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Cost of living

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Money saving purchases

22 replies

Thamantha · 05/04/2025 22:47

What have you bought which has reduced your spending in the long term?

I bought a safety razor and big pack of blades about 4 years ago and haven't needed to spend any money on disposable blades since.
I also have a mooncup which has saved a chunk that would have been spent on sanitary towels.

Anyone else have some purchases that have saved you money, or waste, in the longer term?

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 05/04/2025 23:22

Thermos flasks for hot drinks on journeys or days out, or for a hot meal at work if you would otherwise have to buy from a café.

Fathomless · 05/04/2025 23:28

chilly's water bottles which keep the water cool on hot days

Bigger bottles of facewashes

Those microfiber wipes for makeup removal, no more cotton wool or wipes needed

Pigtailsandall · 06/04/2025 13:59

Heated blanket for winter. Keeps us so toasty and it was less expensive thsn I anticipated, plus not v expensive to run

LifeBeginsToday · 06/04/2025 14:23

Wool duvet. It was about £400 ten years ago.

Lampzade · 06/04/2025 14:24

My snuggle hoodie. Saves money on heating

OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 06/04/2025 14:41

Thermal cup with a lid, Green steel is the brand I chose. I make cups of tea in it and it keeps them hot for ages, and I can use it as a takeaway cup. I've a terrible habit of making tea while working then forgetting about it so need to make another. It's completely eliminated the waste.
Thermal bottles, keeps water cold in the car for journeys and days out.
Period pants, tried a mooncup and it was fine just a bit uncomfortable getting it in and out. Extremely happy with the period pants. They've lasted 5 years so far and I think I'll replace them soon.
Hrt prescription prepayment cert.
Giant bottles of shower gel, to refill the small one that's in the shower.
Meal planning and shopping to the list. No top up shops.

40weeksmummy · 06/04/2025 15:44

Big freezer. I save a fortune with batch cooking, buying yellow stickers, offers, etc.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 06/04/2025 18:15

Ecoegg Bamboo Kitchen Towels | Reusable Eco Friendly Alternative to Kitchen Paper | Made from 100% Sustainable Sources | Super Absorbent | 20 White Towels | 1800 uses

Saved a fortune not buying paper towels and eco.

SwimmingFree · 07/04/2025 22:44

period pants for me and my daughters, I’ve not bought disposable period products in years.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/04/2025 08:38

Air fryer, much cheaper than putting the big oven on.

YourChirpyFatball · 08/04/2025 12:28

As a singleton my Geepas small rice cooker. I discovered a lovely lady on YT Claire/Clare Risper who makes all sorts of meals in hers. Mine makes at least two portions so nice to have the next day covered too.

KateArnott · 08/04/2025 13:10

An Oodie. Wearing one means that I’m far less likely to put the heating on!

RoseMarigoldViolet · 08/04/2025 13:35

Clippers to cut the children’s hair.

LittleLlama · 09/04/2025 07:52

Secondhand Smart Plug - to turn on devices (clothes dryer) at night to use electricity at cheaper rate.

Radiator reflectors - which we use with radiators hung on external walls.

Thermal linings for curtains (mostly bought secondhand from Vinted) and a front door thick thermal curtain.

Bjorkdidit · 09/04/2025 07:57

A National Art Pass. It's got me free entry to many attractions - not just art galleries but country park type places too. A prime example is the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, I was going to buy membership for them, but the Art Pass is cheaper and I can go to hundreds of other places too for free, plus half price entry to paid exhibitions at galleries etc.

National Trust membership would be another one for people who like to go to those sites, again not just 'stately homes' but places where DC can run around, bike tracks, walking trails, adventure playgrounds etc, all for about £10-15 pm so you only have to go a handful of times a year for it to be worthwhile. Plus free parking at some beaches.

I have the HRT prescription card, but for anyone who needs regular medication, the annual card is often worthwhile. People complain about the cost of prescriptions, but 80/90% are free, and for those who have to pay, no-one has to pay more than about £10 a month.

We also buy whatever is on offer for lots of things, and keep a store cupboard so we've never paid 'full price' - I'd estimate this saves tens of pounds a week, so at least £1k per annum, just by thinking ahead with grocery shopping (I know that not everyone can afford to do this, but for the majority, once you get into the swing of it, you just buy washing powder one week, coffee the next, then tinned tomatoes etc so it works out far cheaper over time than buying the same things in small quantities each week).

suki1964 · 13/04/2025 12:52

A 15 in 1 multi cooker. Saves me a fortune and saves me tonnes of time

A coffee machine. Im the only coffee drinker, hate instant and coffee shops are out of the equation now. A bag of beans from a local roaster cost me £15 and does me the month. Insulated coffee cup, so I get to be able to enjoy at leisure rather then gulp it down before it gets cold

Decafflatteplease · 13/04/2025 18:01

Another vote for national trust, has saved us a fortune over the years. We went to a NT place yesterday that was "free" to get in as we are members but it would have been £37.50 for the "on the door" price 😱

Reusable nappies when the children were younger, I bought some second hand from an NCT sale back in the day, used them on 4 children then resold them! Also cloth wipes.

Mooncup/period pants/period pads. Initial outlay but save each month and far more comfortable than disposable versions.

Bulk buying, if you have funds and space. We buy 5litre washing up liquid and laundry liquid then decant into smaller bottles

purpledagger · 05/05/2025 11:32

i have period knickers, washable panty liners and face clothes - they would take many years before they have paid themselves off, but they are better for the environment and means i don’t have to worry about running out, so they are worth it.

shopping bag - i keep a fold up one in my hand bag and this regularly saves me money as i buy them from IKEA for £1.

muslin face cloths - had loads of old ones so i used them for nappy changed when my children were babies. only used them when we were at home.

microfibre cloths - use around the kitchen for cleaning.

library - my library has ebooks and magazines, which i can use via an app on my phone.

plastic containers - save them from my local chinese takeaway and they are so handy for food storage, packed munches etc. i e cream container, margarine tubs etc can also be used.

incognito50me · 05/05/2025 11:51

Thamantha · 05/04/2025 22:47

What have you bought which has reduced your spending in the long term?

I bought a safety razor and big pack of blades about 4 years ago and haven't needed to spend any money on disposable blades since.
I also have a mooncup which has saved a chunk that would have been spent on sanitary towels.

Anyone else have some purchases that have saved you money, or waste, in the longer term?

I agree with the safety razor - I've had mine since the winter before covid and have not even needed to repurchase blades. My daughter is still on disposables with corresponding costs, though.

Pressure cooker - it saves lots of time and space (for cans of beans).

Also, my Eufy vacuuming and mopping robot. It's saved me lots of time and is a joy to have a mostly clean house without much effort.

forgotmyusername1 · 05/05/2025 13:13

Expensive- solar panels and a battery. My electric bill is now negative and covers about 50% of my gas bill as well

Cheap - electric blankets and oodies

Muchtoomuchtodo · 05/05/2025 13:18

Signing up to Quidco. Get cashback on things that you’re buying anyway.

TheDefiant · 05/05/2025 13:30

A gadget for the bath that means we use the hot water from the tap for our shower rather than the electric shower. It’s saved us a fortune as DS was spending ages in the shower.

bonus is it’s a better shower experience too!

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