I break my dishwasher tablets in half. What are your money saving Scrooge tips?

Question

I also use 1 tablet in my washing machine rather than 2. My dishes & laundry get clean for half the price!
What do you do to save money?

Answer 1

Money savung Scrooge before the ghost tips.
1, I got a water meter installed, the waste water from the laundry, and water we use top wash ourselves is reused to flush the toilet, we pay £72 for water and sewerage charges a year, and that still gives us a credittowards the following year.
2, I love going to jumble sales, get clothes, and other items at very low prices.
3, I do my main shopping at Nettos discount store.
4, Buy cornflour and vanilla flavouring instead of custard, it is much cheaper and custard power is mainly made up of cornflower.
5, If I need to ring a 0870 or 0845 number I use www.saynoto0870.com to find a normal number to save money on those numbers, I also pay under £8 per months to cover all geographical phone calls upto an hour, so I can ring as much as I like at no extra charge.
6, Bought my computer security off ebay at vastly reduced price.
7, I don't buy laundry tablets, they withdrew concentrated powder because we could use less than they suggested, tablets cost more money per wash than powder.
8, I use a cycle to get about locally, unless it is very local (in my own town) then I walk. This saves a fortune on car expenses, and transport expenses, and also helps to keep me fit.
9, I buy first and second class unfranked stamps from charity collections, soak them off paper, and use britstick to stick them to envelopes.
10, I use rechargable batteries where they are suitable, if something uses normal batteries and ceases to work when the batteries are still 1.4 volts, I use those batteries on something which works with them at a lower voltage.
11, I reuse paper notices or letters blank on the back, for writing notes on, or printing on.
12, I reuse container like Baby milk formula for thins like biscuits, currents, I haven't got round to labelling them yet, but know what they contain.
13, Back to laundry, I always wash a full load together, I am in a hard water area, only use soft water amount of washing powder, but that is because I use limescale protection in the washing machine.

Answer 2

Yes, I use less dishwasher detergent than recommended and my dishes always turn out fine. Foam soap saves money too. When you use the gel hand soap, sometimes the gel drops into the sink and off of your hands. Plus there is always a leftover 'string' that forms when you pull your hand away. Foam uses less soap but cleans just as well with no waste. I have bought a re-usable coffee filter. Not only do I save room in my cabinet (those packs of coffee filters are bulky), I do not waste a bunch from them falling on the floor, or getting wet or ripping. I bought my re-usable one years ago and its still in great shape. Saves the environment too. I don't buy my dog treats. I love my dog, but I would rather toss her a scrap of chicken or meat once a day than shell out $5-$7 a week for some dog treat. I don't understand people that buy dog treats. I only buy junk food that is on sale. This serves a few purposes. One being cost of course, the other being if what I really like (cheeto's or oreo cookies) are full price, I would rather skip buying junk food than to go home with something I don't *love*. Saves calories too. I join all the restaurants that I like email lists. I often use the offers that are sent and forward them onto my friends. They are good about not spamming and just sending the discounts and specials. I save lots of money knowing about promotions and getting buy one, get one half off or free. They usually send you something for your birthday which is good for the whole month, so you can go to several restaurants at a discount. Such a smart move if you like to eat out once in a while. Some of these offers you can't beat even if you made it at home! OK that should be enough...hope I didn't repeat anyone :)

Answer 3

Turn down your heating by 2 degrees. You will hardly notice the difference.

Replace all your lightbulbs when they blow with fluorescent low-energy ones.

Clean your car with a small amount of washing up liquid. It works fine and is a fraction of the price of auto-shampoo.

Re-use plastic shopping bags as bin-liners (but you probably do that already).

I too use a half-dose in the washing machine and I always wash at the lowest temperature.

Quarter a large lemon and put three of the quarters in the freezer. Pop the remaining piece in the kettle and boil it up a couple of times to descale it. When the scale returns in a few weeks the just pop in one of the frozen ones and repeat.

Lemons also work well to descale and brighten chrome taps. Before I throw out lemon slices from empty drinks after a party, I rub them over the taps.

Answer 4

I have hobbies and activities at home that keeps me out of the shopping malls.

This saves a bomb every month on coffee and all those unconsidered purchases made on the spur of the moment. It works and I'm a very happy person for it.

Answer 5

I take the small fruit & veg bags from supermarkets for use as food / sandwich bags. Good for keeping open packs of cheese fresh in the fridge.

I also take the free samples of shampoo / conditioner / shower gel / body lotion away if i'm only going somewhere for a night or two, better than fiddling around with those little bottles.

Answer 6

I make my own stuff!

Surface and window cleaner, take an empty skooshy bottle, 1/4 vinegar, water and a squirt of fairy and it keeps all my surfaces clean, cleans the windows streak free, shower screen, stainless steel - everything! And a bottle of white vinegar costs about 40p and lasts weeks!!

I also only use one tablet in the wash.

Rather than buy the scented water rubbish for your iron I just add a teeny bit of fabric softener to normal water - lovely!

I never buy sandwhich bags, I use bread bags or the bags you get inside your boxes of creal.

Margarine tubs are great for storing things in too!

Answer 7

Get rid of the dish washer and wash em by hand thus saving electric

Answer 8

Why not simply buy washing machine powder and use less, powder here costs a lot less than tablets?

Answer 9

if you use an electric water heater put it on a timer or let it only work for about 6 hours at a stretch (for a 200l capacity), someone told me that the thermostats aren't very sensitive and if you leave it on all the time it cuts in and out constantly. i've saved loads of money.

Answer 10

When my furniture gets old I use it for firewood.
I only wipe one side of the toilet paper so when it dries I can reuse it later. LOL
Instead of throwing my old shirts away I cut them down and make underpants.
Instead of throwing my sheets away I cut them down and make shirts.
I save my coffee grounds and put some on the girldog pee spots on the lawn. Really gets the grass growing again.
SOMETIMES...when my flowers aren't growing I give them a couple of spoons of coffee grounds.
I'm really good at recycling.