Living the Frugal Life (Semi-lighthearted) ?

I cut wipes in half as they're easily big enough. It makes them half price.
Also, any plastic loaf packets or vegetable bags I use to pick up dog poo when out on our daily walk.

HannahLoisLuke

Does anybody know the answer to this? I switch off all plugs at the wall when not in use but I don’t unplug them. Would pulling out the plug make any extra saving, I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere.

It won’t make any difference at all, according to Mr LH

Kittypaws
Did you know you can use that water in your iron, it’s distilled water. But you probably knew that anyway ?

LizH13

HannahLoisLuke

Does anybody know the answer to this? I switch off all plugs at the wall when not in use but I don’t unplug them. Would pulling out the plug make any extra saving, I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere.

It won’t make any difference at all, according to Mr LH

You are still using electricity.

www.takecontrolandsave.coop/welcome-to-our-blog/posts/2020/october/phantom-energy-load/

I've always been tight as a ducks a**e!! Cutting open tubes of anything to scrape out remains/forcing pump bottles open too/I have been refilling those automatic soap dispensers for years by forcing the tops off with a spoon rather than keep buying more bottles of soap! Live off leftovers maybe 30%time and eat a takeaway between us as they're always far too much! I'll cook my own rice if it's extra! Roast chicken lasts 2-4days depending on meals made! I'm surprised were not dead in our beds from eating leftovers???

Sago, I like your humour !!!

An electrician told us yes, it does make a difference.a trickle of power is used to the plug even if switched off!! Also plug is slave to the switch not being faulty too! It's just a switch after all, and could be live!

Otis

I've stopped ironing clothes. I always dry them on the line and if you fold them well your body heat will do the rest.

I've stopped ironing so much too during lockdown, and find that only very few items actually need it! Must be saving loads on electric!

My latest money saving trick is using soda crystals in the detergent drawer of the washing machine and just a little detergent.

I reuse foil if I’ve only used it to cover something in the oven, always check for discount codes before ordering via the Internet and use a cash back site. I also use a tea pot ( I drink a lot of tea) as I get more cups out than tea bags in and I only boil the amount of water needed to fill the pot- never manage to do this when mashing in a mug

I too bought some reusable makeup remover wipes about 2 years ago , to save the planet but they are also saving me money! A small cotton net bag is provided and I pop them in with the towels each week ( I still wash towels and bed linen on 60) and they are brilliant. I wash and reuse freezer bags that haven’t had meat or fish in them , and recently bought some reusable stretchy plastic (I know?) covers for dishes in the fridge instead of using cling film or foil. Really cut down shower time - get wet , turn water off , soap and shampoo , water on and rinse and finish . Can’t get in a bath anymore . I use my slow cooker a lot in the winter , but think I may experiment more and try fish , anyone tried this or other lighter meals ?

I was thinking "I don't do anything" then I realised-my dishcloths are old towels cut up into squares, when I take out a new one, old one goes for floor cloth, floor cloth goes out.
If anything comes in a plastic bag, like frozen items, loo rolls etc I reuse as rubbish bags (I still have a roll of bin liners which were my mums, and she died 5 years ago!!!)

Instead of using foil - silicon mats are reusable

I've an app called Gander that shows all the things my nearest shop has reduced because the sell by date is up. You get things as low as 10p and then you can freeze them. I live on my own so I tend to freeze a lot rather than throw away.
I keep old face cream pots and when I'm coming to the end of my pump make up I take the lid off and turn it upside down into the jar to empty. It's surprising how much still comes out into the pot to keep using.
I use discount codes to shop online and at the moment I'm checking sale items to see if there's anything suitable to put away for December....

I've never soaked pasta, but I was given an excellent tip; bring pasta to the boil, put the saucepan lid on firmly, switch off the heat and leave for the necessary cooking time. It works perfectly - and no fuel used at all apart from bringing the water to the boil.

For the craft ones among you, you can crochet your own face wipes.

sarahmaker.com/crochet-face-scrubbies/

My mother had a good one (not). She'd always wanted a conservatory and was finally able to afford one. Problem was she found it too hot anytime of the year except for winter. But it did make a great 'drying room' for her laundry as she wasn't mobile enough to make it down the garden to washing line.

Hmm, spend +/- £15k to save...

Love all the ideas about household staff. Must implement those straight away...

Seriously, we use many of the suggestions already mentioned - I think that comes from being the child of a war baby whose parents lived through the Great Depression.

One I accidentally stumbled on - although you need a bit of freezer space for this - was getting to the reduced sections in the supermarket just before they take items off to chuck away. I was later than usual shopping last time and, as I perused the reduced section, a member of staff came up and started sweeping everything ood that day off the shelf. As I had a bit of space in the freezer, I nabbed as much as I could.
Must ask what time they do this next time I'm in the supermarket...

We've got water butts attached to all the down pipes from the roof - even on the greenhouse.

Having lung problems (and being a bit of a greeny before it was mainstream) I often use things from my pantry to clean. Like white vinegar for removing limescale.

I'm often in the charity shops - and not just for clothes. Last visit - 2 vases, bowl and set of measuring cups plus two (lidded) casserole dishes for a tenner... And Freegle (also called Freecycle) is great for getting other bits and bobs. Just make sure you've already arranged your "Muscle" and transport if getting anything of size.

Before I go shopping I go online to price compare. Luckily I have 2 supermarkets almost next door to each other so don't spend any savings going from one to the other. If something is cheaper in the 3rd local supermarket (which is a bit of a distance away from the other two) I wait until I'm going that way anyway - although I double check it is still cheaper before I go.

Another bit of advice - don't automatically buy the special offer/two-for-one. Compare prices and sizes. My local branch of a national supermarket often has 'specials' that are actually more expensive than buying, say, two individual items. Or the pack size in the 2-for-1 is actually smaller...

Don't assume that because it is in one of the discount shops that they are cheaper. Many times the pack is actually smaller or because it is an "everything is a pound" shop it is actually dearer than prices elsewhere.

I'm another that buys reduced usually half-dead plants from the nursery/garden centre. With a bit of TLC (and I give them a couple of drops of Rescue Remedy too) they usually come good. I can't seem to keep myself away from the reduced section in B&Q's garden section - got most of my strawberry plants plus 5 fruit bushes for half price. Would've got more only I was walking and couldn't fit more in my shopping trolley/bag thing - as it was I had a full shopper plus 2 carrier bags full to lug home!

I also keep my eye open for specials at Suttons, Marshalls etc - earlier in the year I got 6 strawberry plants for £1.99. Seeds in many places are half price (or better) at the moment. They might go out of date before next spring but that just means that the company (Fothergills/Suttons etc) don't guarantee germination but I find it usually only drops to 75% at the lowest.

Seed saving is also a good one for gardeners - just don't save seeds that are from F1/F2 plants (this is usually stated on the original seed packet/plant label) as they don't grow true to type.

We had economy 7 for years and only ran the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble drier during the night. A few months ago DH did some calculations and realised that because the day rate was much higher when on Economy 7 that we weren’t actually saving any money and so changed tariffs which gave us a cheaper average rate.
We also had an old washing machine whose maximum load was 5kg which seemed to be on constantly. Our new 9kg machine uses the same amount of water and takes the same amount of time, if not less, but with twice the amount of washing the machine is only on 3 times a week.

While the weather is good my DH is using dark plastic watering cans to solar heat water. We then use the water for light washing up or he uses it for a shallow bath.

When I shower I soak myself then turn off while I wash then back on to rinse.

When using the kettle I now measure in a cup or cups.

I read somewhere to un plug from sockets so I do where I can.

Never used tumble dryer except in extreme circumstances. Cut tubes and invert bottles. Make my own bread, yogurt and kefir.Cycle rather than drive.

Make a light mixture of cocoa and hot water let it cool and rub into your legs. Use an eyebrow pencil to put a seam up the back. Grate old soap ends put them in a bottle with a few drops of Evening in Paris then add hot water and shake until dissolved it makes shampoo. Soot and vaseline stand in for mascara. Powder blusher mixed with vaseline make a lip balm. Or cochineal does the same. Dry yourself after a bath with a face cloth wrung out repeatedly then finish with a towel.
To make a log for the fire use an empty Vim tin and put all used matches in until full.
Of course, don't forget cami knickers, petticoats and bras from a parachute. If you do not have enough wool knit your jumper in two colours one for the back one for the front two for the work of one.
All tips from a wartime booklet. One woman had made a dressing gown from a German flag looted by her husband.

I'm retiring next year so I've been giving some thought to all this! The cleaner has already gone ☹️ although partially replaced by a robot vacuum for a daily, ground floor sweep. I will be stopping all my newspaper and magazine subscriptions and replacing with a daily walk to the library - gets me out of the house, too. We're pretty frugal eaters so not too many savings to be made there, but we'll probably downsize to one car, and I'm really looking forward to getting my bus pass. Hair's going to be an issue - mine's long and ashy bottle blond - so I shall have to work out a way of growing out the grey without hating myself too much. I also don't know how I'm going to manage my fingernails which are currently acryliced and gelled and which will break and split without such help (yes, I've tried EVERYTHING else, I just have pathetically awful natural nails.)

Yammy, my DH dries himself with a a flannel after he’s showered, whilst standing in the shower tray. His towel is dry.

I can't bear waste of any sort, so I reuse, recycle, find new uses etc. etc. for everything I can! Doesn't matter how small! Things that need to go into the rubbish get well sorted. I'm good at using leftover food. I try to save and reuse water as much as possible. I have water butts and compost bins but I haven't managed to save my shower water yet for the garden! Perhaps I need to syphon it using my hosepipe.

Some great tips here, but my favourite is how to cook a whole chicken in less that half an hour. Place in saucepan, cover with water, add salt, an onion, any herbs you fancy and bring to the boil. Simmer for between 20 minutes to half an hour depending on the size. A tight lid is essential. Turn heat off and leave overnight or until cool. You will be rewarded by the most tender and that m word we all hate. Use for risotto, coronation chicken, curry, whatever. Do not remove lid at any time until cool. Never failed.