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How do you get yours?

(64 Posts)
H1954 Mon 14-Sept-20 07:39:37

I was thinking about value for money, making things go further and generally getting my monies worth recently. To be more precise, I recently cut the end off what I though was an empty tube of skin serum only to find enough left for a further week! So, GNetters, a lighthearted opportunity to share how you "get your monies worth".

magshard20 Mon 14-Sept-20 15:04:41

Oh, lots of things I do, that seems to upset the OH!!.
I buy a large bottle of washing up liquid, and decant into a smaller bottle ( which has been used now for well over a year), I turn the bigger bottle on it's end to get every little last drop out, and even run it under the tap to get the remaining bubbles out into the washing up bowl.
I buy a 3 litre bottle of Vimto and decant into smaller more managable bottle.
Washing liquid (Surf) have a big container and buy smaller containers to pour into ( it has a bigger handle, easier to pour), again up end it to get all out.
When I have tubes of hand cream, face cream etc, when it gets too hard to get out by squeezing, I cut the tube, and just get it out by poking my finger in and getting out the amount I need. Similar action taken with toothpaste tubes.
Waste not want not is a very good motto to live by!!

libra10 Mon 14-Sept-20 14:38:05

When walking the dog, I use plastic loaf bags, vegetable bags etc to pick up his mess, instead of using dog poo bags.

Also, cut wet wipes in half to wipe my hands.

LadyBella Mon 14-Sept-20 14:08:21

My teabags go around my roses or blueberries. Seems to work a treat. I use washable little cloths for cleansing my face (instead of cotton wool). Old towels get cut up for cleaning cloths. I scrounge things where I can from Freecycle. Got a lovely armchair for my elderly Mum, a small digital radio can you believe and lots of plants for the garden plus some pots. I love getting something cheap or free - it appeals to my frugal side.

Nanna58 Mon 14-Sept-20 14:07:09

Bought a bread maker ; much cheaper ( nicer) loaves but without preservatives they don’t last as long, so when a chunk is left I blitz some into breadcrumbs and cut some into croutons then freeze them: then I can make a fresh loaf . Also have been gradually amassing my Autumn/Winter wardrobe by seeking out some really nice ‘ pre-loved ‘ items.

H1954 Mon 14-Sept-20 14:00:45

Wow! Some brilliant, money saving ideas, thank you everyone and I'm pleased that many of you are finding this thread both entertaining and useful. Keep them coming GNetters! ?

mothertrucker52 Mon 14-Sept-20 13:40:06

The timer on my central heating boiler stopped working a couple of years ago so I just switch it on manually now when the water starts to cool down, it has saved me an absolute fortune, before the minimum I could run it without switching the whole thing off was an hour twice a day

lucyfern Mon 14-Sept-20 13:39:49

I stopped buying clingfilm a long time ago and don't miss it at all. Leftover food goes into washed empty margarine tubs or pyrex. If you don't overheat things in the microwave there's no spatter problem. I rarely buy plastic bags, reusing the ones our bread comes in- I even wash them blush
And finally, my family joke about my recycled kitchen foil.....it gets used, wiped/washed reused many times. Unless it was first used for fish or chicken, of course, I do have my limits grin

dogsmother Mon 14-Sept-20 13:17:22

Always buy a family sized loaf of bread and use it slice by slice from the freezer. A slice defrosts I n a minute or two or if for toast straight into toaster from frozen, you can also buy the yellow stickered loaf for next to nothing and put that in there!

HurdyGurdy Mon 14-Sept-20 13:15:32

When I buy bottles of squash, I hunt carefully through the bottles on the shelf, because there are always some which are "overfilled" where the concentrate is right up to to the cap of the bottle.

With a concentrated squash this could be a good couple of extra glasses of drink smile

JackyB Mon 14-Sept-20 13:07:31

I cut plastic tubes (toothpaste, hand cream) in the middle and use the top half as a lid, as Phoebes describes. If I just cut the end off, I can't reach down to the other end to fish out all the remaining gunge. Well, toothpaste, I scrape it out with the toothbrush.

Shampoo, I have have very short hair and only use a bit the size of a pea to wash my hair. A medium-sized bottle lasts months and I can use good quality shampoo without breaking the bank.

As I have a dishwasher, which uses much less water than hand-washing, I try to save up the hand-washing and only do it every two or three days. I leave the water in the bowl to pre-rinse the next lot. (Not always the washing up water - [yuk] there is often water in the bowl from hand-washing throughout the day, too. )

Someone recently mentioned that those e-mails you get with loads of vouchers for various things really can save you money - I always delete them, but maybe I'll take the time to read them first. I noticed that there was a good underwear brand with a 20% offer recently - DH needs some new underpants!

I have never managed to plan my week's menus using the special offers from the supermarkets - I do make a plan and list and keep to it, getting most of my shopping from Aldi or Lidl, though, which means you don't get too distracted by snazzy items such as "luxury biscuits" or cakes, sweets, and their crisps aren't very good either - so that is a sort of saving, I suppose. Also saves calories!

I try and keep a check on foodstuffs nearing their use-by date, so I don't throw away too much.

I wish some things came in smaller packages - sometimes I have to throw out food that has gone off because I didn't manage to use it all up before it went mouldy or rancid.

Wheniwasyourage Mon 14-Sept-20 12:57:25

If I use a whole Brillo pad it goes rusty before all the soap has gone, so now I just pull about a third of a pad off and use that.

twinnytwin Mon 14-Sept-20 12:35:37

We save all the small leftover slivers of soap (Dove) until we have 5 or 6 then DH puts them in a bowl and microwaves for around 30 seconds (no water). He then moulds them by hand into a new bar.
Similar to others, When I can't get any more facecream etc out of the tube, I cut off the bottom keeping the lid in place and use it from there. There's usually lots and lots left. I seal it with a bulldog clip so it doesn't dry out.

Phoebes Mon 14-Sept-20 12:16:11

You can cut plastic tubes across in half and use the top half as a lid by pushing it down on the bottom half. There is always loads of cream left inside.

annab275 Mon 14-Sept-20 11:57:48

When a spray bottle of Household cleaner gets a bit empty I add some water to make it go further. Same with shampoo and conditioner. I never throw out wilted fruit and veg- they become soup or smoothies.

fevertree Mon 14-Sept-20 11:55:17

H1954 the brand "Simple" now sells their face creams, cleanser etc in small, soft pouches, it actually says on the pouch "Use every last drop". So much better than tubes!

My saving hint is that I only buy skin care products in small volume quantities because there is nothing worse than a giant micellar water bottle (or similar) that eventually ends up getting thrown out.

TheMaggiejane1 Mon 14-Sept-20 11:45:43

I always save the undamaged rubber glove when one gets split. Every so often it means I get a ‘free’ pair. I make breadcrumbs from stale bread and freeze them. I slice up partly used lemons and freeze these - great for G and Ts and jugs of cold water.

Lexisgranny Mon 14-Sept-20 11:18:53

I have one of those gadgets that look like the key that opens corned beef tins. I use this on everything that comes in a tube.

Many years ago I decided to melt down stubs of lipsticks to mix into a pot and use with a lip brush. All went well until I spilt some of the boiling wax on my arm whilst taking it out of the microwave, necessitating a trip to A and E A young doctor was very puzzled as to why I should have done such a thing until two nearby nurses confirmed that they both had done so in the past. I have done it since, but took more care.

BelindaB Mon 14-Sept-20 11:13:55

I have a gadget I bought many years ago from Lakeland that rolls up toothpaste tubes etc and makes sure you get every last atom out - when it gets up to the shoulder I remove it and squeeze the last bits out manually.

If you are using a spray polish for wooden furniture, DON'T spray it directly onto the surface. Spray it onto the duster instead. It will go further and you won't get silicate build up.

Riggie Mon 14-Sept-20 11:05:55

We rarely buy kitchen roll (and dont use napkins!) but use washable cloths in the kitchen - cut up old tea towels/thirts etc along with some well washed j-cloths.

NemosMum Mon 14-Sept-20 10:58:23

I get LIDL dishwasher tablets and cut them in half (make sure they're kept away from children). Half tablet does a perfect job!

Kamiso Mon 14-Sept-20 10:54:56

Good idea on the colour catchers! I have make up wipes for our non-happening holiday. Unless I am wearing mascara (increasingly rare occurrence) I tear them in half.

I use much less hair conditioner. Not even a teaspoon full and my hair looks much better for it. I used to smother my hair in it and leave it on to for hours.

TrendyNannie6 Mon 14-Sept-20 10:54:50

Water meter, has saved us money

Phloembundle Mon 14-Sept-20 10:54:27

I roll the toothpaste tube up and use a peg to keep it there to get every bit of my expensive paste out. I cut j cloths in half. I stopped using shower gel mainly because the scents are too strong, and now use an unfragranced Dove beauty bar, which lasts forever, moisturises and does my face as well.

inishowen Mon 14-Sept-20 10:54:08

I'm a knitter but I buy all my yarn at charity shops for around 50p a ball. Once I have the yarn I decide what to make, depending on the amount.

Kate1949 Mon 14-Sept-20 10:52:10

When a bottle of foundation appears empty, I prise the top off and use a cotton bud or spoon handle and usually get at least another week out of it. I also squeeze the life out of tubes of toothpaste!