What's your favourite frugal behaviour that you're secretly proud of?
Posted by VarangianWRLD@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 422 comments
I'm talking about the stuff you wouldn't admit on a first or second date
Feel like lots of the current advice is outdated or not aimed at a UK specific audience and I'm looking for ideas
Most-Number5867@reddit
I almost never buy drinks with a meal. Quite happy with tap water. For dessert, I’d prefer a grocery store chocolate or ice cream with a walk afterwards.
I’m kind of a coffee snob with prosumer machine at home. Will spend generously on fresh beans but no £5 lattes for me. This is hella basic frugality but it does save money.
MissionFig5582@reddit
I'm similar, but don't even shell out on expensive beans - have been buying from a Bristol roaster which deliver 1kg for about £14-15 delivered.
Most-Number5867@reddit
Is that Wogan by any chance? If so, we should be friends
luala@reddit
I guess home cooking is probably a strength of ours. I’m quite proud that I’ve got into better habits with taking a thermos flask with me (not all the time though). And taking picnics on days out rather than relying on theme park cafes etc.
Advanced-Adagio-2071@reddit
It’s a bit annoying to carry but I much prefer bringing a picnic to a theme park. The food is so expensive and such rubbish quality that I really resent paying for it!
Ok-Spring7906@reddit
I heat our home using kitchen waste.
It may sound all green and "shiny" until you are hooking a dead rat out of a barrel of manky old cooking oil.
I'm "proud" to not be further contributing to oil wars, but the frugal side of it carries no pride. It's just somthing I do.
StrategyKindly4024@reddit
Can you tell me a bit more about this? You’ve been downvoted but I really don’t understand why. This is the best thing I’ve read on here so far
Ok-Spring7906@reddit
You do some chemistry on used cooking oil, swapping over a large alcohol to a much smaller one, which alters the viscosity of the ester. It's a "transesterification" reaction, but there's other stuff going on also that your can't avoid, and need to deal with in due course.
It sounds complex, but it's not much more involved than making good wine or somthing like that.
It used to be popular for running cars before the onset of diesel particulate filters - the regen cycles are not great with biofuels. So the popularity has declined significantly in the past decade or so, but there is still at least one Facebook group covering the topic and a web forum (biopowered).
The biopowered wiki will give a better overview of what's involved than it would be sensible for me to write here.
miklovesrum@reddit
Do you use a boiler that's meant for normal heating oil or is it more specialised?
Ok-Spring7906@reddit
Standard oil fired central heating boiler.
Insurance would go insane if you started doing customisations!
You can buy specialized burners that will burn all sorts, but I think you would need to run them in an outbuilding and pipe the hot water, kind of like the Americans / Canadians do because, again, your house would just be uninsurable if you started messing about with your boiler.
As I think I said before, it's way easier to get an internal combination engine to run on methyl esters than it is to get a pressure jet burner to run. You have to be much more careful with your chemistry, but it's entirely possible.
I used to know someone with a single cylinder diesel engine that they would run on the raw triglycerides. They coupled it to a permeant magnet alternator, and then a grid tied inverter (like a wind or water turbine would use) to generate electricity, but they would also recover the heat from the engines exhaust and water jacket and use that to heat their home.
They had some land though, so could do all that a "safe distance" from their primary asset (their home) and just pipe / wire across the energy.
I don't have enough space for that kind of setup, so I have to carefully modify the fuel, such as I can run it in an entirely unmodified burner, because, again, I'm certainly not rich or stupid enough to risk our home insurance finding an "out" in the worst case scenario.
nikobenjamin@reddit
Over the years I've consistently replaced my phone with a brand new one. Once the contract ran out on my S23 Ultra I switched to SIM only.
I looked at the deals for the S26 Ultra, both contract and cash and I was like "" You can stick your small iterations up your arse".
Sleepyllama23@reddit
Getting the last remnants out of bottles/tubes etc. I add a tiny bit of water to conditioner bottles and give it a good shake, you get another couple of weeks of use out of it. I have a toothpaste squeezer which gets loads more out of the tube. And for hand cream tubes I cut the end off so I can scrape loads more out with my finger. You can normally get loads more out of a product if you can get into it
DogtasticLife@reddit
I keep a scalpel in the bathroom and every bottle / tube of body cream, sun cream, hand cream etc gets cut in half and every last drop extracted
Sleepyllama23@reddit
There’s always loads left. I’m not wasting a drop!
blackcountrybelle_x@reddit
a good chunk of the clothes i own, everything goes with each other = infinite outfits! i’m a proud outfit repeater, i love the clothes i wear so of course i’m going to want to wear them all the time
i’ve always hated the “i’ve worn it once, everyone’s seen me in it so i can’t wear it again” mindset! it just feels like a waste of money! x
ValenciaHadley@reddit
I'm still organising my clothes as I'm having a declutter but anything 'new' (most of my clothes come from charity shops) has to fit whilst I'm wearing full petticoats, bloomers etc and has match something I already own. The only exception I make to fitting whilst I'm wearing petticoats is the second hand dresses I buy to wear as slips.
RoyalCshev@reddit
i agree, i dont understand not wearing the same clothes, i've been wearing the same sweaters for 4+ years and still get compliments on them.
starsandshards@reddit
Yeah, I have pretty much a "uniform" of t-shirts and jeans with a cardi or a plain dress with fancy tights and a cardi. I can just throw on any combination, as long as it's clean...!
anotheraccount999999@reddit
Yes i purposely buy stuff that matches at least two other things so I can mix and match!
chrisb993@reddit
Similarly I have a modular wardrobe- plain tees in black, grey and white, a few pairs of Stan Smiths, dark and black chinos and the same for jeans, and then a load of over shirts.
Between changing the trousers, colour of the base tee, buttons up or undone and sleeves rolled up or down the same over shirt gives me 11 different possible styles ranging from casual to business casual
Eucalyptus90@reddit
My creams, lotions and toothpaste, shampoo, etc, when i can’t squeeze anything else anymore I cut the bottle with scissors and use the very last drop. I always get like 2 more months out of my work hand cream, nearly a week of my toothpaste, etc! There’s always more stuff left on the bottles when you think you can’t squeeze anymore
nickifyi@reddit
Period underwear! Sure, they cost more than a box of pads/ tampons, but they're reusable, so over time it means I'm actually saving.
Historical_Heron4801@reddit
Can I ask about the longevity of the underwear. I was looking into buying a set for my daughter. It's about £70 for 7 pairs and it says they only last two years. So I'm kind of on the fence.
miklovesrum@reddit
Get the pads instead. My oldest ones are at least 7 years old (most likely more) and still going strong.
Dull-Intern-6037@reddit
I use the m&s once, 3 pack for £16, have had them around 3 years now and still perfect!
2222yep@reddit
I have a 3 pack but I use it in conjunction with a menstrual cup. I hand wash them through the length of my period and then machine wash once the cycle is over.
Historical_Heron4801@reddit
Ooh, that's useful, thank you.
Wiggles_21@reddit
I have some from Primark and they've lasted a good 3 years so far. I just wash them on a normal wash cycle. I prefer them because they leak less than pads in my experience! Plus I can double up with pad + underwear on extra heavy days.
nickifyi@reddit
I've probably been using mine for about 2 years now, and have about 7 or 8 pairs (plus swimwear!!). I've been using Wuka, and the branding has washed off and the padding in the older ones is a little lumpy (not uncomfortable, but I wouldn't wear if I was wearing tight fitting dresses or trousers), but they've really held up!
spudlet89@reddit
I use menstrual cups, and have done for about 18 years. You can get them for around £10-15 nowadays and they last from a year to a decade. I absolutely swear by them and couldn’t go back now! Had to scrounge a tampon from a colleague when Aunt Flo arrived early and I had totally forgotten how grim they are.
2222yep@reddit
I hate the logistics of disposing of tampons/pads. I don't even find it 'gross', just annoying.
spudlet89@reddit
For me it’s the dry scraping feeling on insertion 🤢 I just can’t. My only issue with the cup is emptying in public because you need to find a toilet with a sink in it, but I’ll happily pay that price!
_Simba___@reddit
A lot of community centres get packs of period underwear for free. It’s worth checking if your local hub has any. I know by me there’s a big push on period poverty
mab0106@reddit
On a similar note, menstrual cup!! I usually use the cup and wear period pants as a backup in case of any leakage (although the backup is almost never actually needed). Haven't bought pads or tampons for a good couple of years now, haven't done the maths but I like to think I've saved myself a decent amount of money already.
maelie@reddit
And so much more comfortable. I do not miss that plasticky feeling.
Stewstar73cyclism@reddit
I listen to Audible audiobooks at 0.9 speed. If my kids ever want a second drink I offer them 2 pound in their Monzo. I bulk buy anything cheap that doesn't go out of date. I wear black shirts for work so they don't need ironing.
Psychological-Bag272@reddit
I only stock own brand soft drinks at home. The price different is huge compared to main brands like Coke/Pepsi. Husband doesnt like water and drinks like a fish, this has saved us ££££ over the years.
ShampooandCondition@reddit
I used to think this until I got some proper coke on a deal and the difference was massive in taste.
BumblebeeMission411@reddit
Aldi do a cola called Vive Cola- it tastes almost the same as coca-cola, if you want an alternative that tastes almost the same. And it's cheap.
Alokae@reddit
Bloody love a Vive. I think it’s better than regular coke. It’s cheaper and has less sugar in it too!
AlexSniff7@reddit
It absolutely does not lol
MissionLet7301@reddit
There’s so many things I just wish I’d never let myself try the nicer version of since life would be so much cheaper.
I was perfectly happy with cheap instant coffee until one of my friends introduced me to ground coffee, then I was happy with that until I tried some specialty roasts, and now here I am paying upwards of £10 for a bag of coffee.
bristolian7@reddit
Still a bargain, for the cost of your premium bag of coffee you'd only get 4 Starbuck filter coffees so your drinking better coffee for less money👍
pretendfarmerL@reddit
I feel this. You don't want to over spend or be a snob... but you know how good it can be, and the lesser option is sometimes really not comparable.
hc1540@reddit
Full fat coke is a non negotiable for me. One of the very few things I'm happy to pay full price
0-starlight-0@reddit
Got any recommendations for closest match to Pepsi max
oh_no551@reddit
My husband prefers the Sainsbury's or Aldi own brand versions, instead of Pepsi Max now
KaidaShade@reddit
I'm a big fan of the Lidl Pepsi max knockoff myself. It's a staple in my house
0-starlight-0@reddit
Thanks, I'll have to try it out
HAZZ3R1@reddit
I'm a fiend for ginger beer, especially in summer. I've tried them all and the Sainsbury one is second best to everything apart from Bundaberg.
Hell0imjonEcache@reddit
I reckon the sainos one is better
whocanbearsed@reddit
"doesn't like water" made me laugh.
Skeptischer@reddit
Is he three years old or something
BigPecks@reddit
Maybe they live in a hard water area? I do and my tap water tastes like arse. If that's the only water you know you might assume all water, even bottled water, tastes like that.
NightBusToGiro@reddit
Rola Cola?
Northern_Gypsy@reddit
Al Qaeda water and big bobs bastard beans
TheJoker182@reddit
Bet Osama had a bath in that
EyeAlternative1664@reddit
Wait until you hear about water.
martyrees76@reddit
Panda lemonade is by far the nicest lemonade (in my humble opinion)
MustrumRidicully@reddit
R Whites from Farmfoods. £1.35 for 3 litres!
ParfaitCareful8518@reddit
Oh wow - flash backs to school discos 😆
WhiteDiamondK@reddit
Same for me, unless it’s on sale (although Sprite have a banging mint version out for the summer).
Also’s own brand fizzy drinks are generally very good, their Professor Peppy (Dr Pepper dupe) is top tier.
OffensiveOcelot@reddit
Same, Zx Coke Zero from Aldi, & the Tesco value lemonade being guarantees if you’re looking for a drink in my pantry
Bright-Coconut-6920@reddit
This will also save on calories and sugar intake , own brand are usually around half that of branded
pullingsneakies@reddit
I do this as well, but will have Barr as a backup and an occasional pepsi max.
Recently decided I will start drinking squash too, so I've now got 3 flavours of Capri sun, 2 different vimtos and a few own brands. A juice for every occasion, mix with soda water or lemonade for fizz.
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
If you mentioned that on a first date I'd fall deeply in love with you!
Watchkeys@reddit
I cut kitchen rolls in half so they look more like toliet rolls. I often use them to mop up a small mess and refuse to use a whole square! I can always pull several slices if I need a lot, but generally it means I use half as much.
Appropriate-Roof1422@reddit
Why don't you use the blue cloths for surfaces? No need to use a kitchen roll.
Watchkeys@reddit
Really not looking for you to solve a problem for me here. I've tried each alternative and know what works for me, thanks.
Someonearoundhere438@reddit
i think they were just trying to be helpful....
strawbebbymilkshake@reddit
And they said they didn’t want that help. Move on.
Someonearoundhere438@reddit
I did but it came off as a bit dismissive to me at first but now that they clarified that they did agree that the person was trying to be careful, I get it. Your comment is a bit redundant 5 hours after their clarification though.
strawbebbymilkshake@reddit
I commented 1 hour after you lol. This is a weird thing to be this hung up over, but whatever. Hope your week improves!
Appropriate-Roof1422@reddit
I 'll remove my comment if it helps, I was not trying to tell people off, I just made a suggestion.
Watchkeys@reddit
Patronising little twerp.
UnacceptableUse@reddit
!dick
stickybizz@reddit
What a stranger thing to say to the person who was defending/agreeing with you 🤔
Someonearoundhere438@reddit
lol
Watchkeys@reddit
I agree. And I said no thanks.
Thanks for explaining that though.
LEVI_TROUTS@reddit
Wow.
Did you also cut your partner in half.
You sound completely mental.
Watchkeys@reddit
Thanks for your opinion. Valuable.
Robot_Coffee_Pot@reddit
Holy shit. This is genius. What's the least messy way to do that?
jajwhite@reddit
Chainsaw, obvs.
spudlet89@reddit
I tear mine a sheet at a time as and when I need it because when I was a home carer I went into a client’s house to see his wife hacking hers in half with a bread knife and there was kitchen roll snow all over! Doing it as you go also means you can take a smaller bit of the job calls for it, and sometimes I’ll just rip a corner off if that’s all I need. I hadn’t realised until now that this was a frugal behaviour… but that I learnt it from my grandparents should have been the giveaway!
sliderulesyou@reddit
I have a wormery, so if I'm just mopping up water or similar, it goes in there.
I started it when the council gave me a food waste bin. I don't generate enough food waste to warrant putting it outside, but I have a balcony with plants in tubs, so I built a worm farm out of two big buckets and drilled the appropriate holes.
Free compost, and happy worms who would otherwise have been someone's fishing bait.
free_spirit1901@reddit
Interesting! Did you just put any old worms in there ?
KSAW11@reddit
they have to pass a credit check and referencing
Ok-Ebb5960@reddit
I DO hope you aren't being ageist?! 😮
Unfair-Bad-2977@reddit
I bought a kitchen roll in Turkey once, and the perforation line was only half the size of a single sheet. It was about 10 years ago and I always think about it when I need a sheet of kitchen roll but don’t need a full size one!
Watchkeys@reddit
They rip in a fairly straight line, but down the vertical. If you try to rip them in the same direction as the perfs you'll get in a zigzaggy mess due to the warp and woof threads in the paper. It won't be like your fancy turkish ones, but... you're welcome 😄
spudlet89@reddit
This is exactly what I do! Works a charm.
thehatteryone@reddit
Either way, I asked a lawyer friend and they assure me I'm unlikely to spend more than 60 days in jail if I just tear whatever portion of a sheet off the roll that I need. Even if it's just a tiny corner triangle to blot a few drops.
Watchkeys@reddit
I concur with your lawyer friend. I hope they're a close enough friend that you didn't have to pay for this professional advice.
thehatteryone@reddit
As you can see from my paper towel ripping, I'm something of a maverick. My money saving tip is keep a lawyer on retainer to answer all these little questions rather than live your life wondering what the consequences of your deviant actions may be.
Watchkeys@reddit
I love this. It's the sort of thing I come to Reddit for.
Thank you, internet friend 😄
bopeepsheep@reddit
Weft, not woof.
Watchkeys@reddit
Both are correct. Woof is from the Old English but still valid.
bopeepsheep@reddit
Metaphorically, woof is fine. Modern weaving only uses weft and you're talking about 21stC cloth.
Watchkeys@reddit
I don't care.
CarpetGripperRod@reddit
On the Internet no one knows you are a dog... except in this case.
GhoolsFold@reddit
Yes this is the way! Rip off as much as you need from one piece, if that makes sense. Use strips.
Pierce_youre_a_B@reddit
I saw this last year in America too, makes so much sense.
mierneuker@reddit
They sell one in the UK in most supermarkets that is half sheets like that... I can't remember the brand name though, I usually buy them for the same reasons OP cuts his in half.
Soggy_Detective_4737@reddit
You should check out Plenty Flexisheets. They're perforated at half the distance to usual.
Midnightraven3@reddit
Plenty Flexisheets is what you are looking for, we have had them in the UK for many years
its_narnia_business@reddit
Hej,
Check out this FAMILJ from IKEA.
https://applink.ikea.com/tY8M9r9M4w--40530743--gb--en
BikeProblemGuy@reddit
Kitchen rolls have got so expensive. I just got a multipack of microfibre cloths and use them instead. Using one for a spill and then washing it works out way cheaper when stores are charging like £1.50 a roll these days.
rockdecasba@reddit
I cut up old clothes and use them for cleaning
Agile_Bicycle6070@reddit
I used to think it was mortifying that my mum used my dads old (washed) pants as dusters. Now I get it!
rhubarbgirl@reddit
I cut the sleeves off all my t-shirts, so all of my cleaning cloths are old sleeves
lazysundaybeans@reddit
Same! Cut squares out of old t-shirts, my kids wear white polo shirts for school...they make great cleaning cloths when they're outgrown/too stained to be passed on.
rockdecasba@reddit
And do you put bleach or disinfectant in old spray bottles and use that?
lazysundaybeans@reddit
We've had the same spray bottles for eons 😅 we get the concentrated packs and then mix it with water in the bottle.
rockdecasba@reddit
I buy screen wash down to minus 20 and dilute that in spray bottles as de icer. Works a charm
Zyver_sX@reddit
Why did it take kitchen roll prices getting ridiculous for this to make sense?
Watchkeys@reddit
I agree, but use kitchen rolls more in my campervan because it's not nice travelling around with wet cloth.
But yes, good call.
Nettinonuts@reddit
You could hang it off the outside of the car to dry off!
Watchkeys@reddit
I've been know to accidentally leave a piece on the counter on a hot day after a small water spill, and use it again later! Don't tell anyone though 😉
lucyloochi@reddit
Me too. I haven't bought kitchen rolls in over a year.
mrs_shrew@reddit
I'm even cheaper than you! I cut up old tea towels and hand towels
vshere32@reddit
In case you’re interested, Plenty already sell ‘half sheets’. They call them Flexisheets: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/plenty-flexisheets-kitchen-roll
Watchkeys@reddit
Especially for people who want to pay extra instead of halfing it themselves for free.
vshere32@reddit
I thought it retailed for the same price as the regular Plenty, though looking on the Sainsbury’s website now it’s 50p more expensive (though cheaper than the regular if you have a Nectar card). Think that could be a recent change.
Watchkeys@reddit
I googled Morrisons and Waitrose and it's more expensive in both the buy the more economical one.
Not sure how much I want to pay for someone to half my sheets of kitchen roll, it's not like ripping the Yellow Pages in half or anything.
Dangerous_Celery19@reddit
How do you cut them? Knife or scissors?
swimbikerunkick@reddit
Bread knife works, but doesn’t look nice!
Watchkeys@reddit
Yes, I use a bread knife, or tear sheets as I go. If you use a bread knife you can end up with 'snow' every time you roll the roll.
Tequila-Tarn@reddit
You clearly don’t have cats… or cat sick.
Watchkeys@reddit
I have a dog who throws up sometimes and find I can make it work.
ChallengingKumquat@reddit
They tear easily and neatly along the grain (perpendicular to the perforations) so I tear one in half for a small spill.
amandathepanda51@reddit
Or you can pull
Apart
To give you 2 thinner pieces. I sometimes do that.
paprikouna@reddit
Here, a lot of rolls provide half square, it's super convenient
babygirl7106@reddit
I cut the large ikea white napkins in 4. They are really thick.
Maleficent_Golf9765@reddit
I bought some blue roll from b&q, the stuff that's intended for painting. I didn't use much so started using it as kitchen roll. It's lasted absolutely forever and it tears easily so you can just use as much as you need. I'm probably just going to keep buying that.
0-starlight-0@reddit
Do you mean you cut the whole roll in half? Or each sheet? I always tear the sheet in half as I go along. If you cut the roll how do you do you do it please
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
The is the aort of advice I'm talking about
Makes complete logical sense to me
Flatcapspaintandglue@reddit
My fiancée is gluten free, gluten free chicken nuggets are expensive. At the bottom of a bag of nugs there’s always loads of “crumbs”, I save these in a zip lock baggie until I have a decent amount and then use them as gluten free panko bread crumbs on something else.
serious_sleep_issues@reddit
Have you tried making lentil wraps? GF wraps/bread is so expensive! Lentil wraps sounds like they just wouldn't work but do! Lentils, water, salt 😮 Briony May (bake off contestant and presenter) has a reel for it. 1 cup of lentils made 7 good size wraps. They freeze well too. I've also made cottage cheese pancakes and used gf oats.
thelonelyalien98@reddit
This looks awesome I’m going to give it a try!
Flatcapspaintandglue@reddit
No but that looks pretty good!
Wraps wise I’m a convert to the El Paso “street food” 100% corn tacos.
lcmfe@reddit
I’m not gluten free so don’t really need to do this but this is so smart
thelonelyalien98@reddit
As a gf girlie, this is incredible. Thank you.
Flatcapspaintandglue@reddit
Despite frequently writing it myself and knowing what it means I still read that as “a girlfriend girlie” and got confused for a moment. In my head “gf bread” is also “girlfriend bread”.
thelonelyalien98@reddit
I do forget that gf means girlfriend to most people!
lapppiiii@reddit
I use a bidet in my toilet, this has reduced my toilet paper bills drastically. I still stock them, but they take ages to run out and i feel very hygienic too.
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
I have a hand held one
Logistically you have to work it out, but boy it's a lifesaver!
lapppiiii@reddit
Well, i dont use a hand held one. My toilet is right next to the sink. So i have managed to get an extra fitting to the tap and use that as a bidet. Something like this https://amzn.eu/d/03Np5U46
NdujaReallyLikeIt@reddit
But why don't you just dip the toilet paper in the stream from the tap and wipe?
ac0rn5@reddit
Toilet paper breaks up very quickly when it's wet.
NdujaReallyLikeIt@reddit
No, you do a slight drip over. I do it. Its not hard.
Crafty-Strength1626@reddit
You wash your ass in the same sink you brush your teeth??
lapppiiii@reddit
Ewwww no ways guys. Arse is washed in the toilet bowl 🤦♂️. Because sijk is next to the toilet there can be made a water connection for the bidet 😭🤣
BornWithWritersBlock@reddit
Arse*
...And that's quite an assumption. I suspect, because the other poster said their sink is right next to their toilet, it's extending to the toilet and that's where they're doing it.
AFestiveShiving@reddit
So sad I couldn't set one up (I tried), toilet position is a nightmare. First thing I'll install in the next house
970souk@reddit
You could always use a condiment squeeze bottle, fill it up with water before you use the loo.
Kizzieuk@reddit
I have a bidet toilet seat. its amazing wash and blow dry. variable speed, pressure and heat
maelie@reddit
On the floor of my office where the visitors go, with the big fancy meeting rooms etc., they have these toilets. I don't work on that floor but stopped in for a wee one time and absolutely FREAKED OUT because I was not expecting it, I didn't know they had special toilets. It was making noises and doing fancy things and blowing warm air and it took me a good minute to understand what was going on and to notice that there was a remote control.
chicken_n_chips@reddit
Assuming you have a large bathroom to have a plug socket? I keep wanting to drill into my wall to the next room for a bidet seat 😂
Kizzieuk@reddit
Normal size bathroom. electrics come from the loft.
Forward-Daikon219@reddit
I just can't go on Reddit without a bidet being mentioned
Blind_Warthog@reddit
Reddit is largely a load of swamp asses who don’t leave the house so I assume there’s a higher than normal ratio of people who are conscious enough about it to attempt butt crack hygiene.
bacon_cake@reddit
Bidets, air fryers, dehumidifiers. The r/uk trifecta. I'm 2/3 personally.
CaptainBonkmood@reddit
I have to admit to being an air fryer shill.
CaptainBonkmood@reddit
Seriously. It's like the entirety of Reddit is in the pocket of Big Bidet.
RepulsiveCondition77@reddit
No car No child
Mariashax@reddit
As a woman, I buy sweatshirts, plain t shirts, jogging bottoms, razors, etc from the men’s section. No vagina tax for me, thank you very much.
Maddyconn23@reddit
Quality is usually better and more true to size aswell.
Accomplished_Bake904@reddit
My wife just takes mine and then the item becomes hers
Mariashax@reddit
That is the cheapest option! I have requisitioned a few of my husband’s clothes - funnily enough, his long johns, both top and bottoms.. that’s definitely something I wouldn’t ordinarily admit to lol
Accomplished_Bake904@reddit
It works both ways - I use my wife's fancy shampoo and exfoliating facial wash when I want to feel sparkling clean lol
AFestiveShiving@reddit
I always take my own ketchup and a bag of cheese when I know I'm going to be getting chips out. Friends always laugh when I pull out my cheese bag but I stand by it
adamneigeroc@reddit
If we’re getting fish and chips one of us will go out to collect it and the other will cook a can of mushy peas on the hob, and make chip shop curry sauce.
They’ve started charging £3 for them at the chippy, so no point adding £12 to a take away order when warming them up takes 2 minutes.
adasyp@reddit
What chip shop curry sauce do you use? I've tried a few from supermarkets but they're just not the same.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
Try one of the chinese style ones like Mayflower. Any of the powdered Bisto type ones aren't quite right. This is all chip shops use anyway, they aren't brewing and simmering their own sauces from scratch out the back there.
adasyp@reddit
Brilliant cheers
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
That's mental
But reminds me of my old man
LEVI_TROUTS@reddit
Actually it's emmental
GiveMeCheesecake@reddit
Genius.
Eastern_Sprinkles934@reddit
That was just, mwah
Delicious_Zombie5736@reddit
Top work 👏
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
Is the cheese a block, slices, or gratered?
AFestiveShiving@reddit
Finely grated so it actually melts. But this saves me at least £2 every time
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
Will the chipoy ever warm it up for you?
AFestiveShiving@reddit
I have never asked, but considering how much they charge for ketchup and cheese, and even a small plastic bag, I can only imagine the look they'd give me lol
Arsewhistle@reddit
Where on earth is charging for tomato sauce?
audigex@reddit
£2 for cheese on your chips?!?
/*angry northern splutters\*
GhoolsFold@reddit
Not the poster, but grated surely?
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
Slices may melt better
Also not sure what sort of operation he is running, he may prepare the cheese in the chippy itself
This is utterly majestic behaviour
AFestiveShiving@reddit
I usually have cheese i have already grated in the fridge so just throw it in a bag and go. I often take a cheese bag into work with leftovers (pasta etc) so I never considered this would be weird behaviour in other scenarios lol
BiologicalMigrant@reddit
Sweaty
mikolv2@reddit
Cheese I get because they charge arm and a leg for a bit of grated cheese but ketchup? I've never seen ketchup cost extra with chips.
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
Peep show
NoStoryTerritory@reddit
I'm sure I have seen a Reddit story of friend complaining about it
fouhay@reddit
Disposable zip-lok bags (The ones for sandwiches etc) are not actually one-time use and can be used multiple times for weeks or months.
Aggressive-Salt-1667@reddit
My grandma always washed her ziploc bags. They didn't get thrown until they were falling apart.
muddyboots5@reddit
I am now learning that not everyone does this. Is this not standard practice?
terryjuicelawson@reddit
I reuse for things like bread, but the idea of rinsing and drying out plastic bags does seem like more effort than it is worth tbh, if it had say raw chicken or something with a load of sauce in there.
starsandshards@reddit
I keep trying to convince my mum to do this because it's so wasteful to chuck them out! I think I'm going to have to kidnap them from her.
Otherwise_Silver_196@reddit
I do something similar but I just buy the silicone bags, ikea sells them and they last a long time, smells don’t linger and no foods have stained them
cheerfulviolet@reddit
I've taken this to the next level of frugal and I reuse the ones cereal and loose-leaf tea come in because they're thicker plastic and hold up to washing. Fantastic for freezing stuff too.
Eastern-Leopard-2866@reddit
yes!! i hang mine on the line to dry, which amuses my beighbour
adsm_inamorta@reddit
I don't know who would think they were one-time use by default, but honestly washing them properly isn't worth the hassle. Much easier to buy new ones. Maybe I'll save ones that have only had bread in but any that have had raw meat etc. in get binned. Can get 100 on Amazon for £5.99
fouhay@reddit
I'm same (no raw meat, wouldn't go as far as washing) but I personally know a lot of people that use them once and then bin them.
WhiteDiamondK@reddit
Get the IKEA ones, really durable and defo good for multi use.
UniquePotato@reddit
Turn the oven off 5 minutes before taking the food out
bunnymama7@reddit
I often use tea bags twice (especially herbal ones)
SaveOurPandas@reddit
Make a pot of tea instead
One-Comedian2560@reddit
Herbal tea yes, not black tea!
lilnikki88@reddit
This is treason
bunnymama7@reddit
Haha
ChelseaMourning@reddit
I always get 2 teas out of a herbal bag. I just top it up with hot water.
fouhay@reddit
This is the way. Especially when they're posh brand tea bags.
AlleyMedia@reddit
I just keep the old one in there, stick a new one in, and by the time there two or three (depending on brand) I get my free tea 😂 it's like my own loyalty scheme 😂😭
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
Growing up this would be expected in my household!
DameKumquat@reddit
A pack of microfibre cloths cut down our kitchen roll usage by 90% and they've lasted over a decade.
Half the rest is probably the spouse wanking and that's an argument I'm not getting into!
Also I'm not that fussed about the environment, but washable nappies look so much more adorable than disposables, only add one wash a week to the rest of your new baby-containing household, but they can save you an absolute fortune!
You can get piles of them free from Facebook groups etc, or buy them 'preloved' very cheaply, especially from people who got carried away with the beautiful designs! And then sell the good ones on afterwards.
A bunch of mine got used on 7 babies before becoming cleaning cloths. I did the maths, and for 3 babies over about 5 years, including wash costs and paper liners once on solids, plus a £40 grant from the council, I spent about £50, plus about three packs of disposables for another £20.
Did I mention how they'll make your baby be even more obviously the cutest at baby group in the park in summer?
Someonearoundhere438@reddit
uhh the reusable panties sound good to me but pre-loved as in...giving your baby some other baby's used underwear?? not too sure about that but wtv works for you ig..
I mean ik they would wash it obv but...
Cisp2016@reddit
You put liners in them which are sold separately
Someonearoundhere438@reddit
ohhh mb sorry
ParfaitCareful8518@reddit
7 babies - no shit you're not fussed about the environment 🤣
DameKumquat@reddit
Only three were mine!
ParfaitCareful8518@reddit
Ah ok!! Soz 🤭
bopeepsheep@reddit
They get used by other people when your babies grow out of them, then returned when you need them again. I was in a group of 5 women - 10 babies between us, over ~9 years - who swapped nappies around as the kids grew.
ParfaitCareful8518@reddit
That's great about the nappies thing, I hope your other actions can be just as eco friendly. Although each child increases your carbon footprint by 400%.
Please teach them well; this planet is their future and it's a very scary place (while humans exist at least).
tadpole-bear@reddit
“One was a week” entirely depends on the baby! I got hold of a mountain of secondhand reusables only for my kids to poo up to their armpits on every hourly feed 😭 I agree they look cute though.
With all baby things, secondhand is the way for both frugality and the environment – my friends even had “the maternity bag”, a big bag for life of maternity wear from jeans to office-friendly dresses, PJs, swimwear, leggings, everything, and we just handed it round and round or shared it if pregnancies coincided. Those clothes covered 10 pregnancies that I know of then got passed on en masse to another group of women.
DameKumquat@reddit
True - though in my experience they were much more adaptable so could keep poo inside way better than certain other babies where disposables couldn't cope (one poor dad really was doing more laundry than us).
One motivator for me to figure the reusable out with no.1 was he got horrible rash with disposables, but no problem with washables. Which is quite common, though a few babies are the other way round (generally solvable with different detergent).
Sharing and circulating kids stuff is the way to go. Nothing like a baby to make it clear how much capitalism is advertising to you and creating cultural messages about not being good enough if you don't buy xyz...
combustioncactus@reddit
Why aren’t you fussed about the environment? Don’t you want your children to have a safe future? Climate warming and food famines are coming our way in future decades.
With 7 kids think of the far reaching effect your teaching could have- please consider changing your stance and think about the environment.
DameKumquat@reddit
I have only three children and care a lot about the environment - but sometimes it's not my no.1 motivator.
DameKumquat@reddit
And a stack of 6 inch squares (ish) of cotton and a box of water filled each day, instead of baby wipes - reduced those by 80-90%, good for the environment, not smelly - though I did use baby wipes on days out.
glytxh@reddit
I’ll sometimes use teabags twice.
ChelseaMourning@reddit
I read a lot, so I often go to a charity bookshop and pick a few books up for less than a tenner, instead of buying a new one for £10-£15.
Also picking up the odd too good to go back, which can cover my daughter’s lunch for a few days for £3-4.
One-Comedian2560@reddit
Don’t you have any local book phone boxes?
mab0106@reddit
Oh I love a little mooch around the charity shops for books!!
Wiggles_21@reddit
World of books and Abebooks are great too
Realistic-Muffin-165@reddit
I only use the local library, it's free.
ChelseaMourning@reddit
I use the library too, but I can’t always find what I want. Charity bookshops give me a lot more choice. Especially with the penguin classics.
SleepySloth2468@reddit
Does your library have a website? Where i am you can log on and reserve any book thats in the area (our covers about 30ish libraries) and have them delivered to any library of your choice for collection and return!
It’s a great service that I didn’t know existed until quite recently
maelie@reddit
Oxfam online sell books. I bought a massive stash for my son's birthday, £30 total, they were all in great condition and he was absolutely delighted.
arabidopsis@reddit
I always calculate cost of something by the time it saves me.
This means I can do more like hyper fixate on Manor Lords while my frugal behaviour has given me time savings as I no longer have to do X so can do a much more enjoyable thing instead.
:)
peppermint_aero@reddit
That's absolutely not the definition of frugal
arabidopsis@reddit
Time frugality. It's a thing
JLAshbourne@reddit
I buy all my clothes second hand, except pants and socks. I'll get them in charity shops or off ebay or depop. I like a lot of vintage stuff, and the quality tends to be a lot better. If I don't wear something, I sell it on. My wardrobe has a lot of turnover, so I don't get bored, but I don't put much more actual capital into clothes.
I got a real sheepskin bomber jacket last month for £40! But of course it's far too warm to wear it at the minute. How the hell did Leon Kennedy manage doing roundhouse kicks in one in Spain?
OkTechnician4610@reddit
This is what I do as well
AFestiveShiving@reddit
I rarely buy clothes new (bar boxers and socks), I just cant justify the price for something that doesn't make much difference to my life over charity shops clothes. Especially shirts. Luckily my wife is the same, she has a wardrobe room full - I'd be bankrupt if it was all new!
FlatCapNorthumbrian@reddit
I only buy when needed, but with the price some charity shops charge these days I’ve been using deals like Sports Directs two for £15 on Slazenger polo shirts, my jeans were under £20 a pair at a supermarket as well and they’ve lasted ages.
EdibleBeans-on-Toast@reddit
this is the most flat cap Northumbrian post i've ever seen, thanks for being true to yourself
Guilty_Struggle_6089@reddit
I hate to tell you this but Lonsdale is not Branded…Lonsdale and Slazenger are botttom of the barrel clothes
FlatCapNorthumbrian@reddit
Are Lonsdale and Slazenger not a brand name?
JLAshbourne@reddit
The actual firm disappeared years ago. It's being used by the slaver Mike Ashley's company now. He hoovers up defunct brands for Sports Direct own brand products.
FlatCapNorthumbrian@reddit
Argos does the same, B&M do the same. Lots of companies have bought out brand name to stop them disappearing, and to be able to sell stuff under a name that the British public recognise.
JLAshbourne@reddit
Yep, all retailers who want a “brand” to sell whatever batch of plastic shorts their buyer got a job lot of from China.
Guilty_Struggle_6089@reddit
Not very good ones
Rough_Efficiency8518@reddit
He didn’t say Branded…he said branded.
Guilty_Struggle_6089@reddit
Bet your a laugh at parties
Mispelt_Usenrame@reddit
Jeans in the Next sale can do really well. My current 3 pairs of jeans I own all came from there, don't think I paid more than £10 for a pair and all have lasted incredibly well.
JLAshbourne@reddit
On jeans, I got some Levi 501s used, and they’re absolute crap. Not even real jeans. Just cotton trousers with flimsy single seams. Why is no one talking about the most iconic jeans model being reduced to utter shit?
amandathepanda51@reddit
You might have got fakes
Levi’s
Quality is impeccable imo.
wedontneednoeduc@reddit
They do different versions for different outlets by all accounts. So costco 501s aren't the same.
Exotic_Progress_3973@reddit
My Levi's, bought from the levis store and worn around 5 times, had the side seam unravel at the knee on Saturday. A gap of around 3 inches is now open.
amandathepanda51@reddit
That’s a shame I have so many pairs and don’t wear anything else and they are all great.
losgidi@reddit
The trick is to buy vintage, made in the 80s or 90s. eBay is better than vinted for this.
melanie110@reddit
I got some 501 from a charity shop in France. I love them. Cost 5€
-TheHumorousOne-@reddit
Have you ever tried vinted? I've bought lots of brand new clothes for bargain prices.
Alternatively, if you're happy with second hand clothes, even bigger bargains with Preloved clothes.
colinah87@reddit
I’ve barely bought any new clothes in about a year, I’ve got tonnes of great stuff from Vinted including some really nice trainers and shoes. I buy all my golf clothes there too. I don’t need flashy clothes that I buy using Klarna like seemingly everyone else does these days
JLAshbourne@reddit
I don’t know what Klarna is, except that it’s yet another box I have to make sure isn’t ticked at checkout, along with paypal, apple pay, and whatever other foreign tech company wants to be my middle man for the day.
jajwhite@reddit
Klarna is an online loan which splits payment into 3 or 10 I think.
I have to use it because for some weird reason my credit card and all my bank cards go crazy if I try and book a holiday through expedia. Whether it's too much money all in one go, or what, it just refuses it. I've even called my bank and told them I'm doing it and it still rejects payment. Which is what I thought a credit card was for
But alas, I just use Klarna and pay it off in three chunks or from my premium bonds. A card which gives credit would be more useful, but they don't make such a thing apparently!
JLAshbourne@reddit
Credit card firms are getting pretty shit at fraud prevention. Whatever new technology it is, it doesn’t work. I have had a card that I haven’t been able to add to my phone wallet for over a year now.
Every time I try, as part of the process it puts through a £0.00 transaction. This gets flagged as fraud, and the card gets immediately frozen. The only way to unfreeze it is to make a 45 minute call, being put on hold and identifying myself a dozen times.
They then unfreeze it and tell me it’s good to go. And it is. It works for everything except trying to add it to my digital wallet again, which sends me back to square one. So no phone payment for me, ever. So I have to both have the card in a freshly unfrozen state and have it physically on me, any time I want to use it for a real purchase.
Single-Owl7050@reddit
May I ask what the best platform to sell second-hand clothes on is now? Is it Vinted now not eBay?
Sea-Advice1545@reddit
Where are you wearing the bomber jacket? Bingo?
Scottish_squirrel@reddit
I get a lot of my work clothes from vinted and charity shops. People always say how smart I look.
two-girls-one-tank@reddit
I don't think this is embarrassing. You're right that the quality is better, plus it is more ethical.
mythmakeruk@reddit
Same. I shop almost exclusively in charity shops excepting underwear.
lifeinthefastline@reddit
Hahaha what a reference at the end of that post, I didn't expect that!
MeatGayzer69@reddit
Because he's Leon
JLAshbourne@reddit
For reasons I cannot explain, I don't look that good in mine. More General Patton than anime twunk. Must be a hair... yeah. That's my excuse.
MissionFig5582@reddit
I steal toilet paper from the office
Relative-Tea3944@reddit
My CEO once told me that he does this
GeggingIn@reddit
I cover my fancy foundation bottle with a cloth and smash it with the window hammer to get last drops out.
Sorry Estée Lauder, the risk of broken glass to the face won’t stop me.
Relative-Tea3944@reddit
Is £1 worth of foundation really worth risking smearing cut glass over your face?
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
Is there a way to take out the stopper and use a tiny silicone “cotton” bud or silicone scoop ?
GeggingIn@reddit
I scrape using a pipe cleaner, but you can’t get the stuff on the sides because of the angle.
Good idea, will try a silicone implement.
DameKumquat@reddit
How do you get the stopper off?
I have two Estée Lauder bottles...
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
I think a lot of ppl use tweezers, makeup groups will probably be more helpful than me though
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
I don’t wear makeup anymore but I’ve heard great things about them, it’s shocking how much more product you can get out of it, I had the same but with a carton of custard the other day haha
GeggingIn@reddit
Thats brilliant, never even heard of them. Have just ordered them. Thanks very much for the tip!
Glad-Pomegranate6283@reddit
No worries ! I just worry about your hands, its pricey stuff though so I understand not wanting to waste any
GhoolsFold@reddit
Yeah, I've got tiny silicone spatulas for mine. An Amazon purchase so not frugal by some definitions but worth it in my opinion. Smashing the bottles sounds mental unless you know you can get a very clean break!
GeggingIn@reddit
It’s definitely mental.
Scara_Manga@reddit
Getting a very cheap 5am flight then spending £50 for coffee and bagels at the airport
Hell0imjonEcache@reddit
I thought this was a good idea too, but when you factor in airport parking and transfers it often works out more expensive. I find friends and family more willing to take me to and from the airport at reasonable times of day.
ProfessionalTap2400@reddit
I work from home in the summer because I absolutely cba to buy work-appropriate summer clothes.
I take (very small!!!) plant cuttings from the park for new plants.
I barely use kitchen rolls: I have around 10 reusable cloths that I use to wipe surfaces. Well I’m not secretly proud of that to be fair, I’m very openly proud of it.
I water down my lemonade with sparkling water. Healthier (less sweet), cheaper.
OkRefrigerator107@reddit
I also take cuttings from my neighbours expensive looking plants that hang over the fence. She probably wonders why my garden looks so similar 🤣
starsandshards@reddit
I'm so tempted to do this. My neighbour has some lovely flowers peeking over my fence. How did you manage it? Did you do it at night?
ilovethatforu@reddit
Can you not just ask your neighbour for a cutting? I feel like this doesn’t need to be done stealthily in the middle of the night
OkRefrigerator107@reddit
I would usually but she lives behind me and isn’t very pleasant. She screamed at me for growing wildflowers because they attract rats. She has a very traditional garden with some lovely jasmine and roses
No-Department-4561@reddit
Eh? How do they attract rats?
OkRefrigerator107@reddit
No clue. She also screams and bangs saucepans at robins, magpies, or any bird that comes in her garden, despite having a pond that obviously attracts them..
starsandshards@reddit
Mine planted a tree and then moaned about it when it grew...into a tree. Then got someone to cut most of it down except the very top so it's now a weird tree with a crew cut.
starsandshards@reddit
But...but..where's the fun?
OkRefrigerator107@reddit
Not at night 🤣 just when she was out
starsandshards@reddit
See. Your neighbour sounds like mine, she's a bit of a nightmare but her flowers are nice 😂
porcupineporridge@reddit
Your little plant cuttings, you then put into a small pot with some soil and water before moving into the garden? Does it need any hormone treatment?
yaughte@reddit
check out r/proplifting !
Usual_Cryptographer3@reddit
Following because I just took my first park cutting yesterday!
gagagagaNope@reddit
Oh, we had tons of the terry bum wipes from when our boy was a baby - about 12cm square like a towel but shorter thread. We still used them for everything around the house as they are tougher than kitchen roll and just go straight in the wash. Whole pile of them under the sink.
dan-kir@reddit
How do you clean them? Put them in the washing machine or hand wash? Do you colour code for different areas or use all of them for everything?
ProfessionalTap2400@reddit
Washing machine! Usually with bedding /towels as I clean those at a higher temp than regular clothes.
I do have a different set for the bathroom - I use microfibres for that one. But the kitchen ones are just simple off-white cotton cloths, bought quite cheaply off Amazon.
J1nglejoints@reddit
Have you seen the film Perfect Days? It features taking cuttings in a park and is very cute.
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
I water down full fat milk with water and anything else i buy huge amounts of powder mixes on amazon so cheap obviously not fizzy tho
Poiuy1231st@reddit
I take a 4 socket extension lead on holiday (which I already own) so I only need to buy 1 Europe to UK plug converter.... I'm stupidly smug at how clever I am 😆
Unlikely-Big-5647@reddit
I buy my knickers in 5 packs from Sainsbury’s.
mab0106@reddit
I get mine from the kids' section of M&S 😂😂
-GuardPasser-@reddit
Sink pissing
cacheiro@reddit
I cut open the bottle of moisturiser with a pair of scissors to use the whole thing - there's always enough to use 4-5 times more.
Hell0imjonEcache@reddit
I use the lint collected in our tumble drier lint trap, to start our log burner.
KSAW11@reddit
I think you might win
I dunno what in fuck the prize is but...
Hell0imjonEcache@reddit
😂
QuickTemperature7014@reddit
Some grocery app personalised discounts can be trained. If you buy a new shelf stable product and like it, quickly buy it again and you’ll often get a discount code for that product. You can then bulk by it.
Euphoric_Barber_5424@reddit
I'd be careful talking positively about supermarket loyalty schemes on Reddit..
No_Upstairs909@reddit
I cut open my skincare tubes and scrape out the rest which lasts for atleast 4-5 uses. If it's body lotion bottle I add a little of glycolic acid and shake the bottle. Currently trying to figure out how to bring the rest of the foundation from my loreal serum foundation bottle.
Englishontrail@reddit
Reusable anything. Cheap pack of cleaning cloths or cutting up an old sheet or towel, using that instead of kitchen roll and sponges for cleaning. More effective and cheaper than paper products.
Same for cloth napkins instead of napkins or kitchen roll.
Learn how to mix your own laundry detergent on r/laundry, and how to properly clean clothes based on what needs cleaned (sweat, oil stains, tomato etc). It's so much cheaper than commercial laundry products, easier on your washer, makes your clothes last longer.
Batch prep sauces, seasonings, herbs and aromatics so you can have tasty foods you actually look forward to eating at home instead of having a takeaway when you want a treat.
And, I haven't done the math but I swear that getting an air fryer and figuring out a solid rotation of meals that pair fresh uncooked ingredients with the hot air fried part saves so much compared to even a tray bake over time. Don't have to heat the whole oven.
skewiffcorn@reddit
When it comes to dishes do you still use sponges or something else? I’m always moaning to my partner about the rate of sponges used for the dishes
Englishontrail@reddit
We just use wash cloths and we have a natural bristle scrub brush but that's more because I don't like the plastic sponges shedding. Basically we either way things right after using or we let them soak with a bit of soap and we don't need the sponges really.
Blind_Warthog@reddit
Sponges are terrible and shed microplastics. Cotton dishcloths and a proper scrubbing brush are ample.
starsandshards@reddit
What kinds of sauces do you prep in advance?
Englishontrail@reddit
If I do a roast or batch prep meat, I'll cook down the bone broth/ drippings with fresh herbs and maybe a bit of wine to make a thick broth base, freezes well and just needs added to a roux to make gravy later.
Chimmichurri or lemon herb sauces freeze well and thaw fast.
Same for curry base (leave out the milk fat and add the cream/ coconut cream when you thaw for good texture) and orange chicken, sesame chicken, black bean sauce. You can also do frozen cubes of spring onion/ ginger/ garlic in oil to use for quick stir fries instead of buying the store fry packets.
Basically, whatever sauce you like, if you leave out the roux/ corn flour when freezing you can just heat the flour in a pan and add the frozen liquid party that you've already made with the flavor and end up with a really good sauce that tastes like it's been slow cooked and flavour layered in like 5 minutes
WhiteDiamondK@reddit
A roll f kitchen roll lasts me about 6 months. I’m also in team “reusable cloth” I have a shelf full in my kitchen.
tinkabellmiggins@reddit
Save my soft plastic waste and recycle it in the supermarket, they usually have big bins for it. Not really frugal but good for the environment. I also regrow veg from scraps, save seeds from my veg and save potatoes past their best to plant.
International-Wear57@reddit
Reusing used toilet paper. Air dry & ready to reuse.
International-Wear57@reddit
Why am I getting downvoted?
TunakTunak_in_UK@reddit
1800 n 1900s - The sun never sets on the British empire.
2026- I cut Kitchen roll in two halves and use it😭
_StopHereNow_@reddit
When I work from home I'll have a bit of tinned mackerel on toast - 99p per tin and very nutritious and tasty.
dopexvii@reddit
I cut dairy out of my diet Not allergy related just frugal, milk and butter expire to quickly.
SeyiDALegend@reddit
I refuse to overpay for coffee so in a typical week when commuting into the office:
- Get Filter Coffee for 99p at Pret
- Get the 1.99 Breakfast meal with a black Americano at Popeye's
- Use Three+ £1 Cafe Nero Voucher
- Use Three+ £1 Weekly at Paul Cafe's
- Get a Black Americano from Costa Coffee Machine with my Sainsbury's Meal Deal if needed
- Keep mini Oat milk sachets with me incase I don't want a black filter coffee
ChickenButt2325@reddit
You'd be surprised how often Chatgpt can find you a valid discount code for online shopping. And also using cashback sites for that was well as buying insurance etc
tomestique@reddit
Bought 20 pairs of the same socks. Never have to match them and don’t have to throw out 2 when 1 gets a hole.
Xenozip3371Alpha@reddit
I decided to buy the Aldi versions of Lurpak and Anchor butter, just to see how much quality I'd be losing.
I haven't used their version of Anchor yet, but their version of Lurpak (called Nordpak) tastes literally the exact same as Lurpak, but it only costs like £2.15 compared to the like £3.50 to £4.20 that Lurpak generally costs, and the Nordpak is a 500g tub compared to the 400g tubs that Lurpak comes in now.
So, looks like I'll be buying the Aldi versions of those when I want the higher quality butters.
I still buy the big tubs of Flora Buttery as my standard though, since it's decently cheap.
mikolv2@reddit
I buy almost everything second hand. Anything I can get second hand, will be second hand. In 15 years of doing this, I've never had an issue, this goes for electronics, furniture, clothing, kitchen items, tools etc. It's both drastically cheaper and keeps things out of landfill. It means I can afford to buy gadgets I wouldn't otherwise, I can buy a latest ipad when a used one is available, play around with it and sell it 6 months later for basically the same amount.
vekonica@reddit
I never pay for parking.
Bracechenko@reddit
Very first world problems but i put my instant boiling tap boiler on a timed plug so it's off overnight. Due to the efficiency and insulation on the boiler, it probably only saves pennies but it's the principal of not wasting energy and money
ExcellentAd6853@reddit
Not a first world problem,that's a first world solution!
zero_circle@reddit
Almost completely eliminating food waste and composting the rest to grow veggies.
Heavy-Echidna-3473@reddit
Not me but my step-grandad used to use the same teabag 2 or 3 times.
Rastamoise@reddit
There’s a real witch hunt for kitchen towel going on here…
HauntingJeweler6488@reddit
Every time I am asked to add an email to a page or to use internet in public spaces, I use my former boss email and I always sign up for the marketing and adds. I use both their work and personal email. Enjoy the spam xxx
Falloffingolfin@reddit
About 75% of what we own was bought used and it's helped us to live debt free (mortgage aside).
For example, we picked up a nearly new £1200 sofa for £200 and bought a very reliable model of car 6 years ago for £5k cash that has barely cost us a penny since. Buy a lot of my toddlers toys from charity shops. Not crap, just always pop in and keep an out for good stuff. Payed £3 for mint condition Playmobil jet plane with all accessories a few weeks back, which is a £60 toy. Most of my kids and my wife's clothes come frome vinted, and then she sells everything on for the same price or profit when it's done with. Everything from Japanese cooking knives, a garden hedge strimmer and even a ton of decorated slate for the garden - we've bought used in great condition and paid relatively little, sometimes barely anything at all (the slate was free).
Only major things we've bought new are the TV, mobiles and mattress. All bought outright, no credit cards, installments or finance.
The only minor downside is that sometimes you may not find be able to get something straight away, and you need to be a bit flexible with what you get but that is really minor inconveniences to not spend tens of thousands and have your salary disappear on loans, credit cards and finance every month.
Higher_Path112@reddit
I keep a spreadsheet of all my finances; track, plan and monitor.
Frannycesca95@reddit
I turned off my hot water tank about 4/5 years ago so don't have any hot water.
I've got an electric shower so don't need the hot water for that, and my dishwasher & washing machine have only cold water connections. On the rare occasion I actually need to do washing up I'll boil a small amount of water in the kettle.
It does suck washing my hands in cold water in the winter, but the hot tap used to take so long to actually give me hot water that I'd usually be done washing my hands before that got warm anyway!
lcmfe@reddit
We did this for about 2 years and everyone thought we were mad but it worked great
Wiggles_21@reddit
What about central heating? Bath?
Puzzleheaded-Two9582@reddit
Since getting solar panels we've tried to use the boiler less - why pay for gas when sunlight is free.
Wash hands in cold water, boil the kettle when washing up.
We still use hot water for showers but I take navy showers (rinse-soap-rinse) these days.
MrsStinley@reddit
In a similar situation and we installed a cheapo water heater tap. It did make a difference and we use it much more than I thought we would. Still no hot water in the downstairs loo but we don’t care
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
My shower routine:
I reckon over the year it saves a fair bit of energy. I don't actually enjoy making my own soap that much, but I run survival courses where I teach how to do it in the wild with animal fat and ash and tend to have a few bits leftover.
zephyrmox@reddit
This really does not save you very muc energy at all. We are talking probably £2 a year. Mental.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
I don't actually do it to save energy.
I got into this habit when I volunteered for a year at a place where water was a scarce resource, and heating it was prohibitively expensive. You quickly realise you don't actually need the water on for a full 10 minutes or whatever.
It is part of a general eco routine I have now. It's just second nature.
Puzzled-Job9556@reddit
Not really. We're on a thread about frugality so it's right to assume you were doing this for frugal reasons. Doing something to save £2 a year is mental.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Have you or the other commenter run the numbers to actually prove this figure of £2 a year? I suspect it's more than that.
But even on a thread about frugality, calling this mental is indeed mental.
Puzzled-Job9556@reddit
Have you done the math to prove it's more than that? Given a 5 minute shower costs about 20p it potentially is, but the energy used to fire up the boiler each time potentially offsets that. In any case I imagine their use of hyperbole was used to make a point that the saving is going to be negligible.
Everything in this thread is mental to me. Calling any of them mental isn't mental as some of the actions that some people are doing to save literal pennies is not normal and is akin to some sort of mental illness / anxiety about money.
maelie@reddit
They said electric shower, so not firing up the boiler?
Pristine_Winter_5513@reddit
I also do this
cursed_cucumbers@reddit
I have always wondered if turning the water off and on actually saves energy, or does the boiler constantly switching on/off actually use more?
Is there a boiler expert who can advise?
QuickTemperature7014@reddit
I think we can be pretty sure not pouring heated water down the drain is cheaper than heating a constant flow of it.
The boiler switching on and off typically involves a tiny spark.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
I'm not a boiler expert so I don't know for sure.
But my understanding is the hot water when switched off will just sit in the pipe, whereas if you're continuously drawing more water from the mains by running a tap or shower then that water needs heating up.
FlatCapNorthumbrian@reddit
I use World of Books and Music Magpie a lot for books, cd’s, DVD’s. Save an absolute fortune on there.
MedicineOdd3620@reddit
Window online shopping...
Eastern-Leopard-2866@reddit
Haha yes i do this too!!
fallen_angel_81@reddit
Same! I have adhd and impulse buying used to be my downfall. Now I just browse and add things to my basket and log off. I still get the dopamine boost of online shopping but only buy what I actually need now. I never felt happy when the parcels arrived anyway, I actually felt guilty for buying more crap I don’t need.
starsandshards@reddit
I create wishlists per room and add the items I think I "need" (you know how the ADHD craves the dopamine from a purchase), and then leave it for a bit. If I still NEED the item around payday, I'll have a look and see if I can get it.
skewiffcorn@reddit
Vinted is my absolute favourite for this. Hours of scrolling looking at clothes and saving them but rarely ever actually buying! It gets me excited enough. And often if I come across a cheap enough deal I will actually purchase. eg on Friday I found a £2 care bear top in perfect condition and I had free postage too - no brainer!
StrategyKindly4024@reddit
I do this too!!
BrownRice92@reddit
Cut my own hair ... Happened when we went into lockdown and I thought I can do that so with YouTube videos and lots of practice and hats ... I can safely say I'm a professional at doing my own hair takes me around 20/30 mins to do and It has saved me a fortune considering haircuts nowadays are like £25 which is insane
ThrowRA_peevedparent@reddit
I buy shopping vouchers off top cash back. 2-3% back from Asda, Morrisons, Tesco etc 4% just eat, 9% on Starbucks… it all adds up and I then put the money earned into vouchers and the money goes up again.
I also use it for insurance, utilities and online purchases normally through the app too. Earned £300 so far this year.
ikkleginge55@reddit
I work away with work alot. If we are being put up in a hotel I take my own empty shower gel, handsoap, and shampoo bottles and fill them from the in room supplies. To make it quicker I have worked out how to undo the anti tamper premierinn dispensers.
catnipbanana1@reddit
I use washing up liquid diluted with water in a spray bottle and white vinegar as my general cleaners.
This also is my preference as I don't like artificial scents.
tombham@reddit
I bidet when the brown otters arrive and are keen to go on the poo poo slide.
OhNoXo@reddit
That was upsetting to read
Puzzled-Job9556@reddit
How old are you?
Skate_beard@reddit
Owning my cars outright
Commercial-Lab-4754@reddit
This
Solid_Contact6529@reddit
Cloth sanitary pads. Saves a fortune, better for the environment, more comfortable. Total win.
BasisOk4268@reddit
Styled my hair long since I was 8 because I hated having to go to the hair dressers. Saves me loads of money. I know blokes that pay £15 a week at the barbers. I pay £30 a year.
Aly_Valley@reddit
I've been buying "around the house/ day to day" staples from Lidl
Bought thermal long sleeve tops the last 2 years £3-£4 each
Had a SUP wetsuit reduced for £10
Got my eyes on the cotton shorts in this week's mag for £3.50 !
38F
lucyloochi@reddit
I buy all my clothes, except under wear and shoes from ebay. I can buy well known brands for a fraction of the price.
rcloves@reddit
I have bletheritis and need to use eye wipes twice a day. These don't come on prescription and are quite expensive. About a year ago I began to cut the wipes into quarters (thet bigger than thy need to be), use one, put the other three pack in the foil package. Rinse and repeat.
thelonelyalien98@reddit
British Gas have half price electricity on Sundays between 11-4pm so I usually get 2 lots of washing done in that time.
random_username_96@reddit
Adding water to the last of a bottle of washing up liquid, handwash, shampoo, conditioner, etc. Ensures I get every last drop out, even if it's diluted, before moving on to the next one (but I also buy washing up liquid in those bulk 5L containers and so only ever need to top up like once a year, if that!).
Haven't used kitchen roll for years, I just use cloths, less of a frugal thing and more an environmental thing that one. And I'm not secretly proud, it's something loads of households I know do, to the point I'm usually surprised to see kitchen roll in a kitchen!
I also buy a lot of clothing, homeware and furniture second hand, even electronics. I just don't see the point in buying new when the item already exists, and the quality of most items has gone way downhill. Obvious exceptions include things like pants and socks, or when I simply can't find the thing I want/need secondhand.
atzucac_fill@reddit
Cut our tarot cards, but I saw this coming
skewiffcorn@reddit
In true frugal style if you have a pack of playing cards in the house you can use them to do minor arcana tarot readings
Puzzled-Job9556@reddit
This thread is mind blowing. The collective denial of enjoyment to save literal pennies is quite sad.
OrangeBanana300@reddit
I started making this home-made deodorant years ago. It started as an eco-friendly thing (my husband used to get through a spray can about once a month so I was thinking about the carbon footprint) but ended up saving money both on buying deodorant and on laundry because we literally don't need to wash tops and shirts so often, it's surprising. https://simplegreensmoothies.com/homemade-deodorant/#wprm-recipe-container-28998
ronsgingerpubes@reddit
Do you have to do the oils? I'm struggling to find a deodorant i can use as I've gor really sensitive underarms and can't tolerate strong smells.
OrangeBanana300@reddit
I've never tried it without, but you could give it a go, or use less oil than in the recipe. The bicarbonate of soda (American recipe calls it baking soda) can sometimes be irritating to sensitive skin though.
EyeAlternative1664@reddit
I live in London but have never bought a coffee or other hot drink in my life.
Pristine_Winter_5513@reddit
I take blue roll and bin liners from my workplace
skibbin@reddit
I brew my own beer. Frugality is my story and I'm sticking to it.
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
You have a whole garage setup? I brew cider and wine, way easier wish i knew how to do beer easily without kits
skibbin@reddit
I mostly brew traditional English ales, which are simple in terms of getting something drinkable.
Put grain in a bag and soak it in warm water. Pull out bag and let it drip nearly dry. Put grain water on the stove and boil for a while. Add some hops, continue to boil. Add more hops and let it cool to room temperature. Sprinkle in yeast and ferment for a few weeks. Bottle.
There is a thousand different things you could do to fine tune the process at each step, temperature, duration, ratios, grains, hops, yeasts, etc. But ultimately the basic process is the same and actually pretty forgiving.
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
Definitely something thatly have to wait until i get a full sized garage or shed it seems.. just a few batches of cider takes a tonne of space i do 2 x 5 gallon buckets at once
Realistic-Muffin-165@reddit
I started off in a one bedroom flat.
Pretty much have the same kit now only its brewed in the garage.
skibbin@reddit
My operation is a bit bigger these days but I started in a small kitchen in a London flat. a 5 gallon bucket, a 3-4 gallon stove pot and another 5 gallon bucket to ferment is enough
Budget_Zombie4078@reddit
I take teabags on holiday abroad. Saves buying a full box when you're away just to leave them behind, and my own tea tastes so much better!
Outrageous_Song4725@reddit
One step up from saving gift bags, I have a massive bag of ribbons ive saved from presents over the years so I never need to buy more.
ImnotUK@reddit
I pour dish washing liquid into a hand soap pump bottle. Now instead of soaking the sponge with liquid I only use half a pump and 99% of the time it's enough to do a load of dishes. We maybe buy dish washing liquid once a year, when before we'd buy it every couple months.
bourton-north@reddit
Decanting the old fairy liquid into the new fairy liquid bottle to make sure I keep every last drop before the bottle gets recycled.
Aggressive-Salt-1667@reddit
I always look for vouchers/discount codes for non essentials like days out, cinema tickets or going out to eat.
Buy in bulk when things we use alot of go on sale.
Always check the reduced isle in the supermarket.
Plan meals around what is in the freezer/cupboards.
Only eat meat a few days a week to save on cost.
Buy most of my clothes apart from underwear and shoes from the charity shop.
Buy books second hand, wait for deals or swap them with friends.
If I see a gift I know someone will love when it is on offer, pick it up and put it away for their birthday or Christmas.
Take a pack up when going for a day out to save on food.
I am also very open about being on a budget and if I can't do something I will happily tell my family and friends 'that isn't in my budget right now'. Many people feel embarrassed to vocalise when they can't afford something, I haven't had a negative response from anyone.
SweetiePeteetie@reddit
Going out for work drinks usually means getting food aswell. I usually make a roll and sausage (or two) and put them in my hand bag and take them with me. Lessons were learned the first time though as I wrapped them in foil and it stunk my bag out so I use a zip lock bag now.
NightBusToGiro@reddit
I use dvds instead of streaming services.
Oh and I wipe my bum with my hand...
0-starlight-0@reddit
Please don't waste any money on cutlery, eat with your hands
pingusaysnoot@reddit
It's okay as long as you don't sniff it
NightBusToGiro@reddit
I like the smell of an unwrapped dvd that's never been opened
blackmanchubwow@reddit
Woahhh there, you just casually dropped that.
You don’t surf the high seas but use DVDs?
tofer85@reddit
My butler takes care of mine for me…
Brief-Ship-5572@reddit
Powdered milk
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
Surviving soley off amazon.. eg: huge bulk purchases of rice pasta beans soy sauce ect ect everything shelf stable and long lasting.. i spend like nothing at all on food over time and when i really want something specific all i need is a meat because ive got years worth of everything else
ParkingTradition799@reddit
Nation wide have a save it button. Love it!! Everutime I save it makes me joyful
Sad_Interaction_2933@reddit
Turning my shower to half power in the summer when the incoming water is warmer. Proud because I got all nerdy figuring it out and helped a few friends and family. Saves a few pennies!
Lot of electric showers have two power settings, corresponding to the number of heating elements turned on. Then you have your temperature dial, which actually just controls the flow of water: hotter means closing off the water a bit so less is coming through and the water spends more time passing over the heating elements.
Most people I’ve spoken to had the power on 2/max without ever changing it. In the summer you might find you have to turn the temperature dial down, because the incoming mains water is warmer. Turning it down increases the flow (uses more water) which might give a nice pressure boost. However, based on your preference there may come a point where, instead of having all heating elements on and then using more water just to ensure the water doesn’t spend as much time on them, you could turn the power down and the flow down too. Now you’re using less energy and less water. It’s harder to do this in winter because the incoming water is so cold, to heat it up would require slowing the flow down so much that your pressure would be crap. Or you might not even be able to slow down the flow enough. YMMV based on the power of your electric shower, mains pressure, tolerance of low pressure etc.
BlackStarDream@reddit
I eat/drink soup at room temp so I don't have to use electricity heating it up and can have it straight out the container for lunch at half to a third the price of a pre-made sandwich.
Most soups taste just as good if not better this way once you get used to it.
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
I have a really hard time believing that
But then I di sometimes do the same thing to tinned spaghetti and tinned beef ravioli
This is surely something you conceal from others?
BlackStarDream@reddit
Have you seen the way people react when you tell or show them you don't eat warm soup?
VarangianWRLD@reddit (OP)
It's not something I advertise
outlawsmokeyscottish@reddit
Being Scottish. As much money I can avoid inland revenue. Maybe I'll be al caponed maybe I'll finally get 3 meals a day. I don't pay them and I get rewards. Is what it is.
Next-Ad1957@reddit
Saying 'no' to my partner
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