Money saving tips

[Cheekyteddy]

This should get you all chatting. What money saving tips can you pass on to all us ABer's. I will start you off with:

Don't spend money on expensive dishwasher cleaner use a good dollop of vinegar to clean you dishwasher and put on to a 60 degree wash.

Also halve the amount of washing powder you use. 1 tab is enough for even the dirtiest washing and use a third if you use loose powder, which is cheaper anyway!

Finally wash everything on 40 degrees or less.

Happy money saving.

[cre]

Cut up your credit cards...guaranteed to save you money!

Re clothes shopping - never buy on impulse...instead, go home and think about it and if you can't stop thinking about it then go back (and hope it's still there). Take an honest friend with you.

Don't feel pressure come Christmas/Valentines etc to spend, spend, spend. Not what it's all about.

Take the bus/ride a bike. Pack lunch.

[funkychicken]

buy books in charity shops, much cheaper than book shops

[acw]

Never go to the supermarket when you are hungry.

[twiglet4frog]

when u get up in the night and about to turn a light on to nip to the loo, shut one eye and keep it closed when u do so that when u have been and heading back to be and turn the light off, one eye is still accustomed to the dark!

oh, u want money saving tip....well...erm...if u do the above tip u are saving on optician bills cos u are only using one eye at a time and thus halfing the wear and tear?!!?!?!?

[jno]

so you'll only have to buy half a pair of glasses, twiglet4frog? Useful.

[Solarjunkie]

Don't buy birthday cards, buy a Boots token - you get a free card with it, and the recipient gets the money to spend.

 

[Dom Tuk]

Directions for use of shampoos recommend using twice during every shower. Dont bother, once is enough if you are a regular person who has not just been back from glastonbury

[acw]

Purchase MR THRIFT'S - "How to save money on absolutely everything".

My Mum got it for me (I think she was hinting!) and it's great!  Here are a few random gems:

• Bicarb of soda makes a good dry shampoo for carpets
• Buy Which Magazine to make sure you're getting value for money when making a big purchase.
• When get your car serviced, send a man to instruct the mechanic.  This is NOT because women are unable to do so, it's just that s recent survey revealed that male mechanics tend to charge other men less for the same job!

Also lots of tips for a homeowner or someone looking to get on the property ladder.  E.g., re conveyancing or stamp duty. 

[Loosehead]

Don't use fabric softener, is serves no purpose whatsoever.

[spudqueen]

Cheekyteddy, my sister - in-law did ALL her washing at 40 degrees and had to call out the repair man when it started smelling, apparently you have to do SOME washing at at least 60 degrees to kill bacteria. I have always washed towels at 60 degrees and have never had a problem, so to save money on washing machines and repair men it is worth doing SOME hot washes!

Loosehead - I remember wearing underskirts washed without fabric conditioner and they just used to ride up and be very uncomfortable.

Remember - there is such a thing as false economy!

[Cheekyteddy]

True about doing hot washes occasionally but once a month is enough apparently. Not using fabric softner also helps to prevent nasty niffs in the machine as well as saving you money.  Loosehead, Perhaps you could just use a small amount of conditioner when washing your smalls.

[acw]

Solarjunkie - By the way - I was in Boots today and looked at their tokens.  They now come on a plastic credit card thingy and you don't get a card with them.  So there goes that saving! :(

[twiglet4frog]

well every tip has been proved false except mine so far!!! and u thought i was nuts lol

[acw]

Mine are still correct! :(

[funkychicken]

and mine is =(

[Cheekyteddy]

Mine are still good too. Just make sure that you occasionally do a very hot wash to stop the smell!!

A really good site for saving money is Martin Lewis' site the moneysavingexpert.com.

[mikey4444]

I agree with all you have said Cheeky ! I would go even further ::

Never buy expensive washing machine detergent, or washing up liquid, or dishwasher stuff. The cheaper stuff, ie Supermarket own-brands, does the job just as well.

Don't even think about putting expensive cleaner down your toilet ! Again, the cheapest stuff does the job just as well...its the brush that does the cleaning after all. Why waste money feeding the bally loo ! As far as I am concerned, the same goes for toilet paper, although some disagree. But you are only wiping your a*** after all !

Same with toothpaste. Just buy the cheapest kind...again its that brush that is important !

All cheaper cleaning agents will perform perfectly well, so why waste money ! I know a lady who is such a snob, that she buys cheap toilet cleaner but decants it into an expensive bottle and leaves it on the bathroom shelf, just in case visitors need to pee....this is a real story ...she is my sister-in-law !

One last item...peanut butter! The cheaper stuff is actually much nicer than the expensive brands.....I can recommend Tescos own cheap brand...delicious !

Lastly...shop in Lidl !