Like many others I am totally skint and wondered if anyone would like to...

[mamadiva]

join me in a kindof downgrade challenge with food, household cleaners, toiletries etc.

Random idea I know but I fancied trying it and this way we can find out whats good and whats not.

So anyone up for it?

I need to learn more things to cook homemade thats probably why I end up spending so much, although partly due to DS and DP being the fussiest eaters I know.

I have found this old fashion laundry soap good for getting stains out. Even tomato based stains.

Co-op ownn brands generally very good I find, I like the non-bio concentrated washing liquid.

I think that's were I've made my biggest saving by making most meals, freezing leftovers and planning meals ahead. We also get a veggie box delivered so I am in the supermarket less so don;t buy unnecassary things ad hoc.

Meal planning has cut our food bill by £20 - £30 each week. I couldn't believe the difference at first. We also buy the whoops stuff and if its veg, I make loads of different soups with lentils/different beans and freeze them. Great for lunches. Dh takes them to work as well.

I am going to try the fabric softner in water though. Great idea.

I now buy Sainsburys basics - fromage frais, custard creams, grapes, bananas, dried milk powder, jacket potatoes, yogurts
Still buy Fairy washing up liquid, Walkers crisps, Bounty kitchen roll, Whiskas cat food (bloody fussy cats!).
Rest of it is usually supermarkets own brand.

Money Saving Ideas:

• Your electric will be cheaper usually at about 11pm/12am. I pay 24p a kw during the day, but between 12-7am I only pay 6p a kw. If you've got washing to do stick it on at midnight, normally my washing machine costs about £1.00 to run once a day, but if I put it on between the cheap rate times, it'll be costing less than 25p. If you've got 6 loads of washing to do a week, that's £6.00 worth of electricity as opposed to £1.50 (ish) on the cheap rate! This could also apply to a dishwasher if you're fortunate to have one.

• Ditch the tumble dryer - they cost a fortune. Put everything on airers and buy those drying rails that go over radiators etc.

• Turn off everything you can, don't leave things on at the wall. For example, when you've finished using the kettle, toaster, tv, computer, hair dryer, phone charger etc, turn it off at the wall.

Don't leave your heating on at night, just wrap up warm and add some nice thick blankets to your bed and you'll be warm enough wihtout it costing you a fortune! It's wasted heat when you think about it. Aslo, if you're going out, turn your heating down/off.

• Shop around for the cheapest rate of electric you can find.

• Don't wash it if it isn't dirty! I used to be awful for washing things after I'd only worn them once. Now, if I can I'll try and get a good few wears out of my things, this applies to dd as well. You'll dramatically cut your washing down. Dd's wearing the same jeans 3 days in a row now, they'll be in the wahsing bin tonight. But instead of her wearing 3 pairs of jeans/trousers she's only worn 1. They're only just starting to need washed.

• Sign up to all the parenting clubs you can as they'll send you vouchers, boots are great. I've just saved £5.00 on Pampers nappies becasue I was sent vouchers. This means I've managed to get 116 Pampers nappies for £11.00 as they were already on a 2 for £16.00 deal. Otherwise, switch to own brand nappies, they really are just as good and lets face it, they only get shit on and put in the bin anyway - no need for Sundays best!

• Sign up for store club card type things as they'll also send you out vouchers - boots, tescos etc. Tescos just sent me some and I saved £7.00 on my last shop.

• Buy everything on stores own brands. Tins are great and if they need a little added flavour, put in some seasoning or spices. Toilet paper - tescos own are really cheap, again, it's to wipe your arse so lets not be picky! Washing power and fabric softner, a lot cheaper. 3kg box of tescos own is only about £1.30 and I think it's fab. I honestly think it's as good as the rest.

• Only buy meat if it's on an offer/reduced. Instead of buying expensive chicken fillets, but an entire chicken and make lots of different meals to freeze etc.

• If you can't afford meat, bulk up your meals with peppers, mushrooms, beans and pulses.

• Go to places like Iceland/farmfoods for your jars of curries and condements. Tescos were charging nearly £2.00 for a jar of Pataks curry stir in the other day and I found some in Farmfoods for 69p!

• Freeze everything - waste nothing.

• Stop using your car and walk if you can, or get on a bus/train - it may well be cheaper. Better still, see if you can save money by getting any saver cards, i.e. young persons, family etc for public transport.

• If you have a family member or friend who can cut your hair, ask. I've just saved £35.00 by getting my aunt to cut my hair for me. It's as good as any hair dresser would have done. Buy your own hair dye kits instead of getting it done at the hair dressers, you'll save a fortune!

• Use less shampoo and conditioner and you'll find less can be more. Make more of a lather with them when washing your hair instead of just slabbing a mound onto your hair and rubbing it in a bit. They're expensive products so make them last a bit longer.

• Take out a certain ammount of cash for the week and leave you debit/credit cards at home! I must learn to do this......

• If you're having a clearout put things on ebay and try and make a bit of extra cash, or have a bootsale.

• Invest in some cheap books/board games from charity shops instead of having your huge tv blaring on all night. This will save on your electric and give you all 'family bonding' time. Also, artsy craftys things are great and entertaining during the day.

• Instead of taking your kids on expensive days out go on a woodland hunt for bugs, or a bike race round the park, a trip round the lake to see who can see more fish. It's a FREE day out and much more fun/refreshing/good for children out in the fresh air. Just wrap up really warm! Also, invest in a pair of reins if you've got a toddler. Dd (17mo) loves to explore and the freedom to do so, and just goes in her buggy when she's tired. It also keeps them really active - perfect for when sleepy time comes at night!

I buy meat from butcher once a month. They do a £19.99 pack that does me and DH pretty much all month. Lots of stews, curries and things made from leftovers. I've started buying the 69p fruit and veg from Aldi (see my butternut squash thread). I don't buy biscuits, I make shortbread. There was a fab recipe on here and it's a doddle to make. DS loves it. I try to make as much as I can from pasta and potatoes.

Cleaning stuff is shops own. I use as little washing liquid as I can. Never use fabric softner on towels. DH used to say he had sensitive skin but since he hasn't asked what we use, it's supermarkets own.

If I could only get DS onto home cooked food and off the chicken dippers, burgers, coat in breadcrumbs stuff, we'd be laughing. I also went back to making my own chips in the deep fat fryer. They were lovely.

I have lavender growing out the back in a communal area - I picked some the other day to see if scattering then vacuuming it up would make the room smell nice - it does!

All Lidl stuff is great from baked beans to cereal to veg and fruit.

chicken and mince and sausages are good too but I usually buy from the butcher

I bought Lidl loo roll for £1.15 for 10 rolls and DH commented on how nice it was! It is like the stuff you get abroad.

Lidl nappies are brilliant and their Prosecco is only £3.99 (went up 30p last week) and tastes nicer than some Champagnes IMHO!

Thought Asda toilet paper didn't tear very well, but that might just have been the batch I bought. Have gone back to Sainsbury's own brand. Wilko's cheap bleach is good and their anti-bac wipes are ok too.
Sainsbury's Basics tinned toms & baked beans are perfectly good as well.

I now go to the market for all my fruit and veg and save £££s. 5lbs of spuds for a quid - bargain!

Interested to hear that Asda mature cheddar stands up to Cathedral City. Will give it a whirl!

Wow all these tips. I recommended Aldi's nappies- they are terrific and super cheap- thay also have scented and non scented wipes at 99p a pack.

I have used most of the cheaper 'eco' brands and they seem to be as good (tesco's laundry liquid smells of mold!!! Don't buy it). Sainsburys smell nicer thatn tescos. Have been buying the Co-ops fair-trade Columbian coffee (about £1.50 cheaper than Nescafe Gold/ Carte Noir) and it's really good and I'm fussy about coffee- don't bother with Aldi's, its horrid. Aldi 'luxury' bogroll good too- my DD thought it was lovely and commented on it EVERY time she used it

I have also been using half the mince in things like chilli and mince and grating veg (field mushrooms/ courgettes etc) in to bulk it up. No-one including DH has noticed (not even SUPER fussy DD). Am off to do school run- will think of more later.

Great thread

Can't believe some of the tips on here!

DO you know I never think to go to butchers/lidl/aldi not sure why think it is just more convenient to do online at tesco/asda, I drive though so the money I pay for delivery would be taxi fare with all my shopping anyway.

Will defo start going them though to see what kind of things I can save on.

I have heard Aldi soap powder is good for sensitive skin, any one else heard this?

I buy all smart price fruit n veg is lovely.

Aha heres a big question too, if I want to bulk up meals for us can I puree veg and sneak it into DP's food so that he wont notice if Ive made chilli or something.

Soo have to check out the recipes on here have only made banana bread was lovely though and is wikid with custard after a sunday dinner or for a snack during the day.

Catch a star. Loads of great tips there.

I do try to put my washing on late at night, but I need to go to bed early sometimes. Tis deffo cheaper!

Am going to try Fiveplusbumps' fabric conditioner polishing tip soon.

Cheap/Natural cleaning: baking soda and white vinegar, 1:4, for de-stinking drains. It fizzes up and smells vanish!

Carpet stains: borax (from Boots) on stain and rub with water. Let dry then vacuum.

Baking soda and warm water good for sinks and baths.

Have stopped wasting fortune on shower gels. Just using nice soap is far more economical.

mamadiva - try grating the veg into meals and that will bulk it up.

Try and eat soup once or twice a week.

We had Tuscan bean soup on Monday and it was so yummy and sooo filling and sooooo cheap!

I've bought the nappies and going head first into finding out if they're any good as ds has to wear one tonight as I've run out!

3p per nappy cheaper than pampas

Hi i think most own brand nappies are really good the best ones i have used are boots, they always have offers on nappies and wipes plus you get points and if you order on line you can find discount codes, tried aldi ones once but i never get there to buy them but they are good but around the same price as most supermarkets. I also buy mixed veg cheap ones and blend it and freeze pots of it for my baby she loves it far more than expensive jars! Also buy tescos pure milk it last so much longer plus is cheaper than cravendale. I buy and sell most clothes on ebay she is just out of 12 months on to the next so what i sell makes money to buy the next size up! I find most own brands to be far beeter than the stigma placed on them, being so skint at the mo im gonna try more money savers and i'll pass on my finds! wish me luck!

We need to econmise further. Atm we use
*asda nappie £3.50 a pack or 3 for £10
*asda wipes 99p a pack
*asda smart price cookies are fab!
*Asda loo paper
*adsa frozen mince.... I cook one bag and get 3 evenings worth of meals out of it for me and ds.
*tesco fabric softner is fine
*Asda 7p noodles are brilliant. bit of water and bung them in the microwave for 3 mins. Perfect for a quick lunch!
*Asda pasta
*I have to admit I think asda sweetcorn and baked beans taste odd.... tescos own are fine so I will have to stock up on them when I got to tesco next.
*asda bread is also fine as is tesco's
*tesco's own shampoo is fine.
*asda cottage cheese with chives is fine.

Own brand and value stuff is great!

I still buy branded washing up liquid because Im obsessed with the smell of a particular fairy one so it encourages me to do the washing up. I also still buy branded washing powder because the others didnt seem to get stains out but I try and bulk up on it when its on offer. I still get ds johnsons baby stuff as well.... imo it gets him off to sleep and doesnt irritate his skin.

I always buy smartprice or value or whatever large bage of peppers - they are such good value!
Agree with window and mirror cleaning with vinegar water - wiped down with an old newspaper - they get squeeky clean!
I didn't get on with Sainsbury's own brand nappies, but Asda ones were fine.
Own brand golden syrup fine for flapjacks!
Own brand paracetamol and ibuprofen fab.
Own brand herbs and spices no different (obviously decanted into the schwarz ones in my spice rack )
Own brand frozen garden peas were awful (like bullets)

Oh and my absolute fav - Aldi Q10 day and night creams! £1.99 each and they beat all the top expensive brands in a blind testing. I was a Clarins girl through and through until my MIL told me about this. It feels great and has only a feint scent. I have sensitive skin and come up in blisters with Clinique so this is my absolute best buy.

Muppetgirl- Did you buy the SP nappies?

Only difference I can tell is that they are not all cottony material on outside but does that really mater, I bought them 2 weeks ago and was mortified TBH because I always thought oh god no I'll never be that skint but they are fab thats what I get for being such a snob

Do you know I am quite with myself after reading this thread ,my dp works at poundland and I am thinking of all the money I spemd on tat in the supermarket, when he could be fetching it all home for half the price ..bloody hell .

yes mamadiva and he's in one right now!

I use Tesco own concentrated washing liquid & have found it to be just as good as the brands (i have swapped from persil/fairy to surf, then tesco) My eldest DS is a filthy footballer & I find if you squidge a bit of liquid on the worst of the dirt.. it comes out just fine.

I use the colour one & the non bio, both about £1.70 i think (it's coming tonight in fact!)