Frugal tips....

*Emsie*

*Emsie*

Gold Member
I don't just mean for SW food but in general. There used to be a thread like this ages ago but I can't remember its name or find it!
I seem to be spending money like its coming out of my ears lately and I haven't got it to spend! Christmas is on the horizon and I'd like to have money to spend on the kids for presents etc and not have wasted it along the way!
I was wondering if anyone had any cost cutting ideas or budgetting tips etc as I don't seem to budget enough for say kids clothes expenses etc and then having to get them cuts into the money for other things.
Any good advice welcome....every little helps as they say!
 
*Emsie* said:
I don't just mean for SW food but in general. There used to be a thread like this ages ago but I can't remember its name or find it!
I seem to be spending money like its coming out of my ears lately and I haven't got it to spend! Christmas is on the horizon and I'd like to have money to spend on the kids for presents etc and not have wasted it along the way!
I was wondering if anyone had any cost cutting ideas or budgetting tips etc as I don't seem to budget enough for say kids clothes expenses etc and then having to get them cuts into the money for other things.
Any good advice welcome....every little helps as they say!
Click to expand...

Good idea Emsie - a thread on cost cutting tips would be great! One of mine is that if the number of people in your household are less than the number of bedrooms have a water meter installed as this will usually save on your bills. Also if you're on a meter put a couple of 500ml/1litre plastic bottles filled with water into your cistern to save water on each flush. Every little definitely helps!
 
Turn everything off - I turn off the microwave for example, I don't need the clock on it, I just switch it on when I need to. Don't leave things on charge overnight.

Only fill up the kettle with the amount of water you need

Get a water meter

Drop branded products (within reason for me!!)

Wash at 30

Don't buy food bags, cling film etc - use plastic tubs (if you have them)

Use a slow cooker instead of the oven

Have a look at switching utility providers, for example, BT are about to raise their line rental again - if you don't need calls then you can get line rental for £9 instead of BT's £15

I'm sure there are more but that's all for now!!
 
Check your local council's website for free things to do in your area - museums, galleries, parks, events. Join the public library for books, cds, dvds, free internet access, newspapers, magazines, and probably more besides. Check out whether there are any reductions on other local facilities. You are paying for all this through your council tax, so make use of it.

I find that if I go shopping I always buy more than I intended. So try to limit shopping trips. Go only when necessary, and never just to look around.

Check out charity shops, car boot sales, local classified adverts, ebay and jumble sales for children's clothes. And grown-ups' clothes as well. And furniture. And among all the tat in pound shops there are often a few gems - I recently bought some tubes of Nivea Soft which were over £2 in Boots for £1 each. (And Nivea Soft is the only moisturiser I buy now - day cream, night cream, body lotion, it works for everything, smells lovely, is very effective, and cheap!)

Put every £2 coin you get into a jar. You won't miss it, and it's amazing how quickly it builds up.

Jezzi999 mentioned the Money Saving Expert website which is a brilliant source of ideas.
 
Check your local council's website for free things to do in your area - museums, galleries, parks, events. Join the public library for books, cds, dvds, free internet access, newspapers, magazines, and probably more besides. Check out whether there are any reductions on other local facilities. You are paying for all this through your council tax, so make use of it.

I find that if I go shopping I always buy more than I intended. So try to limit shopping trips. Go only when necessary, and never just to look around.

Check out charity shops, car boot sales, local classified adverts, ebay and jumble sales for children's clothes. And grown-ups' clothes as well. And furniture. And among all the tat in pound shops there are often a few gems - I recently bought some tubes of Nivea Soft which were over £2 in Boots for £1 each. (And Nivea Soft is the only moisturiser I buy now - day cream, night cream, body lotion, it works for everything, smells lovely, is very effective, and cheap!)

Put every £2 coin you get into a jar. You won't miss it, and it's amazing how quickly it builds up.

Jezzi999 mentioned the Money Saving Expert website which is a brilliant source of ideas.
 
Another two -

Only use half the recommended amount of washing powder/laundry liquid - it washes just as effectively

Top up liquid soap dispensers with value bubble bath - it's the same stuff just slightly watered down
 
*Emsie* said:
Some great ideas!
The freezer eat down thread on here helped me learn about not buying stuff for the sake of it but need to tighten up on this again as few things being wasted.
Need to plan my meals better for money and plans sake!
Click to expand...

I've started meal planning and am saving myself a fortune. Previously I'd just buy stuff I fancied - now I only get it if it's on my list. I also do my main shop online as I find the delivery charge is offset by the fact I'm not sidetracked into buying things I don't really need.
 
I was made redundant earlier this year, if and when I get another job (fingers crossed just had interview) I wont go back to buying food for the sake of it. Tonights tea was a big tin of tinned new potatoes 19p Aldi with a white onion 10p tin of Smart Price mushrooms 43p 4 eggs 75p and some cheese on top £1 with a tin of Aldi beans tea for less than £3.00 all fried in frylite and topped with cheese husband loved it and cheap too. Always looking for ways to save money.
 
One of the biggest expenses is heating. Cut down on it as much as possible. Wear more clothes instead. Electric blankets are cheap to buy, cheap to run, and you won't need to heat the bedroom if the bed is warm.
 
Put your shampoo and conditioner into clean empty liquid soap dispensers. That way you only get out what you actually need - I've cut down my use of shampoo by half doing this.
 
Zoe, that's a brilliant idea and a great one for my daughter as she uses tons. In fact I reckon she just squeezes it down the plug hole!!!!
 
Starlight said:
I keep and wash out any Chinese take away containers I or my family have (they know to save them). They're brilliant for bunging in the freezer if you're bulk cooking. Saves freezer bags etc and I take them straight out the freezer for work so saves buying Tupperware etc
Click to expand...

These containers are brilliant, and the right size for left overs. I also keep these, they last really well too!
 
Put a kitchen timer in the bathroom. Some people spend ages under the shower, pouring money down the drain - literally! The husband of a friend of mine used to spend 20 minutes under the hot water until she calculated exactly how much it was costing per shower. I can shower and wash my hair in four minutes (and yes, I am clean!!)
 
AnnaFaraday said:
Put a kitchen timer in the bathroom. Some people spend ages under the shower, pouring money down the drain - literally! The husband of a friend of mine used to spend 20 minutes under the hot water until she calculated exactly how much it was costing per shower. I can shower and wash my hair in four minutes (and yes, I am clean!!)
Click to expand...

On a similar tac - some years ago, trying to do my little bit for saving water, I started turning the water flow off in the shower once I was wet, soap/scrub up then turn it back on to rinse off.
 
Minimunchkins said:
On a similar tac - some years ago, trying to do my little bit for saving water, I started turning the water flow off in the shower once I was wet, soap/scrub up then turn it back on to rinse off.
Click to expand...

Goodness!!! Thank heaven I don't need to do this. I'm all for saving a few pennies but a shower for me is relaxation time, there to be enjoyed! Setting a timer and turning the water off is not going to happen in our house!!
 
jaylou said:
Goodness!!! Thank heaven I don't need to do this. I'm all for saving a few pennies but a shower for me is relaxation time, there to be enjoyed! Setting a timer and turning the water off is not going to happen in our house!!
Click to expand...

And if it is important to you and you can afford it then why not? When I retired I had a good hard look at all the things I was spending money on and decided which were worth it and which weren't - to me. I don't have a problem with feeling cold, so I am very frugal with heating, and as I have an electric shower and very little washing up to do (a kettle of water is enough) I don't use the immersion heater at all any more. Every little helps towards funding my extravagances!!
 
Quite true Anna. I am lucky in that I don't need to save pennies but I am not frivolous - I can't bear running taps or over filling the kettle and I don't buy branded stuff just because I can. I turn everything off including the microwave and don't throw money away. It's good to keep an eye on things - just in case circumstances change.

In our house, I turn the heating off and hubby turns it back on!!!!
 
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