Economical swaps or money saving

[changedwoman123]

Hi - I realise I spend far too much money on rubbish with little/no benefit which then leaves nothing to enjoy or to buy anything proper

I have so far decided:
never again to buy:

grated cheese
precut fruit

swapping brands for supermarket where possible

what else can I easily do? I’m hoping to produce a long list!

Get a good coffee machine if you enjoy

Get a hybrid car. I am speechless at how economical!

Plan your meals then make a shopping list. Only buy what you need.
If something you use regularly is in the sale buy three and put two away for later.

Really - is that because electric charging is cheaper than petrol?

no idea!

I don’t need to charge so don’t have a charger

that’s the beauty of a hybrid. Self charging!!

Home bargains for cleaning products, toiletries etc

I use Acqueous cream in the shower. In all the main supermarkets it's £5 a tub.
It's a quid in Home Bargains.

I’ve got an electric car. I’ve done almost 7000 miles in it and it’s cost me less than £140. I’m never going back to petrol or diesel. DH uses my car if I don’t need it because it makes absolutely no sense to use his petrol one.

Yes, the supermarkets really hike the prices on things like this as food is so low margin.

But the electric cars have a massive upfront cost so a large outlay surely counts against the saving on fuel?

Mine hybrid so no charging point
second hand Mazda £14500
and it’s bloody awesome
2023

Swap kitchen roll for some reusable cloth wipes (get different colours so you know which are for counters and which are bathrooms/floors).

Use cotton handkerchiefs instead of tissues for sniffles/hayfever

Grow your own fresh herbs and chilli’s. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be glad of it. Outside: a pot of sage, rosemary and two pots each of thyme and mint will supply you all year and you can dry your own herbs for use over winter. You can grow chilli’s parsley, coriander, dill, oregano and basil from seed indoors and put outside when weather is warm and sunny.

Oh and make your own burgers, I use a small pack of mince (usually turkey or chicken), two or three slices of brown bread ground into breadcrumbs, 1 tsp ground cumin, lemon zest, a red chilli, a chopped onion caramelised in a frying pan with ten garlic, and fresh herbs. Really filling and avoids upf

And I also have a Brita water filter and really that’s much nicer than tap water so we drink far less squash etc.

use the ends of loaves that no one will eat and turn into breadcrumbs to freeze - use in burgers/meatballs/meatloaf, make stuffing for roasts or large tomatoes/mushrooms, topping for fish (seasoned) or for cottage pies, or to do the flour/egf/breadcrumb treatment on homemade crab cakes/fish cakes/chicken goujons etc.

Leftover mach is great for fish cakes or to top cottage pies etc. Or reheated with some onion, butter and seasoning.

Chicken thighs are cheaper than breasts and taste better in curries or stews etc.

Do you and your family use handkerchiefs instead of tissues?