As households weather the cost-of-living crisis, here are some easy-peasy ways to make your money stretch further…
ENTERTAINING ON THE CHEAP
Tightening the belt doesn’t mean your social life has to suffer. Drinks in pubs and dining out in restaurants can blow your budget. But if you’re smart, it can work out a lot cheaper to invite friends around to your house instead. Here are some simple ways to host on a shoestring…
Use cheap ingredients
Starchy foods such as potatoes, beans, lentils, and whole grains (rice, pasta, quinoa etc) are cheap. An average bag of potatoes costs about £1. And starchy foods are packed with fibre, which helps maintain a healthy weight and keep you feeling fuller for longer. One-pot meals are an easy and budget-friendly way to fill your guests’ tummies. Don’t feel you have to serve up expensive meat — veggie dishes can be a tasty and cheaper alternative.
Set up games
Charades, cards or boardgames are a great way to keep guests entertained. Or cornhole or croquet could be fun for a garden gathering. Look out for games being given away for free on websites such as Freecycle or being sold second hand online or on community Facebook pages. And don’t forget to create a playlist of songs to set the atmosphere.
Plan ahead
It can be a good idea to bulk buy all year round for special occasions such as birthdays. If you know you’ve got a special occasion coming up, look out for special deals on snacky foods such as crisps or supermarket bank holiday deals on alcohol, and stock up in advance for your special occasion. Cashback sites, such as Shopmium, are a great way to get freebies. Look out for deals on these sites to stock up on things like alcohol, snacks and soft drinks.
Jug the drink
Alcohol can be the biggest expense when entertaining. So, rather than providing lots of options, make one cocktail to serve, and ask guests to bring their own drink if they’d prefer something different.
COST-CUTTING BEAUTY HACKS
You don’t have to spend a fortune to look great. Here are some of the thriftiest beauty secrets you need to know…
Double up the usage
The right shade of lipstick could also be used as a cream blush. Or a shimmery eyeshadow could be used as a highlighter. Get creative with how you use your make-up to free up space in your make-up bag and cut back on how much you spend.
Cut open tubes
Just because nothing comes out when you press the pump, doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of product stuck at the bottom of the container. So, whether it’s foundation, moisturiser, or toothpaste, cut the tube open to make the most of every last drop. And cut face wipes in half — they should still be large enough to clean make-up off or cleanse your face.
Don’t bin what’s broken
Broken eyeshadow, blusher or compact? Why not completely crush it and put it in a jar, so you can use it with a brush as a loose powder? Fix broken lipstick by melting the broken parts together with a lighter or match, and then placing it in the fridge for an hour to seal.
Use cheaper alternatives
Don’t splash out on pricy beauty products when cheaper alternatives can be just as effective. Coconut oil can be used as a natural make-up remover. Rub the oil on to your face to break down the make-up, then use a regular cleanser. Use cheap conditioner on your legs, instead of splashing out on more expensive shaving foam. And there’s no reason you should be paying more for basics such as cotton wool, hair grips and nail files. Stock up at places such as Poundland.
ROUND-THE-HOUSE SAVINGS
It’s the pennies that make up the pounds, and here are some bad household habits that might be eating a hole in your pocket…
Kitchen
Three-quarters of British households overfill their kettle when boiling water and are wasting £68 million each year in the process, according to a report by the Energy Saving Trust. So, go easy on the kettle and only fill it with as much water as you need. Do your bit for the environment and save on bills by using your boiler, dishwater and washing machine on ‘Eco mode’. Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full to avoid wasting water and contributing unnecessarily to bills.
Living room
Get into the habit of unplugging and switching off all appliances after use. The bigger your TV screen, the more energy it will consume, with a typical LCD screen using around £50 of power every year. Many modern TVs don’t even have an off button and are left on stand-by at all times. While TVs are a lot more energy efficient than they used to be, the only way to be sure you’re not using power when the TV is not in use is to switch it off at the wall. The same applies to phone chargers, games consoles and laptops.
Bathroom
If you want to cut down on your energy bills, then think twice before running a bath. Money-saving experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk say replacing just one bath a week with a four-minute shower, can save you £12 a year. When showering, cut costs by reducing the time spent under the running water. Time yourself by playing your favourite song and aim to finish by the time the music stops. The average person in the UK showers for seven to eight minutes. If everyone in the family sticks to timing their showers, costs towards energy and heating water can be cut.
CASE STUDY
‘I’m forced to shop smarter’
‘When my electric bill rose from £102 to £152 and my gas jumped from £91 to £144, I realised I had to cut costs in every way possible and had no choice but to shop for reduced priced items in supermarkets. I’m a mum of two and I now manage to feed my family for £40 per week. ‘I cook meals at no more than £1.40 per head by picking up reduced price food and bulk buying essentials like milk and bread to freeze. I can pick up reduced mince for around £1.88, a big bag of Jersey potatoes for 90p, and carrots for 20p a bag. I batch cook and make meals stretch by bulking them up with vegetables. ‘I have four freezers and can freeze meals if I’ve made too much of something or I can get a variety of meals from one item. For example, I can make chilli con carne, spaghetti Bolognese and stew from one big pack of mince meat. ‘By shopping around for yellow sticker items, I’ve managed to get a turkey crown reduced from £40 to £1.99 and fresh chicken for £1.12. The best haul I’ve had to date was an £81 shop that came to £21 because everything was reduced. On one occasion, I bought an aubergine from a petrol station for 2p and used it to make a chunky vegetable curry. ‘As an Olio volunteer, I get to keep 10 per cent of the items I pick up from shops and local eateries and share the rest with the wider community. The increased cost of living is a struggle, but by being on the lookout for bargains, I’ve managed to make things work.’
From Stacey Simpson, 35, of Huddersfield, W Yorks
● For more budget tips and tricks, follow Stacey on social media @eating-fresh-on-a-budget