Save the pennies and....

I don't buy semi-skimmed milk any more, 1 pint packs (plastic supermarket bottles) are getting on for double the price they were a year ago. So now, I buy 1 pint of full cream milk and measure out half of what I need, using my kitchen scales and a small milk jug, then top up to the full amount with water. If there is any left over, I cover the milk jug with a bit of foil and pop it in the fridge for next time. It was a bit of a faff to begin with, but became second nature remarkably quickly.

Oops..I don’t iron, all washing gets an extra spin,at 1400 the highest my machine goes to. Then hangs on Airer to finish off. Doesn’t take long. Certainly don’t iron jeans or T shirts.Need to watch material T shirts are made of when bought.
Our solar panels are a godsend, use tumble drier if sun shining.

A use for stale bread.

Cut it up into small bite sizes. Lump of butter in the bottom of an oven dish I prefer oven glass such as Pyrex. Cut slice (s) of onion into very tiny bits. You can also add finely chopped tomato if you have any. Put the onion in the bottom layer then the bread. Flake some more butter on top of the bread, then sprinkle grated cheese. Oven for less than ten minutes. It should be nicely browned by which time the bread will be toasty and the onion cooked.

I use a table -top oven which is economical for small quantities. Maybe this dish could be cooked by grilling in a built -in grill.

Do just about everything everyone else does. This last month have invested in lightweight fleece blankets ( in the sale) for lining the curtains. Bought white foam blocks for two windows that are not seen from outside as such. Bought a giant fleece onsie, a calor gas heater, an air fryer. Stopped using dishwasher, living from stock cupboards and freezer apart from fresh essentials. The biggest new thing i have done is join the OLIO app. Not had to buy bread now for over a month and have lots of other short dated free goodies. Good Luck everyone

GrandeTante, I second your advice to scald dish towels and wash cloths.. The scalding water can be tipped into the washing up basin.

I add water to the last quarter of dish wash liquid so that it all gets used and I don't waste what is sticking to the inside of the bottle.

Shinamae, I have considered using a small amount of washing soda to supplement the washing powder. In your experience, does the washing soda not irritate people's skin?

I used to wear clothes a lot longer when I lived in a flat without a washing machine - though not if they needed washing!

i do most of what everyone else is doing, easier for some things than others as i live alone but the one thing i can't bring myself to do is re-use teabags. have been bought 2 early christmas presents- an air fryer and a snugsie to go with my hooded, fleece poncho.

Caleo

Shinamae, I have considered using a small amount of washing soda to supplement the washing powder. In your experience, does the washing soda not irritate people's skin?

Certainly doesn’t irritate mine..?… And white vinegar and a splash of scented disinfectant instead of fabric conditioner, (which I haven’t used for years)..

Shinamae

Caleo

Shinamae, I have considered using a small amount of washing soda to supplement the washing powder. In your experience, does the washing soda not irritate people's skin?

Certainly doesn’t irritate mine..?… And white vinegar and a splash of scented disinfectant instead of fabric conditioner, (which I haven’t used for years)..

I use a heaped desert spoon of washing powder and a heap desert spoonful of soda crystals..

Has anyone considered thermal (haybox) cooking? It’s where you start food off on the stove then transfer the container to an insulated outer where it will continue cooking for several hours - like a slow cooker but without electricity. This method was used on hunting trips and safaris so that the hunters/shooters could sit down to a proper cooked lunch before they carried on killing things. Xx

Zetacatty
I haven’t done it but I’ve eaten the results. A friend always cooked by this method on her boat to save gas.

Dry orange peel in the airing cupboard for firelighters, stick last sliver of soap to new bar, Secret Santa for Christmas so all grown ups only get one present, heating only on for a short time morning and evening and wear more clothes!

I use soda crystals in the wash too. They soften hard water, so you can use less washing liquid/powder. Plus whitening whites.

I'd love to be able to work out how much electricity I save if I bake (say) a sponge cake in my convention microwave rather than my electric oven. Same temp, same time.

I have been making my own Christmas cards. We send loads because of my husbands job. I went on ebay and for a few pence bought some yellowed sheet music and a couple of scruffy medieval manuscript books,also for a knockdown price. I then cut up the books it's amazing how many angels,shepherds, nativity scenes you can find . I now have 20 cards for very little cost.

I just shop at Pound shops, you can get loads of stuff for £10. Saves all the 'faffing' about.

i wash small items in a big bucket and smash them with a 'posser' saves putting washer on ,saves energy.
make my own oat milk .buy very little premade.Salads.and lots ive forgotten to add!

Just got my tv/phone/ broadband package £70 per month cheaper….my husband would never ‘make a fuss’ ….now I’ve taken over everything to do with money…. gonna start on the insurances next!

Oopsadaisy1

Urms I then put them on a clothes airer, which gets them nice and flat.
Although I have to admit that I Always iron T-shirts, trousers, jeans, doesn’t everybody??
TBH it never occurred to me to not iron stuff.

Even here on holiday I’m ironing …… is it me??

I actually don't iron much at all now. Used to iron pillowcases when we had paying guests but finished that now. I suppose that if my husband had to wear a shirt one of us would iron that!
I simply don't buy anything that is dry clean only or will obviously need ironing.

I was bought up to be thrifty.
I reuse foil dishes. Line baking trays with foil cake cases. I reuse cerial packets and the cardboard boxes too. I save wrapping paper and gift bags to reuse. Empty spread containers are used in the freezer. Old clothes recycled or fabric used for crafting. I steam veg, pre soak pasta, batch cook, use a slow cooker and turn lights off as I leave a room. Recently a group of friends and us take turns to prep a meal for 12 but serve a meal for 6 so we can all take a little something home. We do this weekly and save using our own lighting,heating and cooking facilities. I wash on 30 and rarely use a dryer prefering to use an airer or my washing line. Put an extra layer on if chilly and close my blinds and curtains at dusk. We walk more and use our bus passes instead of our seperate cars. We survived childhood where money was tight but always had good food , a clean bed and decent shoes and coats and lots of love and warm cuddles. But the houses were colder and heated by a single coal fire and often slack when we had no coal. Sticks were bought in from local woodland and used once dryed out. The local woodyard would leave off cut out and if we didnt make a shelf a table or even picture frames we burnt it. It makes us feel good to know we are doing our bit now. .

My late husband always said I was economical to the point of meanness.
I use washing soda in the washing machine and very little detergent and 40 degrees or less. Shower and wash hair once a week using toilet soap. Pea size amount of toothpaste. Don’t iron anything. Wool and cotton clothes are warmer than synthetics.
Use the microwave whenever possible. Only boil enough water in the kettle for one cup. Eke out meat stews in the slow cooker with pearl barley or lentils.

I use candles sitting on my multifuel burner instead of turning lights on. They actually heat the chimney at same time so warmth goes out into my boat. I forage for wood...loads of fallen branches around where I am. I make soup and freeze...use bags as take up less room in my little freezer. I layer clothes, two pairs of socks. Corks make excellent firestarters. I also stop recycling paper and card at this time of year...it all puts heat out and helps light burner. I know how to cook a whole meal inside the burner.
My bed is covered by several patchwork quilts that I have made...far warmer than a duvet. I was brought up in the 50s...no central heating, ice on inside of windows and just the living room fire. Ya learn a lot from that...hahaha

My extra spin is 1400 and my clothes aren't wrinkly nor does my iron come out often

Iwtwab12bow

I have been making my own Christmas cards. We send loads because of my husbands job. I went on ebay and for a few pence bought some yellowed sheet music and a couple of scruffy medieval manuscript books,also for a knockdown price. I then cut up the books it's amazing how many angels,shepherds, nativity scenes you can find . I now have 20 cards for very little cost.

It’s going to be the stamps that cost the money…?‍♀️