to use the heat.

BuyOrBake · 02/05/2024 17:06

If adding tinned tomatoes or something saucy to a pan rinse it out again with a small drop of water.
Also works with jars....add a little eater and shake.

Use a silicone spatula to get every bit our of a pan / bowl.....there is always more left than you think!

greengreyblue · 02/05/2024 17:06

I love car boot sales and charity shops. I upcycle things a lot. In Covid I made a pantry in a cupboard and used old decking boards upside down as rustic shelving. I paint old cupboards and change knobs etc.

greengreyblue · 02/05/2024 17:07

I use old glass jars ( gherkins/ olives and condiment jars for spices and pulses.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 02/05/2024 17:10

greengreyblue · 02/05/2024 17:07

I use old glass jars ( gherkins/ olives and condiment jars for spices and pulses.

I use those teeny ones you get jam in at a hotel or cafe to store the remaining half of a stick cube when a recipe calls for not using a whole cube. Use a sharpie to put a V, C or B on the wrapper first according to whether it's veg, chicken or beef. Keeps happily in the fridge.

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 02/05/2024 17:11

Ankylo · 01/05/2024 22:12

With old christmas and birthday cards, I cut the pictures off to use as gift tags for gifts.

I cut them up to use as shopping lists, as they are thin card, it's so much easier to cross items off as I buy them.

NetZeroZealot · 02/05/2024 17:19

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 02/05/2024 12:59

I buy those face mask things that are fabric that you put over your skin and are supposed to leave for 15 minutes (the ones that say they 'contain xxx amount of serum' or whatever).

I use the face mask, then put it back in the packet, seal the packet with a clothes peg. There is enough 'serum' (or whatever) in that face mask to reuse over and over, as long as you don't let it dry out. I use it as a moisturiser wipe. I can get at least a week's use out of each mask that way (they are about £4 a pop, so need to get my money's worth!)

Surely if you're counting the pennies you don't waste them on stuff like that in the first place?

EmpressSoleil · 02/05/2024 17:21

@Loveliesbhhfd

The app is called "playtime".
You just have to remember to access the games through the app so that it counts. They were good at paying out, got my vouchers within minutes of requesting.

Spinningroundahelix · 02/05/2024 17:33

When I open a tin or tube of tomato paste and have some left over I freeze it in an ice cube tray. As you need a tablespoon or two in future you just pop a few out of the ice cube tray.

I have found if you chop celery into stalks, wash and dry it, and wrap it in tin foil and put it in the fridge it has amazing preservation powers and the celery stays crisp for ages. I mainly use it in cooking but I think if you like raw celery it would be fine.

To poach a single egg as a snack, I just put 1/3 to 1/2 cup of water in a cup, break the egg into it, put a saucer or side plate on top and microwave it for a minute. Then drain.

To cook frozen peas, put them in a cup - no extra water- put a plate on the cup and microwave for a few minutes until hot. Saves boiling them in a saucepan and so easy.

Read online reviews of any appliance product you are buying. I have the most basic bare bones plastic electric jug which cost almost nothing and had great reviews for reliability. It has just gone on and on. The chic red enamel one I had wanted had the most awful reviews about the enamel wearing really badly. Avoid "extra bits" like automatic ice makers and chilled water dispensers that are likely to break. We got rid of a electric door bell that was always breaking down and need an electrician and now people use the original brass knocker to bang on our door. It's been there since the 1920s and is still going strong.

I do keep a bag of raw chicken trimmings in the freezer and when I have enough I make my own stock. It doesn't matter if it's fatty bits because when the stock cools it forms a layer of fat on top which you can just lift off. I simmer the chicken with a carrot, onion and a stick of celery if I have it. I freeze that in small portions too. Taking into account the simmering on very low heat for two hours you want to make a big batch. I am not sure this saves money over buying ready made stock but at least I know exactly what is in it. (I'm not in the UK and I think our electricity is quite a bit cheaper - lots of other things are dearer.) I guess you could use a crockpot if you had one.

I bulk cook casseroles. Stale bread can be whizzed in food processor to make breadcrumbs and frozen in a box in the freezer. When needed scoop some out and let defrost - it doesn't set solid for me at least. I'd use it for crumbing chicken etc.

I use white vinegar as fabric softener for the washing machine for a few things. It is handy to have in a spray bottle to spray on sweaty underarms in clothes to get rid of any residual smell.

I am miserly with paper towels. I have a cupboard stocked with lots of cheap microfibre cloths. Lot of the time you can just use a microfibre cloth and biff it into the washing pile. I live in a country where most people use cold water in their washing machines. The clothes do get clean and it's probably better for them in terms of durability. I tend to handwash stuff that is dry clean only and I have only had one disaster -a red silk and cotton top that just bled dye. Not talking about tailored stuff of course.

Strip baths are awful. I remember them from my childhood. They do save hot water but they were grim.

Buy gender neutral children's clothes if you can if you want more than one child. It is easier to pass on a red or navy coat or back pack to a boy sibling for example than a pink one. (But hey if you're not concerned with meaningless social customs crack on with the boy in the pink coat.) Choose for durability - dark colours tend to look better for longer. Check shoes for wear and tear and get new heels and replacing the toe bit of the leather sole when they wear. Or go for durable rubber soles.

If you sew, consider buying one of those packs of small mini reels of different coloured thread. Thread is expensive but if you only want a small amount to hand stitch a hem or do a discreet darn they can be very handy. Obviously chose a pack with colours that sort of go with the colours of clothes you would wear. Consider one of those little battery powered devices that whir over bobbled fabric. It can give a garment a whole new lease of life when it is no longer covered in bobbles. I never had much luck with the handheld version at all. If a garment is wrecked and is for the rubbish, I save the buttons in case I need to replace buttons on something else. I have a button stash.

AdoraBell · 02/05/2024 17:40

Haven’t RTFT so sorry if it’s already been said, regarding home made veg soup mentioned on page 1. You can add lentils, red ones cook down to almost invisible, to add protein.

Someone mentioned, ages ago, she cooks enough lentil soup for a week and adds spices when reheating. So if you fancy a Mexican vibe on Wednesday and Italian on Thursday you can achieve it easily.

Pudmyboy · 02/05/2024 17:47

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 02/05/2024 02:23

Just buy one newspaper at the beginning of the month and re-read it every day and whilst acting surprised.

Squat down behind the television and read bits of the newspaper out loud to the rest of the family, saves electricity by not have the TV news on.

At the end of each month tear the newspaper into small pieces and soak in water, then make ashtrays and other useful objects out of the papier-mâché for Christmas and birthday presents.

Love this! Worthy of the pages of Viz!

Pudmyboy · 02/05/2024 17:52

SeatonCarew · 02/05/2024 04:06

Don't bother with expensive fitted carpets. Ask at the carpet shop for old samples, then duck tape them to the undersides of your feet.

😂😂😂

WickedWitchoftheNorthWest1 · 02/05/2024 18:20

We have an electric shower, from May until September the gas boiler is switched off. I boil water for dishes in the kettle, use cold water detergent for the washing machine last year the gas bill was zero for those months apart from the standing charge. I place a bucket in the shower 2 x showers a day = 1 bucket for toilet flush, eco shower head. We also purchased a small portable power station with a portable solar panel and charge all our devices on it, saved us a tidy sum over the year. These were all tricks from years ago when the dc’s were small and we didn’t have much spare cash, now I’m older it’s turned into a bit of a game and don’t get me started on how far a whole chicken goes 😕.

Clarelita · 02/05/2024 18:22

Wow. Wasn't expecting so many replies to this thread. Some really great ideas, some things I already do, other will definitely be getting tried out.

One more I haven't seen yet on the thread: save free newspapers for wrapping presents. I also reuse wrapping paper from presents that people have given us and haven't bought wrapping paper in years.

OP posts:
BuyOrBake · 02/05/2024 18:45

If adding tinned tomatoes or something saucy to a pan rinse it out again with a small drop of water.
Also works with jars....add a little eater and shake.

Use a silicone spatula to get every bit our of a pan / bowl.....there is always more left than you think!

Yalta · 02/05/2024 18:45

When doing the shopping I always look at the stuff in my cart and try and put at least one thing back.

Really analyse do you absolutely need everything you have in your trolley.

At least one day per week we have a very cheap meal. (Under 50p per person) Baked potatoes and tins of beans.
Or Homemade chunky soup (get a soup maker)

Always head to the yellow sticker section first.

Make big rice or pasta meals that last 2 or 3 days

Go vegetarian/vegan it saves so much money

Summers coming so don’t cook as that drives up the fuel bills

Yalta · 02/05/2024 18:46

Always use cash back sites or try to find what you want, brand new but being sold on FBMP or Ebay

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 02/05/2024 18:48

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 02/05/2024 17:10

I use those teeny ones you get jam in at a hotel or cafe to store the remaining half of a stick cube when a recipe calls for not using a whole cube. Use a sharpie to put a V, C or B on the wrapper first according to whether it's veg, chicken or beef. Keeps happily in the fridge.

Ok I have two questions -

  1. What recipe only calls for half a stock cube, and are you really pinching the pennies enough to actually use half?
  2. Are you really arsed to do that when you could just wrap in a tiny bit of foil (or tbh I'd leave it on the side and use it tomorrow, wouldn't even wrap it)
Verbena17 · 02/05/2024 18:50

I don’t have tons of skincare products or make up.p and save loads that way.

Skin care - clean face with flannel, soap and water/baby wipes then use Nivea Soft twice daily to moisturise. A £6 tub of Nivea lasts probs 6 months.

Make Up - Rimmel foundation and only use on dark under eye areas & sometimes chin.
No Powder - looks too powdery.
L’Oréal Peach Blusher
Mascara - Rimmel 3D

That is it!

AngelsandAliens · 02/05/2024 18:56

SeatonCarew · 02/05/2024 04:06

Don't bother with expensive fitted carpets. Ask at the carpet shop for old samples, then duck tape them to the undersides of your feet.

This has made me laugh way more than it should have 🤣🤣🤣

user73 · 02/05/2024 18:56

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 02/05/2024 12:59

I buy those face mask things that are fabric that you put over your skin and are supposed to leave for 15 minutes (the ones that say they 'contain xxx amount of serum' or whatever).

I use the face mask, then put it back in the packet, seal the packet with a clothes peg. There is enough 'serum' (or whatever) in that face mask to reuse over and over, as long as you don't let it dry out. I use it as a moisturiser wipe. I can get at least a week's use out of each mask that way (they are about £4 a pop, so need to get my money's worth!)

A really cheap face mask is a soluble aspirin mixed with honey.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 02/05/2024 19:02

@CutthroatDruTheViolent

1 - if I'm making something for two but it's a recipe for 4 (and often I'll freeze the other portions but like now I've no room freezer) I'm just scaling quantities down? Sometimes because of the gelatine stuff in a stock cube if you use more it makes the sauce gloopy and horrible. I'll generally use the remainder later in the week.

  1. Actually, quickly sharpie-ing a letter on and folding it in its wrapper and popping in a jar is quicker than ripping up a piece of foil. And less wasteful. And literally takes seconds Grin

Plus I don't want grubby wrapped odds and ends on my surface overnight and if it's going in my fridge I want it to be clean and organised. Hate a messy fridge

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 02/05/2024 19:03

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz hmm, as I thought. I am a slattern Grin

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 02/05/2024 19:11

I find it calming to organise my fridge especially since peri menopause. Some days it's either throttle someone anyone or wipe down the salad drawer Grin

greengreyblue · 02/05/2024 19:21

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz 😂