Top tips for doing things cheaply please

[nutcracker]

I know we have had these threads before but am not in the mood to search so humour me.

Am already changing phone provider etc, but need any other tips anyone has that they think save them money.

TIA

Dh says that TalkTalk are doing (for £20 a month):

Free telephone calls for up to 70 minutes
Free broadband

Surely that's quite good if you use the telephone a fair amount, and are on the pc a lot?

Typo, CD - popsy meant \link{http://www.18185.co.uk/index2.php\18185}

I buy the most amazing clothes for DS from Tesco - good quality cotton too - the other day picked up a cap, jumper and hoodie top for grand total of £5.50 - would have cost over £20 in Mothercare.
Shop around on the internet. Bought myself the most beautiful designer wedge shoes for the summer for 99p on eBay - came to £5.00 in total with p&p
I always make a massive saving buying things for DS online rather than in the shops.

1899 and 18185 are really good - but primus saver option 2 gives you genuine free phone calls to uk landlines at evenings and weekends. No monthly charge but calls have to be less than 90 minutes - and you can hang up after 89 minutes and redial...

Its 2p per min during the day, so in the day I use 1899 or 18185 then in evenings and weekends, I don't use them

Make an effort not to buy the kids new shoes/socks/pants/hairgrips unless they REALLY need them.
If kitchen roll/washing up liquid/loo roll whatever is on BOGOF buy it twice and you wont have to worry about it for another 3 weeks.
Get your milk delivered, use your milk tokens if you get them with the milkman, going to the shop less for milk(and bread and oh I need that..oh a sweet for the kids too) will save a fortune :)

Work out what toiletries you can save money on. My favourite money-saving is those handwash foaming things - you can refill them with around 20% soap and 80% water which saves a lot.

Also, I'm now sharing cheap shampoo with ds and dh (although I have my more £££ frizz ease shampoo to alternate with). Just buying a few less toiletries means there's less to go off/clutter the bathroom (or more space for my expensive stuff )

what about baking your own bread? i made some today - dead easy and fun for dd - think the flour was 88p and the yeast comes in sachets about £1.60 ish for 8 and you only need one per loaf / 2 loafs depending on size and i think you can freeze the dough and baking only takes about 20mins.

also cleaning products - all you really need are washing up liquid, disinfectant, anti bacterial spray and kitchen roll.

about the antibac spray - get a plant mister and mix some foodsafe disinfectant multisurface cleaner with water in the mister, and use that. It lasts ages.

if you buy online think about joining a cashback site - preferably one that gives you 100% back - I've saved loadsa money doing this.

use money saving expert, and uswitch, check your utility bills, pay by direct debit and make sure youre not paying for tv channels you could happily live without.

work out your available "spending" money for the week, take it out in cash and leave your cards at home.

menu plan, use your freezer, try to cook from scratch and dont buy convenience food. Buy own brand in preference to big names.

Take a packed lunch to work.

shop online its less embarrasing buying dozens of value tins, you can keep a tally of what your spending and you can take full advantage of (appropriate) special offers

try to mend rather than replace

get an allotment

use the library and the local park - they're free!

make a list of (non grocery) things you think you need to buy and shop around for them. Leave them on the list long enough and you'll probably find you dont need them after all - if you really do, try ebay and argos first.

dress in "vintage chic" - looks much better than high street anyway

dont buy magazines, daily or sunday papers. They'll only try to convince you you need things you dont. Read them online or read some of the books you've never got round to reading

buy pre-loved toys, books and clothes for your little ones. No-one, let alone your kids will know the difference.

Ditch the car - we save a packet without one

Make a list of supermarket value wine recomendations - its surprisingly ok buying a garish bottle for 2.99 called chilean white wine if you know Malcolm Gluck has given it 16/20.

use up all the bottles in your bathroom before you buy more shampooo etc. Try to buy bottles everyone can use.

Share baths with your kids and loved ones.

Stop eating out or going to the pub. Discover the joys of a cosy night in and an early night.

Treacletart - good list there. We already do quite a lot because it seems sensible rather than b/c we wanted to save money. Now money will be an issue too, i wonder what else we should be doing.