Super scrimping ideas

[ex-member BareThrills]

There is another aspect to living cheaply - never buy things when you need them. Lets ignore the growing and making aspect - and look to the fact that most people have to buy. Don't buy coffee when you need coffe - or washing up liquid when you need that. Buy it when its cheap - and buy a lot. We buy coffee six months worth at a time. There are often offers, so we buy it when its "buy one get one free" - and we buy a couple of trays. That lasts six months. When we get low, we look for another offer. Dishwasher liquid - we bought 5 x 20 litre drums - probably two years worth - but it was less than a quarter of the price per litre of a single supermarket bottle. It does take some storage space (but most of us have cupboards under the stairs etc. - even a small spare bedroom) - but it does save a heck of a lot of cash. This is the UK version of "couponing" as practiced in the US - don't be tempted by offers to buy things you don't normally use - but really stock up when things that are not perishable are half price or better. If you can find the space, it saves a heck of a lot of money. Start small, re-invest the savings. Use catering firms, bulk suppliers etc. I buy all my herbs and spices from catering and wholesale outlets. I can get between 10 and 50 times as much spices than supermarket packets for the same price. Buy whole spices - not ground - and grind as needed - it stays fresher that way.

This is no different than any other investment - any stock trader will tell you to buy and sell shares when the conditions are right - not when you need the money. So shop when the conditions are right - not when you need the product. Shopping for consumables is one of the major expenses in a household - so use some savvy

Couldnt agree more Red, another thing ive noticed is how much can be saved by buying loose items instead of packaged.

example from todays tesco prices

Quaker oats so simple original 12 x 27g packets = £2.29 or 71p per 100g

Quaker porridge oats 1kg = £1.99 or 20p per 100g

The same goes for fruit and veg if shop bought. If someone has to wash it and wrap in plastic then it will normally be 50% more on your bill.

 

[British Red]

The same goes for fruit and veg if shop bought. If someone has to wash it and wrap in plastic then it will normally be 50% more on your bill.

Spot on....and they decide how much you want !

Markets are a real bargain. Hit the fruit & veg market an hour before they close up for the weekend. I have had some amazing bargains - a tray of a dozen pineapples for a quid for example. Anythings better than binning it for the seller if it won't make it to the next week. Keep an eye out for staples you use a lot - onions, garlic, tomatoes, chillis - then cook a big batch of sauce (chilli, spaghetti, sweet and sour - whatever you like). Freeze in portions at a quarter of the normal price. Fruit can be cooked, dehydrated, made into pies and crumbles - be an opportunist!

 

[Bowlander]

Excellent thread, after a £500 vets bill this month we're on an economy drive!

 

[ebt.]

Not much to add that hasnt already been said. Most of mine are food based (no surprise to the scales there);

- cook up a gammon at the start of the week. You get to slice lovely juicy ham for sarnies at a fraction of the price of bought sliced ham and the stock makes an amazing minestrone or london soup.
- Asian food is stupidly cheap, tasty and healthy if you make it at home. Im a big thai/vietnamese fan, but indian rocks too!
- bulk cook and freeze staples.... chillis/stews etc.
- plant your garden up with herbs..... cheap as chips and livens up any meal (eg thyme, mint, rosemary, sage)
- Im another one for bulk buying spices, but get them from asian shops at a fraction of the cost.... dont buy too much at once (they lose taste)

Im not going near anything gear related, the sharpaholics will lynch me

 

[BeerHunter]

ebt's post reminded me of something. We eat a lot of chick peas. In our local supermarket, they offer two types in the tinned goods aisle (with the baked beans, tinned veg. etc etc). However, if you go in to the next ailse along ("world foods"), there's a 3rd type, cheaper than the other two.

Only noticed this recently, and I can't discern any difference in taste, only the price. I imagine the same would be true of a variety of items.

 

[British Red]

If you have them, hit up the local Punjabi, Gujrati, Cantonese etc. shops. Some of thier supplies of lentils, beans, rice, chick peas etc. put the main chain supermakets in the shade

 

[clabby]

the biggest saving for me is telling my mum i want it lol but on a serious note my missis handles the money and will go around comparing prices and deals etc etc and wonder why i get sh*tty about spending hours in a supermarket but always amazes me how much she saves plus for the leather crafters a good tip i have to get some free materials is to go into sofa specalists and ask if they have any old or discontinued sample books you could have and 9/10 they will give you them ideal for possible pouches and what not i made that mistake at dfs and they gave me 8 books each with about 20 samples around 20x15 cm ish

 

[g4ghb]

If you can walk it leave the car at home. Good for your health as well as your pocket

 

[abominable_scouse_monster]

If you have them, hit up the local Punjabi, Gujrati, Cantonese etc. shops. Some of thier supplies of lentils, beans, rice, chick peas etc. put the main chain supermakets in the shade

Same goes for Rice, I am lucky to have 3 Chinese super markets in town and I can get a catering bag of rice (different verity) for £5 - £10

 

[Outdoordude]

Yeh I've noticed with sparkling water. If you buy with the colour lable in a 4 pack you pay like £2. If you buy it loose with the own brand stuff you get it for like 11p a bottle so that's a £1.56 saving on a 4 pack

 

[salan]

If you can walk it leave the car at home. Good for your health as well as your pocket

I work about 250 yds from my house. So WE got rid of my car and just have the one. If we could get rid of that we would but towing the caravan might be a bit difficult!
BTW we do NOT have a 4x4 or chelsea tractor, just a normal car that is only1.8l and plenty for what we need.
Alan

 

[Manacles]

If I see something I think i want to buy, I deliberately wait a month before buying it, that was if it is a purely impulse buy I lose interest while it's in the shop not in my house. It's surprising how little I actually end up buying.

 

[Manacles]

There is another aspect to living cheaply - never buy things when you need them. Lets ignore the growing and making aspect - and look to the fact that most people have to buy. Don't buy coffee when you need coffe - or washing up liquid when you need that. Buy it when its cheap - and buy a lot. We buy coffee six months worth at a time. There are often offers, so we buy it when its "buy one get one free" - and we buy a couple of trays. That lasts six months. When we get low, we look for another offer. Dishwasher liquid - we bought 5 x 20 litre drums - probably two years worth - but it was less than a quarter of the price per litre of a single supermarket bottle. It does take some storage space (but most of us have cupboards under the stairs etc. - even a small spare bedroom) - but it does save a heck of a lot of cash. This is the UK version of "couponing" as practiced in the US - don't be tempted by offers to buy things you don't normally use - but really stock up when things that are not perishable are half price or better. If you can find the space, it saves a heck of a lot of money. Start small, re-invest the savings. Use catering firms, bulk suppliers etc. I buy all my herbs and spices from catering and wholesale outlets. I can get between 10 and 50 times as much spices than supermarket packets for the same price. Buy whole spices - not ground - and grind as needed - it stays fresher that way.

This is no different than any other investment - any stock trader will tell you to buy and sell shares when the conditions are right - not when you need the money. So shop when the conditions are right - not when you need the product. Shopping for consumables is one of the major expenses in a household - so use some savvy

I'm a fan of this approach too. Sometimes it looks like we have our own version of the EU bogroll mountain as I stock right up if it's on offer. Judicious and careful use of supermarket offers can really save you a packet, 2 for 1 offers etc - but you only save on stuff you would have bought anyway.

 

[johnnytheboy]

I think first before buying something, I have one already I wont buy another without selling or wearing out the first one. That sounds abit daft but when you think about it, if you have a perfectly good stove and you want to upgrade, then flog the first one to help witht he cost of the next etc.

I am also learning allot from here, that helps me make running repairs to equipment and tools instead of getting new ones

 

[British Red]

Reds cheap tip of the day. When your kettle furs up (or the shower head) fill with the cheapes cr** vinegar you can find and leave overnight. The fur is limescale, the acid in vinegar dissolves it - brings it up like new.

 

[Thenihilist]

Due to the nature of my job I don't have to spend a penny for 6 months of the year and get paid at the same time, so that helps. Now that I don't have a house I don't have to pay rent, I was paying £58 a week to live in s house that was far too big for 1 guy, no gas or electric bills, maintenance, I don't need to spend money on filling it with stuff, don't have to pay half the taxes that come with it, no tv licence etc. I no longer smoke or drink alcohol which saves a fortune, I can barely taste anything so don't feel the need to buy nice food, I don't feel the need to impulse buy stuff because I have nowhere to put it, I have no car.

Most importantly im unable to be listen to the bull that folk trying to sell you something try to convince you that you need, I've slept out most of the past month in my 2 year old £20 sleeping bag that's seen better days under my poncho that's now mostly made of duck tape and I don't appear to be dead or in any state if discomfort.

 

[DavidJT]

Another food one... Don't buy perpackaged chicken breast fillets, buy the whole bird and learn how to joint it. Two people can have three meals; breasts, legs, & great soup made using stock from the carcass.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Well your MB Stove is a winner for a start, im the same though, i make and mend as much as i can these days, mainly because it enjoy it, not because i have to, i suppose my biggest "bushie" money saver recently, was the under quilt i made, the duck down filling came from an old duvet and the rip stop was less than a tenner and i still have a ton of rip stop left for other projects, just don't know what at the moment.

Could you give me a link to the rip-stop fabric? got ideas ...

 

[Elen Sentier]

1) Make your own booze. Its mind blowingly cheaper than buying it - most of what you spend on Beer or Wine is tax. Buy the ingredients - even in kit form - and you save 75% of the price. Get a bit cleverer and you save 95%. I just made 30 bottles or really very nice "port" for about £2.

2) Make your own toiletries and soaps. You can make stuff just as nice as Lush or Body shop for pennies

3) Make you own bread. Price it up. Flour, yeast etc. is way cheaper than shop bought bread....madly so. Plus bread smells great

.....plenty more where that came from if it helps

Red, I've forgotten how to make soap !!! Help !!!
PS - NOT using cat-fat

 

[British Red]

Here you go Elen - cat is optional

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25733