Today I saved money by...

[ajs88]

I know that a lot of people on here have experienced a big reduction in income or are anticipating it, myself included, and that theres a lot of enthusiasm for the existing threads on living on less but thought that it might be nice to give specific examples, small (or big) things that are easy to adopt but add up to make a difference. I use to like the numbered thread we use to have to thought I start one with what I've done today...

1. Making 'washing up spray', two big squirts of washing up liquid in a spray bottle filled with water, when washing up spray the sponge instead of a using a whole squirt

2. Using my own facial scrub which I made without buying anything, muscovado sugar and olive oil with a little essential oil

3. Sewing up the tears on the inside of my jeans from where the fabric is wearing out

[green_pea]

4. Knitting a sock, I now have a pair!
5. Manually whittling away the rust on our camper and painting it, rather than taking it to get done professionally. Much more fun..
6. Ate food from the garden.

[midi]

Made anti puncture material for inside my new cycle tyres, and for my bike trailer. I used some strips of a heavy garden waste bag (which I also got for free!) and silver metal duct tape (free, left over from a job a few years ago) The proper "strips" in my local bike shop are £10. 50 for a box which does two inner tubes; I've just fitted out four tyres for nothing. M.

[Milims]

8 I made the decision not to shop for anythingbu rice, milk, tomatoes and perhaps coffee for the next month - there is more than enough food in this house!

[Green Aura]

Mine's possibly a strange one - we've just bought a van! £2k.

As many of you know we've just bought a house for our daughter which requires totally renovating. The quote we've had - mainly for dry-lining comes in at about 18 grand, without materials (not to mention electrics or plumbing)! That bit we can do ourselves but getting materials up here is extortionate. We reckon the van should pay for itself over 2-3 trips to Inverness (carefully combined with the monthly grocery shopping) as we'll be able to bring everything we need.

And I've got a new toy to play with

Now we just need a plumber - anyone available?

[snapdragon]

:D @ GreenAura

10, making wool yarn for socks and sweaters, sheep freely gave the wool (ok I believe a little struggle was involved- but no cost)
11, making jeans go for longer using patches made from swatches disposed of by local manufacturer

[ajs88]

Loving the list so far

12. Going to S@insburys late last night and stocking up on their nice burgers and sausages for 1.00 a pack and ciabbatta and rolls for 40p a pack
13. OH finialy getting the hang of late night bargin hunting
14. And then bribing him to have only one burger in return for a slice of bacon which we already had

[Flo]

Coming home from the allotment before the ice cream van arrived. I heard the chimes in the distance so got on the bus well before he was due at the gate.

[greenorelse]

15 Closed down bank account. OK, this is not exactly 'saving' money but now I decide which day to pay bills, rather than on a fixed date.

Oh, and it wasn't really a bank - it was a building society that our government decided to 'demutualise'. So, feck 'em. I'll keep my money on me.

No more tearing around trying to find an ATM that works, so maybe that's a saving!

[wabbit955]

swopped elderberrys in work for sugar i need to make my elderberry jam
eat from me garden
picked apples from the old field
nicked mulberries from a friend with a promise to give him a jar of jam

[Nomada]

Pickling a load of beetroots. Pretty chioggas again. Pickled sliced roots and stems and shredded and froze the leaves to use as spinach sub in a stew. Bought a load of reduced to clear stuff at a co-op on way home from lottie the other night. That's gone in the freezer for later use.

[RuthG]

...not going shopping at all and using what I already have in stock.

[Flo]

.... buying a pair of cords for gardening which were too long off the sale rack and turning them up myself. Just a tenner for half an hour's work (could probably have done it faster but it's sodden outside and there's no pressing work inside).

[snapdragon]

.... buying a pair of cords for gardening which were too long off the sale rack and turning them up myself. Just a tenner for half an hour's work (could probably have done it faster but it's sodden outside and there's no pressing work inside).

if you had to turn up a lot - you could cut it off and stitch it inside the knees and leave a gap to slot in some padding for kneeling - or just as a ready-in-place patch

[Thomzo]

.... buying a pair of cords for gardening which were too long.

I don't understand, how can trousers be too long?

[Sorry mini rant from someone who's 5' 10" at a time when all clothing manufacturers are cutting their costs by cutting down on the 'extra-long' sizing].

Good for you anyway.

Zoe