Sensibly Frugal Living

Kick start 2020 with a frugal, less is more mindset. Take on board my 50 frugal tips to help save you money, and maybe set yourself a challenge to see how much you can save in 366 days with just these small changes!

1. Meal plan. Knowing what meals you will have each night will keep your grocery bill down.
2. Pay your bills via direct debit. There is usually a small discount for customers who do this. You also know those bills are being paid and you get to relax.
3. Opt for a shower over a bath. Showering saves water. If you have children who like baths, limit baths to once a week.
4. Pre-tear toilet paper off for young children and put it in a pile where they can reach it. Encourage them to use only a few sheets. This will prevent the inevitable emptying of the toilet paper roll in one go.
5. Put a dry, fluffy towel in the dryer with your wet clothes. It will absorb some moisture and speed up drying time. ( A representative from my energy provider told me this.)
6. Have your children share baths. Young children can go in at the same time. Older children can hop in after each other.
7. Cut the bottom off of your empty tube of toothpaste. You can stick your toothbrush in the end to get at the remaining toothpaste for a few more days, making a tube go further.
8. Keep doors closed on all rooms that are heated.
9. Portion out snacks for children in advance. This prevents waste and helps lower the grocery bill.
10. Wash and dry clothes in the evening. It is cheaper to run your machines at night.
11. Don’t heat hallways or corridors. Only heat the rooms you spend time in.
12. Walk whenever you can to save on fuel. Saving money and improving you health, who can complain?
13. Once your light bulbs have burned out, replace them with energy efficient ones.
14. When your laundry detergent and softener has run out, fill the bottle with a little bit of water and place it in the drum with your washing. This ensures you use up the dregs. It also cleans the bottles ready for recycling.
15. Use lined curtains as they are thicker and help keep heat in. If you haven’t got lined curtains, peg an extra sheet or blanket up to add an extra layer.
16. Use soap over shower gel. It does the same job and lasts longer.
17. If it is safe to do so, leave the oven door open once you have switched it off. Don’t waste that heat.
18. Invest in herbs and spices. It works out cheaper to make your own sauces and mixes than to buy the packaged ones.
19. Rotate the stock in your pantry and food cupboards to avoid waste. Use up anything that is close to it’s use by date.
20. Have meat free days/ weekends. Meat can be the most expensive part of a meal.
21. Freeze leftovers, cooked or uncooked. Check guidelines for this.
22. Keep old, mail envelopes to use as note paper.
23. Take advantage of you grocery store’s club cards and loyalty cards. You can receive points for spending, and those points get turned into in-store vouchers.
24. Choose one TV service and stick with it. If you watch more Sky TV than Netflix, cancel your Netflix account.
25. Ensure all family members turn off the lights when they leave a room.
26. Save all loose, small change in a pot. Count it up at the end of the year and change it up in a bank.
27. Always take reusable bags when you go grocery shopping. In the UK, customers are charged 10p per bag.
28. Hang your clothes to air dry where possible. An outdoor washing line on a dry day is perfect.
29. Have your heating on low. You only need to warm your house to take the chill off. If it is a particularly cold day, wear a few more layers.
30. Store food correctly to prevent waste. Air tight containers for dry items, bread, and cereals etc will help the food stay fresh for longer. Use the correct freezing containers/ bags to prevent freezer burn. Always label with the date of freezing.
31. Turn old or damaged towels, clothes, and sheets into cleaning rags.
32. Slow cookers are great for cooking from scratch and are energy efficient.
33. Keep the mindset that ‘used is perfectly good too’. Always look to buy second hand before buying new.
34. Wash laundry on the cooler cycles to save energy.
35. Five minute showers are adequate and cost effective. Put an egg timer in the bathroom to help kids time themselves.
36. Keep a water butt or large container in the garden to collect rain water to water your flowers.
37. If your children use wax crayons, keep the stubs, put them all into a cupcake liner, and then melt them in the oven. Once cooled, you are left with a large rainbow crayon.
38. Bulk buying food is cheaper in the long run. For example, in my local supermarket, one 500g pack of pasta is 0.50p, but the 3kg bag is £2.80.
39. Fakeaways are a great way to curb ordering in. Pick what you fancy eating and make it from scratch. Include all the fancy extras that you wouldn’t normally order to prove how much you can get for your money and make it a real treat.
40. Have set meal and snack times. This is especially important for families with children. It will stop the frequent trips to the pantry and refrigerator.
41. If you are going to eat out, try swapping dinner time for lunch time. Lunch menus are usually cheaper, and you will be less inclined to drink alcohol.
42. Ask your local store what time is best to get their reduced items. A lot of UK stores reduce the price of fresh stock between 7pm and 8pm. If suitable, buy cheap and freeze that day.
43. Remove clothes from the dryer as soon as the cycle has ended. This minimises creasing and the need to get out the iron.
44. Keep plastic tubs with fitted lids i.e. takeaway containers. These make great storage tubs for lunches and leftovers.
45. Invest in a slow flow shower head to save on water bills.
46. Drink water (not shop bought). Fizzy drinks and juices can be pricey. Get your family involved in a ‘water only month’. See how much money you save and treat yourselves with the savings.
47. Only buy supermarket generic brands. They’re cheaper, and I’ll bet you’ll be hard pushed to notice the difference.
48. Make your own gifts for birthdays and Christmas etc. Food gifts such as cookies are always appreciated.
49. Wash and re-use freezer bags (as long as they didn’t contain raw meat).
50. Buy gifts throughout the year when you come across a bargain. Store them away until you need them for a birthday or Christmas present etc.

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