Extreme penny pinching tips

[PennyPincher64]

Hello,

I need to reduce my outgoings and save as much as possible over the next 12 months or so I'm looking for every possible way to save money, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. I've looked at money saving expert and know about meal planning etc. and will be trying to buy second hand if we need anything but I'm really looking for the less obvious ways of making savings. Even if I won't be saving a massive amount I'd still be interested. Some of the less obvious ways I've come up with so far are unplugging all electrical appliances from the wall when not in use, shower with cold water and use the toilet before leaving work so I don't need it when I get home.

Also willing to hear about anything with a bit of an inital outlay that will save money longer term.

I'maall in favour of living frugally but reusing teabags etc will only save pence.
It's much more effective to take care of the big things - check you are paying correct rates for bills like council tax and water. See if you can switch suppliers for phone, Internet, car insurance, gas and electricity
Etc.
Use a cashback website - we use topcashback.co.uk and switch suppliers for lots of these every year - you can also often get a bonus for switching (sometimes hundreds of pounds on things you have to buy anyway).

Also agree with @TheClitterati - I used to get paid quarterly, which meant a lot of waiting to buy stuff - it was amazing how much stuff didn't seem that essential once I'd waited 2 months for it!

You need to feel positive about what you are doing and not feel deprived

That is so true. I call it Frugal Fun. If you can change your perspective and love the challenge it makes it so much easier. I had a 5 year phase of this and we really noticed the difference.

@Poppyismyfavourite that’s exactly what op said she wanted, to save, even if it was just a pence (it all adds up) I wish I had advice, I’m so bad with money and my current situation is dire

Grow your own veg?

Seeds are pretty cheap, but if you germinate dried peas and use potato peelings they will work just as well.

Go foraging? Fun day out and free food. (be way of mushrooms tho)

Buy segs for shoes to stop the heel wearing down and make them last longer.

Use a lightbulb as a darning mushroom to repair socks.

During this lockdown I have made a few things I have seen on Pinterest.
Made frozen yogurt ice lollies and banana bars which only had 3 ingredients. Healthy & cheap kept the kids fed for a few days!

Salad stuff like rocket, baby leaves and lettuce are expensive to buy but easy to grow, even in pots. Watercress will root if you put a sprig in water. Pot up in very wet compost once roots appear. Definitely go veggie and use lots of dried pulses and cheap seasonal veg. Avoid expensive imports.. Slow cookers and old-fashioned haul up airing racks are grear money-saving gadgets.

Maximise your income.
Are you getting all the benefits that you are entitled to?
Identify the difference between WANT and NEED.
Rent things out like a room or driveway.

Reduce outgoings

Cancel obsolete subscriptions
Shop for cheaper utilities.
Look for cheaper mortgage rates.

Washing powder - the man from Miele said you never need to use more than a tablespoon of washing powder. I get those huge boxes of powder when they're on special offer and keep a tablespoon measure in it. I do a lot of washing, but one of those boxes lasts about 8 months

I was going to say don’t use the full measure but I had no clue it needed so little!

Assuming you’ve already shopped around re bills? To get them as low as possible?

I’m vegetarian for over 30 years and my jaw drops when I see meat prices so if you’re not veggie maybe consider eating so at least half the week? Bulk all meals out with more veg - healthier too

Cut heating costs by dressing for the season, using blankets and throws.

As you say you’ve been on mse have you seen the brand switching advice? Drop down a brand level on groceries until you reach a point you can’t tolerate? There are very few items I get that are named brands and much of the rest of my groceries are budget range level though even I have my limits, budget cereal is grim! But you may well surprise yourself.

Cooking from scratch/batch cooking?

Come over to the “frugal foodies” thread for a load of tips to reduce food waste and save money. It’s a lovely friendly thread.

Are you signed up to loyalty schemes with every shop you use? May not seem a huge bonus but it all helps.

Not applicable at the moment but in “normal” shopping times bulk buy non perishables & long life items when they’re on offer. Eg one of my branded favourites is fairy liquid but I NEVER pay full price for it

Even if you can’t grow veg you can grow herbs on a windowsill.

Make do and mend - the vast majority of things can be fixed and continue to work. I’m shocked at how many people throw out electricals for want of a new fuse, or even more so clothes due to a small hole or fallen hem! These are easy things to fix and even if you can’t do yourself - eg I can’t replace zips to save my life! So I use a high st alterations place - cheaper even than new from primark. Even stained can be altered or dyed to continue use or even cut into rags for making a rag scarf, cleaning rags or making draft excluders etc.

Even my dd has managed this from a relatively young age, I remember a friend of hers being stunned when instead of throwing out a long sleeved t-shirt she’d wrecked the sleeves on (don’t ask!) she simply unpicked the seams, tidied it up and turned it into a sleeveless top. Another friend was impressed when instead of throwing out jeans that were now too short on the leg (she’s very tall and slim) she simply turned them into a denim skirt, and when that grew too short, denim shorts. That one pair of jeans lasted her about 5 years! (They were a favourite the denim was lovely and soft)

I’ve not had a tumble dryer in donkeys years! Nor a garden - airers are perfectly sufficient. Both the clothes horse type and I always have radiator airers too, you can even get ones that hang on doors if space is limited. The radiator ones are great for warming up towels too.

@JulesJules makes sense. It was the dishwasher repair engineer who told us to cut washing tablets in 1/2 and remove any plastic packaging even if advertised to dissolve in the wash, as the extra powder and gunk slowly accumulates and clogs some pipes.

shower with cold water

do you really need to do this? How much would it cost you to heat up water for a very quick shower- even every other day? Please don’t give yourself cold showers unless you really really can’t afford the heater.

I'd have a strip wash over a cold shower. One small of warm water has got to be better than a cold show.

Watering down milk is a genius idea! I always used to drink skimmed any way but now with a 1 year old I buy while milk for him and just use that for myself too but I'll give watering it down a go and see what its like.

I also just thought that I can use baby's dirty bath water to flush the toilet rather than just pouring it down the drain.

Want to clarify that I'm not living on the breadline but I don't have any savings and this crisis has made me realise how important it is to have something to fall back on and I want to build that up as quickly as possible as you never know when you might need it.
Some of the suggestions on here may seem a bit extreme but I'll try them out and I won't be forcing myself to do anything that is horrendous. I just wanted to see what kind of options there are and see if it's something I could do too.

Yes cold shower does sound extreme, may not lastbut I always have a cold shower in the summer anyway because I'm a bit of a weirdo so I thought I could try and start a few weeks earlier this year.

Maybe a sponge wash is a more sensible suggestion.

Don't buy ready made kitchen sprays. I bought a bottle of "fabulosa" disinfectant for a pound and it makes something like 8 spray bottles full! And it smells much nicer than flash etc too!

I had to do some money saving a few years ago here some ideas sorry of they have been said already.
Use bar soap, cheap stuff is fine.
Try and use as much as possible of what u have like I had a lot of old toiletries gift sets to work through at the back of the cupboard.
Be honest with your friends and say to family uou can't buy gifts for birthdays for a while. If they insist on getting u something ask for vouchers for birthday but for shops where u can buy food if needed of clothes or school shoes if you have kids, or stuff for you or clothes for work. Ie m and s or sainsburys.
Use charity shops when they re open I buy there through choice now as better for environment some great stuff to be had.
Buy cheap fruit and veg like aldi super 6 then just apples banannas and oranges as these last all week not like berries. Once gone used value tin fruit, peaches etc. 30p a can in aldi. Buy cheap fruit juice not fresh. Frozen veg and fruit also good.
Pound land is good but home bargain is better if u have one near., great for cleaning stuff and toiletries. Cards and bits.
Dye your own hair. I've used pound land dye before now its OK for root job.
I found using mens deodorant from aldi more effective than womens as I had to use less. Its 47p.
If you have to spend use cash back sites where possible.
Eat or 2 meals a week such as tin soup and rolls and beans on toast. Very cheap and very filling.
Cut down water use if you have a meter, I alternated between a shower daily and a wash the next. It wasn't great fun but it did save a lot of money and I was always clean. I reduced the amount of washing I did to as this cost a lot. I put a lot in the machine and tried to wear items twice.
Can you bake? I would make a big cake just a sponge with Jam and that would be pudding for a week.
Do you or anyone you know have a fruit tree my mum would give us apples and I'd make baby food for bbay or apple pies for us. Crumble also easy
Days out take lunch to a park or beach. Walk there if you can. Take drinks every where. Buy a flask and take coffee.
Take lunch to work.
Can you use your car less? Walk as much as possible.
Porridge oats the value ones make lovely hot porridge or great overnight oats loads of recepies online.
Make up I need for work I used b and m or pound land avoid boots etc its much cheaper elsewhere and still looks great.

Go onto money saving expert forum. Loads of advice there and motivated people which will keep you motivated too.

If you buy cheddar, get the stronger one and grate it. Grated cheese goes further than sliced. And if it's strong, you can use less for the same taste as a milder one. All hard cheeses also freeze well, so buy when on offer. I also read somewhere that a teaspoon of cornflour, mixed with the grated cheese, stops it sticking together, so you can keep it in the freezer in a large tub or bag, rather than individually storing smaller portions.

@DDIJ sleep between two duvets

what am I missing?

@DDIJ It's a gas bolier that we have.

A lot of mo ey saving tips also have benefits for the environment. That's why I saod I would be interested in hearing about things that might only save a few pence because even if it's not a massive saving it might be worth doing for the environmental benefit.

I am shocked that only a tablespoon of washing powder is required. I use bleach for cleaning and a bottle lasts and lasts. I think your best bet is to try and earn some money as the little you will save doing some of these things is not going to make much impact.

I used to jokingly say I’d never bought a coffee and TBH it’s almost true! I have a flask, and a picnic box, very rarely buy food out and NEVER water. We all have water bottles.

I think you’ve really hit on something OP, an emergency fund is really worth having and buys you security. Good luck

Only having cold showers is just miserable when you don't need to do it. I understand you want to penny pinch but that is so extreme - as is not using your own toilet and trying to go at work instead. If you are genuinely that hard up that you consider the above measures as normal ways to cut back then I would advise speaking to outside agencies for help

Splitting a dishwasher tablet in half won't give you a proper clean either