Money saving ideas

[Snookie]

I have been implementing loads of money saving ideas because of the current financial crisis. I am quite enjoying saving money and I've found that we are living a healthier lifestyle as a result too. I've been reading loads on the MSE website. Here are a few of the things I have started doing, I'd love to hear if anyone has any other ideas. Most of you probably think they are really pathetic ideas but it's my fun new hobby

Buying as many products from the value range at Tesco as possible (the toilet rolls last just as long and are so much cheaper)

Keeping the heating off and putting on an extra layer, blankets on the beds, hot water bottles.

Watching tv by candlelight, snuggled up with OH under a blanket

Leaving the oven door open after I've used it to heat the house.

Shopping every 8-10 days instead of every week, just using up what is in the cupboards/freezer.

Applying for loads of freebies online (so far I've had washing powder, teabags, baby food, skincare samples...)

Walk more instead of getting a bus/jumping in the car

Taking a bottle of (tap) water out with me instead of buying one

Baking more things like scones

Eating porridge instead of expensive cereals

Drinking water or tea.... no juice/coke/dilute anymore

Energy saving lightbulbs

Using the library for books

Bulking out meals and freezing half for easy homemade "ready meals"

Thats all I can think of at the mo.... anyone got anything to add?

[Rachael1]

Yikes I think you covered almost everything

Only others I can think of straight off are:

Doing a meal plan and a shopping list from it.

Only have one entertainment-type electrical appliance on at once - so if on the laptop, I have online radio on instead of using the player and I switch off the TV. Evie often asks for "Beebies" on TV, but she loses interest after a few minutes, so I ask if she wants to watch it or continue playing. She usually wants to play by then so I turn it off.

Switch things off by the plug when not in use - I've seen loads of people leave kettles and TVs constantly on at the switch.

I take little boxes of raisins and an apple, as well as a sports bottle of water, whenever I go out with Evie. It is more to do with being caught out than saving money but I guess it does that too

Instead of expensive toddler groups and workshops, keep an eye on library events. They usually always have a free weekly storytime where they also do crafts and get a chance to interact. They sometimes have one-off workshops and sessions on too.

[matilda s mum]

I am on a spendthrift mission too (see my Christmas thread!)

This is a great idea for a thread and great ideas so far - gonna think of things to add, below:

if you can't turn your central heating off completely, then use your thermostat and turn it down by a degree or two.

use your oven efficiently - I microwave baked potatoes for 8 mins or so, then they only need 30 mins to crisp up in the oven.

If I was gonna bake fish fingers or chicken nuggets, now I grill them to save heating the oven for such a small amount.

eat at least one vegetarian dinner a week - veg is a bit cheaper than meat.

also, have one 'store-cupboard basics' meal a week - like pasta with a tuna and tomato sauce, or macaroni cheese. Something you make from what you always have in stock (so you don't have to go shopping for an extra day!)

if you haven't already, get your loft insulated to save your heating bills.

also, get a combi boiler if you can afford to change, then you are only heating the water you are using.

when boiling the kettle, only boil what you need - eg. don't boil a full kettle just for one cup of tea

I actually shop every 3-to-4 days as otherwise I tend to buy too much and I really can't menu plan that far ahead. I find this has helped us as less food wasted.

don't be afraid of hand-me-downs. Loads of Tilly's clothes and toys have come from other people's children - and we pass on her stuff for others to use too. Her moses basket now has the fourth new baby sleeping in it - we just keep passing it on as soon as we get it back!

[isabellasmum]

I shop most days. I just buy what I need for that days meals and if we've run out of any essentials. Today I bought some fresh pasta and garlic baguettes to go with some mince I'd defrosted and stocked up on yoghurts (on offer) but then OH got delayed coming home from work so we had beans on toast.

This means I don't need to shop tomorrow as we'll have the pasta and garlic bread then. I spend between £3 and £10 per day on groceries and shop 5/6 days per week. Some days it's just a walk to the village farm shop for some mince or veg and others I'll call in whatever supermarket I pass while we're out.

I used to spend over £100 per week on food but now it's prob less than £40. The fridge always looks empty but there's always something in there to eat.

[Snookie]

Not the longest thread but bumping it up in case it helps anyone and if anyone has anything to add....please do

[Imosmummy]

Originally Posted by isabellasmum

I shop most days. I just buy what I need for that days meals and if we've run out of any essentials. Today I bought some fresh pasta and garlic baguettes to go with some mince I'd defrosted and stocked up on yoghurts (on offer) but then OH got delayed coming home from work so we had beans on toast.

This means I don't need to shop tomorrow as we'll have the pasta and garlic bread then. I spend between £3 and £10 per day on groceries and shop 5/6 days per week. Some days it's just a walk to the village farm shop for some mince or veg and others I'll call in whatever supermarket I pass while we're out.

I used to spend over £100 per week on food but now it's prob less than £40. The fridge always looks empty but there's always something in there to eat.

jees you do well abbie!!! i tend to go shopping most days and spend easily £10-20, today was 28 and that covers 2 meals, a few things for georges lunch box and shower gel, thts it!!!
I did do a big shop last week, got enough meat and main meals etc to last and it came to £74 and i only had to get milk and bread a few times, went back to my original idea of keeping frozen peas and tinned pinapple for the last few days so i'm not tempted to run and get fresh and spend more on crap that we dont need, i'm going to do this again friday, no excuses we waste far too much and it annoys me!!! not to mention i hate shopping now days!!!

[isabellasmum]

Ha since I posted that we've tightened our belts even more. No more garlic baguettes and fresh pasta for me OH thinks it's hilarious....

[Snookie]

Since I started the thread I have edited out the sentence "We don't need to be as frugal as we are being"..... We do now, and then some...

I have got some great frugal cookbooks out of the library recently that have some great cheap recipes in them....

Delia's frugal food (the original from the '70s ) The beginning of that one is a good read because it talks about the financial crisis in the mid '70's and the gov't then according to Delia said it was possible to live on £2 a week for food! I wonder what todays equivalent would be.

Jamie's ministry of food

War rations cookbook

Also... what else can I suggest....

Stop meeting friends for a coffee or lunch, most people are skint at the mo so go to each others houses for a coffee

Cancel sky subscription and get freeview (ok after xmas)

Never throw away leftover food... it can always be used. I have been using up everything left over from meals recently and with great success.... leftover cooked brown rice for Monday's dinner became a yummy tuna rice salad for Tuesday's lunch. Leftover mash became potato scones (or it can just be frozen).

[acad]

we really need to sort out our food bill, around £150 above a week (it's not like we waste the food it all gets eaten) and i'm not even working anymore. i think starting next week i will take the cash out of the bank ready for the week and only spend what i have in my purse and not use my switch card

[Snookie]

Food is so expensive these days. I've started buying lots the value ranges but even those have doubled in price in the last few weeks and I opened a tin of tuna yesterday to find it was only half full I think consumers are really exploited by the supermarkets these days.

We spend about £70 a week but I'm trying to reduce that. We have loads of vegetables and they are quite expensive so we're eating less meat and more pulses to compensate.

I make loads of homemade soups each week but because veg is so expensive it is not the cheap option it used to be. I'm going to try to grow my own veg next year