Money Saving Tips

[Helen May]

If you have any post them here!

H

[MIKERAPHONE]

I think Martin has it sorted with his 3 golden rules

Can i afford it?
Will i use it?
Do i need it?

If you say no to 2 of these then don't go ahead.
I'd love to spend thousands on all sorts but it HAS to be paid back.
I suffer from an affliction called COMMON SENSE!!!

[becky sharp]

now they do say mighty oaks from little acorns grow so here's a tip that won't save you lots and lots but..........................
when you buy your soap buy half a dozen bars then keep them topped up........ as the longer you keep soap the harder it goes and the longer it lasts

was this the sort of thing you wanted helen? :)

[Ian Mac]

now they do say mighty oaks from little acorns grow so here's a tip that won't save you lots and lots but..........................
when you buy your soap buy half a dozen bars then keep them topped up........ as the longer you keep soap the harder it goes and the longer it lasts

was this the sort of thing you wanted helen? :)

I don't think "remaining stinky" is a handy tip as such. :shock:

[becky sharp]

now they do say mighty oaks from little acorns grow so here's a tip that won't save you lots and lots but..........................
when you buy your soap buy half a dozen bars then keep them topped up........ as the longer you keep soap the harder it goes and the longer it lasts

was this the sort of thing you wanted helen? :)

I don't think "remaining stinky" is a handy tip as such. :shock:

either i don't get what you mean or you don't get what i mean :lol: :lol:

[Helen May]

now they do say mighty oaks from little acorns grow so here's a tip that won't save you lots and lots but..........................
when you buy your soap buy half a dozen bars then keep them topped up........ as the longer you keep soap the harder it goes and the longer it lasts

was this the sort of thing you wanted helen? :)

Yeah the more the merrier! I once read that you should store your soap in the airing cupboard as it makes it hard as well.

H

LOL at Ian as well!

[becky sharp]

now they do say mighty oaks from little acorns grow so here's a tip that won't save you lots and lots but..........................
when you buy your soap buy half a dozen bars then keep them topped up........ as the longer you keep soap the harder it goes and the longer it lasts

was this the sort of thing you wanted helen? :)

Yeah the more the merrier! I once read that you should store your soap in the airing cupboard as it makes it hard as well.

H

that's where i keep mine helen :)

[SoFarSoGood]

How much is a bar of soap these days? 50p.

Top tip; rather than spending a fortune on hay for your rabbits from pet stores, visit a local farmer who sells bales. A bale will only cost a couple quid and lasts ages.

[Gadget]

Bathe with a friend ...

Gadget

[soul17]

The Electricity Board will install a dual rate meter in your home for free.
The night tariff (normally between 11-30- 6-30 depending on clock times forward or back) is about a quarter of day tariff. You do pay a higher quarter rental rate, but having your fridge and freezer on all night, evens this out. If you buy a couple of time clocks ( £2.99 at Wickes) you can set your washing machine, dryer to come on in these times or just before you get up, if you are up early. Also if your Immersion Heater is used, set it to heat up on cheap tariff. This tariff is also a must for insomniacs.

[Helen May]

That's interesting about the dual meter, I might give them a call.

My Dad used to (and may still) use something that I think was called Economy 7 where your costs were less during the night. He used to set his washing machine to start after 11 when the rate was cheaper. I also once had a tumble dryer, the electricity board's own brand, that had a timer so you could set it up to 8 hours in advance designed to work with that system. It was good for setting anyway but I don't think they do them now.

[soul17]

As long as the machine has a switch type on/off button you can use your own timeclock, if it is a push in type one you are snookered.
When i first got my dual bill in, with seperate totals for low and high, i just trebled the low total and saved about £65 over the quarter. At the time i did not have my young son living with me then either :D

[FLYBYNIGHT]

I'm extravagant with soap. I can't bear it when it gets to a sliver and throw it out. I once went to the other extreme and started saving all the "ends" of soap. I bought a gadget, you melted all the soap until it was soft and pliable ,then pressed it into this gadget and made a "bar".
I confess I was buying all different colours soap because it all looked so pretty!. But my husband refused to use it!

FLY

[Joe B. One Kenobi]

Make your own inexpensive mints by leaving blobs of toothpaste to dry on a window sill. Use striped toothpaste to make humbugs.

Thanks Viz.

[Riitta]

Roll Your Own !!!!!!!!!

[Lovewood]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6442947.stm

Well worth a read.

[Helen May]

Make your own inexpensive mints by leaving blobs of toothpaste to dry on a window sill. Use striped toothpaste to make humbugs.

Thanks Viz.

LOL Joe!

H

[angrymammal]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6442947.stm

Well worth a read.

If only to remind yourself to never use the train if humanly possible, some of those fares are nauseating

[SoFarSoGood]

I tried U Switch and changed my electricity supplier about a year ago. Martin has some good tips but I have also seen him on The Wright Stuff talking about subjects aside from money. He's a tad annoying.

[soul17]

When drying your washing, wait until it is almost dry and then just stick it in the tumble drier for 2 minutes and it comes out with no creases, thus saving the cost of an iron running, plus the tedious job of ironing. :bounce:

[soul17]

The mobile phone company that i am with, rang me up after 10months to see about renewing my yearly contract. As the mobile had only just come out when i got it ( it has taken me that long to get used to it) i was loathed to have an upgrade. After explaining this to the provider ( also knowing that my Nokia comes with a 2 year warranty, without insurance, yep they don't tell you that ) i asked him what deal he would offer me to keep my mobile for another year. I got 500 x network minutes and 100 texts a month for £6-25 a month. It started straight away and in 10 months time they will call again.

[Helen May]

When drying your washing, wait until it is almost dry and then just stick it in the tumble drier for 2 minutes and it comes out with no creases, thus saving the cost of an iron running, plus the tedious job of ironing. :bounce:

Or put cotton shirts in the dryer for 5 mins (even on a red hot day) to remove spin creases and then dry outside. Easier to iron than tumble dried ones.

H

[Ponty_Cyclops]

Make your own inexpensive mints by leaving blobs of toothpaste to dry on a window sill. Use striped toothpaste to make humbugs.

Thanks Viz.

LOL Joe!

H

Reminds me of the one ...

Don't spend all that money on expensive binoculars ... simply stand nearer the object you want to look at!

Ant

[politik]

Shop lift

[Roland Butter]

If possible, pay off your credit card in full and, never, ever, obtain a cash advance with it. Use the card to buy the goods instead.

[soul17]

If you break down in Tesco's car park and you are not in the breakdown services, don't call out a garage. You are covered by the RAC whilst in Tesco's car park and customer services will call them out for you. :D

[Helen May]

Really? That's interesting.

H

[Helen May]

I'm bumping this one up as Money Saving Tips are to be the topic of Your Money and Your Life this Friday.

They want us to send in ours to give to Martin for a change. So get thinking! :)

H

[Helen May]

Something I read a very long time ago but would still work today, especially if you are on a tight budget.

Do your weekly shopping and make it last a day longer. ie shop on Friday this week and Saturday next week and so on. After 7 weeks you will have saved a week's shopping money.

I know times and shopping habits have changed dramatically since that was written but with the enormous amount of food that we throw away it should not be too hard to achieve.

H

[Lonegroover]

The sound of MoneySavingMartin's voice annoys the hell out me. What is he talking abouit half the time????

LG

[Helen May]

Something I read a very long time ago but would still work today, especially if you are on a tight budget.

Do your weekly shopping and make it last a day longer. ie shop on Friday this week and Saturday next week and so on. After 7 weeks you will have saved a week's shopping money.

I know times and shopping habits have changed dramatically since that was written but with the enormous amount of food that we throw away it should not be too hard to achieve.

H

Someone else sent this one in and it was read out. Martin missed the whole point of though, as the whole idea was to make a day's extra meals from what you already had in the house along with items from that week's shopping.

Martin gave it 1 point. I gave him -1 for missing it.

H

[Wild Bill]

If you break down in Tesco's car park and you are not in the breakdown services, don't call out a garage. You are covered by the RAC whilst in Tesco's car park and customer services will call them out for you. :D

If your car breaks down simply push it to the nearest Tesco's car park.

[soul17]

If you break down in Tesco's car park and you are not in the breakdown services, don't call out a garage. You are covered by the RAC whilst in Tesco's car park and customer services will call them out for you. :D

If your car breaks down simply push it to the nearest Tesco's car park.

Last week, when i was getting some petrol from Tescos there was a motorcyclist waiting for the RAC to turn up, it obviously applies to them as well.

[Lovewood]

I have a tip that will mean never having to buy a greetings card ever again.

Take £5 into WHSmith, and ask for a £5 gift token. They will offer you a card to go with your gift token. Pay £5 and leave the shop with gift token and card. Give card to friend or relative. Return to WHSmith with £5 gift token and redeem it for a £5 gift token, with which they will offer you a card...

[Pondgirl]

Nice idea, but as far as I know you can't buy a gift token with a gift token. Have you actually tried it?

PG

[Helen May]

I have a tip that will mean never having to buy a greetings card ever again.

Take £5 into WHSmith, and ask for a £5 gift token. They will offer you a card to go with your gift token. Pay £5 and leave the shop with gift token and card. Give card to friend or relative. Return to WHSmith with £5 gift token and redeem it for a £5 gift token, with which they will offer you a card...


Have you done it recently Lovewood?

I only ask because the 'gift tokens' now seem to be in the form of a credit type gift card and the card that they come with is not really suitable to send on its own.

H

[dazzlingjusttheone]

We all use far too much shampoo, so when the bottles halfway down, add some water and give it a good shake. the mix is just right to give you the lather it needs.
dont buy notebooks, just keep all the paper your printer spews out, when its not working right or you make mistakes. Staple it together for scrap paper.
:lol: then you forget where you put it, ans so buy a notebook! :roll: :lol:

[soul17]

I always put to many of those plastic bags that you put your loose veg in, into my trolley. I use them for my lad and my pack up in the week. I reckon it saves me about £6 a year. :cheers:

[Helen May]

With the early warm weather, change the timer on your central heating to come on later in the morning and also later in the afternoon. Make it go off a bit earlier at night too.

You can always over ride it on the odd day it's cold.

H

[soul17]

If you are on the cheap night rate tariff on your elec (as i mentoined on an earlier post) then boil your kettle, before you go to bed. When you reheat it in the morning, it boils almost twice as quick as if you filled it up in the morning and boiled. Now i know you must think, you should not boil the same water twice, but as i take a thermos flask to work, it tastes aweful anyway.

[soul17]

If you spill Red wine on your carpet, pour White wine on the stain and it will come out.
This does not work the other way around though.

[angrymammal]

Ex-display appliances can be extremely good value. I bought a £80 Kenwood food processor for £40 at Comet, you might not get all the accessories but the shop assistants didn't mind me cannibalising from other display models (who uses them all any way?). I was sceptical at first until I realised that the display items are never plugged in, so unlike some display items there is no significant wear and tear on the mechanism.

[angrymammal]

Just bought from Wickes a set of power tools: cordless driver/drill, corded hammer drill, Palm sander and Pendulum saw.

All in a reasonable wheelie case - £30, marked down from £50, didn't look like a one off either

[TheRatKing]

Don't buy shaving brushes, make use of a badger that lives locally.

Stop eating expensive beef. If you miss the taste ask a farmer if you can lick his cow (he will normally agree for a very small fee and the television rights).

[Ian Mac]

If you spill Red wine on your carpet, pour White wine on the stain and it will come out.
This does not work the other way around though.

Alternatively, invite me over to sook it out.

[FLYBYNIGHT]

Stay in bed

[Helen May]

Cut off the end of tubes of handcream etc. when you think they are empty. You'll find there is still a lot left inside.

Use a freezer bag or bulldog clip to seal the open end.

H

[Gadget]

Cut off the end of tubes of handcream etc. when you think they are empty. You'll find there is still a lot left inside. H
Hmm... I did this only yesterday.

Same thing with toothpaste tubes, particularly the plastic ones - there's loads left in the end which is difficult to squeeze out.

Gadget

[Helen May]

Another one for us girls. When your mascara appears to have run dry, fill a glass with hot water and stand closed tube in it for a few minutes or while you do the rest. Otherwise hold the bottom part under a hot tap.

You'll find it's not so dry after all and will last for quite a few more days!

H

[Ian Mac]

With the early warm weather, change the timer on your central heating to come on later in the morning and also later in the afternoon. Make it go off a bit earlier at night too.

You can always over ride it on the odd day it's cold.

H

Central heating???

Southern softies. 8)

[Helen May]

I'm not so southern. ;)

H

[Ian Mac]

I'm not so southern. ;)

H

And only soft in bits. :wink:

[Helen May]

Cheeky ;)

H

[soul17]

I like those Airwick Impressions, you know the one that has 3 little bottles. The Oriental one is really good. However the refills cost about £3-50 or more. Well, unlike some of the ordinary bottled air fresheners, the wicks come out of the bottles and you can refill all three. I went down to the cheapy shop and brought 3 biggish bottles of sunripe fig,peach and mango and cranberry and will refill with them. Cost £1-80 and i should get at least a couple of refills out of them.

[pete-the-taxi]

I run my car on 90% biodiesel. Make sure you put £ 5-10 of ordinary diesel in before you fill up. 'Round here biodiesel is about .72-.76p. per litre.

Do NOT try to run at 100%. The thicker biodiesel can cause the fuel pump solenoid to stick after being parked overnight.

Be prepared to run at 50-50 in the winter months, and change your fuel filter every 3-4 months.

Regards, PTT

"Money, it's a gas, Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash"