tell me your frugal ways

GrandpaGravy13 probably wishes I had at least one frugal trait, unfortunately I haven’t. ?

I use up shampoo and conditioner that I don’t like by using to hand wash smalls and delicate items, works a treat.

I use a lip brush to poke into lipsticks when they are flat - weeks’ worth left in the tube!
? ?

My mum used to cut Brillo pads in half. Said all that pink soap otherwise would just be wasted as a full pad would rust waiting for a second usage.

Oh and I used to give hand creams away as I’m not keen on using them till one day I thought ‘it’s just moisturiser’ and used them now on my arms, shoulders and legs after a shower.

If I think on, I buy Christmas cards & wrapping paper for next year in January.

My small economies are for eco reasons rather than saving money, but they probably do that too. I bought a good quality plastic spray bottle and use very diluted 'flash' type liquid in it to clean the kitchen and the bathroom. A litre bottle from Aldi costs about 75pence and lasts months and months. The main aim was to save all the plastic bottle going into the rubbish. I also use far less soap powder than is recommended because (a) I have a water softener and (b) our clothes are very rarely dirty, nobody is going down t'pit.

I use far less soap powder too. In fact, when I used the recommended amount, it didn't seem to rinse away properly, especially from towels.

I cut my Simple face wipes in two. I only need half to cleanse my face.
I cut the little ribbons from the shoulders of new sweaters /tops and use for tying waste bags before binning.
I save yoghurt pots for growing cuttings.
I reuse wrapping paper.

I’ve tried numerous different types of bath cleaner over the years. Try to use something environmentally friendly if I can but I find that Aveeno wash and stuff like hair conditioner makes the bath very scummy and difficult to clean. So I now use the tiniest squirt of washing up liquid. I’ve also recently discovered Castile soap which can be used for just about everything. And washing up soap. Great for getting stains off mugs.

I showed my son (36) the trick about cutting open a tube and how much product was left. He does it now as well with his facewash.

Knight's Castile
A reminder of my childhood.
I didn't know they still made it

You actually make the bit that’s left in a tube when you’ve opened it up last longer than the previous 99%. At least, I do. It suddenly becomes incredibly precious.

Pollydolly So true about the expensive facial serum and even though I only use it every second day I can see the difference, plus I wait till Boots have three for the price of two. I cut the washing-up green scrapper in half and open up all tubes and bottles etc when they are empty. Buy shampoos in pump bottles and creams in the professional size. Never buy shower gel, always bars of soap. Cut old Christmas cards into labels but not ones from the family, they are saved.
Make tea in a teapot for three cups after five minutes throw out teabag and reheat mug of tea in the microwave, when needed. Always go out with a flask of tea or coffee and a packet of biscuits/ sandwiches if not meeting a friend.
Buy good shoes and repair them in England (same price but better quality in UK. Turn up at Timpson? with five or more pairs when I drive over.)
Only heat the rooms I am using, DGD complains that the loo does not have a radiator! Use dishwasher and washing machines when cheaper tariff is on.

If you put the bits of soap in a ramekin you can microwave it. Put it on a plate first in case it bubbles over. When cool put in freezer to harden and it's done!

*merlotgran that made me laugh, my mother despaired at my potato peeling too, she taught me with a paring knife and I was so nervous of cutting myself I took off more potato than skin. My mother also used to save teabags too, she used to clothes peg them on the plastic runner of the kitchen windows to dry and reuse.

I save the good rubber glove when its partner has developed a hole. The saved ones make up new pairs, converted into lefts or rights by turning them inside out.

Old teeshirts are cut up for rags and used to mop up spills in the kitchen, saves on kitchen roll.

The washing powder measuring cup is marked to the correct dose with a permanent marker and adhered to religiously. Cheaper than pods or tablets.

The thick rolled cuff at the bottom of old Marigolds make brilliant elastic bands. Excellent for resealing cardboard boxes - eg breaded fish - in the freezer.

I use old cotton knickers as dusters... DH thinks it hilarious.

I'm not a bit frugal. My DH calls me extravagant and we're always having what I call thermostat wars. He turns the heating off and I put it back on! I will say that I don't like to see food waste, but that's about it for me. Definitely couldn't be bothered to faff around with little bits of soap to save a few pence!

Pittcity

I use old cotton knickers as dusters... DH thinks it hilarious.

My favourite White Stuff t shirt is now dusters.
It started going in holes immediately, so they replaced it but the new one wasn't much better.

It made very nice dusters but they were rather expensive!

It’s the soap trick for me - I seem to remember that’s why Pear’s Soap is shaped - to press the last of the previous bar into the recess?? Still stitch holes in my tights/socks made by my toe nails. Is it stupid, when I drive a ‘gas guzzler’ that costs a fortune, or just something sentimental left over from my teenage years at home?

Callistemon

^Knight's Castile^
A reminder of my childhood.
I didn't know they still made it

Neither did I!
It was too perfumed for me tbh though.Am a great fan of Imperial Leather.Had to laugh at Merlotgran’s description of the indestructible little label.

with the indestructible Imperial Leather sticker perched on top.

I didn't realise, until I saw the advert very many years ago, that you are supposed to put the label side underneath and then, as the soap is used, it doesn't get soggy in the soap dish.

Besides the brand identity, the sticker on the top is for a long lasting bar and preventing mushiness,' explained a spokesperson for the brand.
'When the soap is used, the sticker will make and keep the top surface, where the sticker is on, concave.

'After use, the soap is supposed to be upside down. The concave surface will help water run out from the bar and minimise the touching surface on a soap tray.'

I am almost tempted to buy some Imperial Leather just to use it the right way.

Callistemon

^Knight's Castile^
A reminder of my childhood.
I didn't know they still made it

I just googled Knights Castile soap and ended up reading about the history of soap. It was fascinating. B.O. didn’t exist until Lifebuoy invented it. Before that everyone just smelled but nobody noticed.

I do a lot of these, but the most frugal person I knew was my Uncle. He ran a farm in Kent, certainly wasn't short of a few bob at the time, and when I was young I would love going to his farm with my Mum (his sister) and reading a book in front of the fireplace with a lovely cup of tea....however, the first time I went to make my own tea as I got old enough, I noticed a sort of mini Barbie-sized washing line on his window sill, from one plant pot one end, to another at the opposite end, with two stakes and a line of string, and hanging from the string were tea-bags!!!

I asked my Mum about it and she laughed and said it was why she always bought her own bags, he would re-use his until they split! Dunking, squeezing, hanging them to dry, and then using them again! lol Silly old sod.

Oooh I suppose I do add a few drops of vinegar to the end of tomato sauce bottles, then stand them neck to neck with a newer bottle to get the dregs out! lol x

Merry Christmas everyone!