Living the Frugal Life (Semi-lighthearted) ?

Which supermarket is that Molly? thank you

I recycle my plastic bottles at the local supermarket and get money back for doing it.

I'm using the 15 minute wash cycle for everything. If it needs an extra spin then that's ok. It was a thread on here which suggested that.

I do that Shinamae. Cotton buds are useful for getting the very last bits of things too.

During lockdown and trying not to join the stockpiling army, I started to pay attention to the amount of toilet paper I used. I was automatically reeling off around 7 squares every time I used it, no matter what the actual " need " was, and multiplying this as many times as necessary.

I started reducing my usage for urination only, by paying attention to the amount reeling off and only using 3 squares at a time. It was amazing how long a roll lasted! I still do this.

If you have deliveries from Ocado or Morrisons, they will give you 10p for any plastic back returned for recycling.
So every few weeks I give them all manner of plastic wrapping and get a few quid for it.

I just googled how to do this with soap and I’m going to give it a go. I have some essential oils so will add a few drops for a nice perfume.m

Last year I did make a bar of soap from slivers and it was quite successful. I remember mum used to have a 'soap saver'. It was a small square wire cage on a handle. You put soap slivers in and then swished it through the water for washing up or similar.

Kate1949

I use a Maybelline foundation in a glass bottle with a pump action dispenser. When it is no longer pumping any out, I prise the top off with a knife and get many more applications!

I do this with my double wear foundation, I use the pump tube to go around the inside and I have had at least 10 more applications..

Do you remember 1976 and the lapel badge which said “Save water- bath with a friend”? Think there might be a flood if I tried that now.

MawtheMerrier - ????

MawtheMerrier don't be a tease...who is on your list and would you consider sharing thats super saving water!

MawtheMerrier ????

I do all of the above.

I also put the washing machine on to do an extra spin (12 minutes) so that clothes are quicker to dry, outdoors if it’s fine and in the conservatory if it’s wet.

I’ll never recoup the cost of putting in raised vegetable beds as frozen veg are fairly cheap, so next year I will be growing flowers to cut from seeds given to me by family, water is from the water butts, hopefully it will rain and refill them over winter.
I still have a sack of organic fertiliser to spread over the ground in the winter, it’s 3 yrs old now and shows no sign of emptying. Sigh.

Cutting will be taken from Geraniums, for next year.

TBH we are fairly frugal anyway, some things are so automatic that to me it’s just common sense rather than an ‘oh my I must do that too’ .

Maybe there is something else I can do but at the moment I can’t think of anything.

However, Midgey and Maw have given me a couple of ideas.

I’ll keep watching this thread.

I make my own soap. Fun and cheap!

FannyCornforth

I do that too FairFraise , it’s amazing how much you can get out of ‘empty’ moisturiser tubes etc

And me.......I detest waste and the thick creams cling to the side of the tubes. don't they? So annoying!

joannapiano we read the newspapers on our I pads on the press reader app. It’s through our local library and it’s free. You can also get magazines and on the Borrow box app there are books and audiobooks.

My frugal tip is if using a small amount of kitchen paper I cut it in half and use it. Learnt that in lockdown! Sounds really miserly but cuts waste too.

Just to say I will be putting the water board right!

I have found the perfect answer to a cheap water bill! I live next door to a bachelor. When the water board fitted a water meter it would appear the meter has been attached to his house not mine! I have only just found this out so have been fairly careful with water…..but not half as careful as he is! ?

To save water I have compiled a list of “nice young men”,” with whom to share bathing.

And also to save water, brushing my teeth with chilled white wine.

Always do my daily walk with a poly bag in my pocket (and secataurs). I have picked 6lbs of blackberries already.

Blackberries can be found town or country, whereever there is untended land - and local councils are leaving more and more urban foot paths untended. I was walking in a modern estate of a local town, this week, threaded with footpaths and brambles.

I also look for other chance crops: apples, greengages, hazelnuts, walnuts and, later crabapples and sloes (makes cheap gin taste phenomenal)

I do most of these. If I am peeling potatoes and they have decent skins, I make potato peeling crisps. I drizzle them with oil and sprinkle whatever spices I have on them and cook in the oven when I have the oven on for something else. A nice snack.

Given that this is humorous, for me, bellowing at my DD to 'Turn the bl**dy tap off!' when she's doing anything and just leaves it running. Grrrrr

Yes, wash plastic bags and use the last sliver of soap. At least we're not boiling them down and making new bars, the way my granny did Baggytrazzas!

Maximise the oven being on and cook anything that is liable to need cooking over the next 24/48 hours. Can always reheat in microwave.

We collect free wood to dry and then burn, Mr B also collects all the unwanted free newspapers on a Tuesday and makes them into paper bricks to burn. Me, I am having one lump of sugar instead of two in my coffee

I wash sandwich bags and freezer bags, line dry and re-use.