The Thrifty 50

From couch sufing to dumping your TV, get rich quick with our ultimate guide to penny pinching...

Entertainment

1. Dump your television – and therefore your license fee – and watch online. Laptops play DVDs and the BBC now puts up episodes of shows such as The Mighty Boosh on its website for a few days after it’s shown on terrestrial.

2. If you missed buying tickets for a then sold-out gig, swerve the ticket touts and check out the website Scarlet Mist. Fans sell on unwanted tickets at cost price rather than putting them on eBay to make a profit. The site does not charge but encourages buyers to make a small donation to charity instead with the money they have saved.

3. Buy Nintendo DS and other games at a second-hand games shop. Saving, accounting for one game per month: £200-plus a year. Even if you buy them new at a supermarket, you'll still save up to £10 per game.

4. For film buffs, the Orange 2 for 1 Wednesday cinema tickets are a must. However, according to Martin Lewis, of MoneySavingExpert.com, you don’t need to be on an Orange contract to take advantage. Simply buy an Orange SIM card. Also, take your own drinks and snacks. Cinemas do not encourage this but they have yet to employ stop and search tactics so it’s a good way to reduce costs.

5. Join your local library, not only can you borrow books for free, often it will have music and films to rent at a reduced rate to the local video store or online supplier.

6. Broaden the way you socialise. Instead of going for the obvious, and potentially pricey, entertainment check out your local council’s website to find out what events it’s organising. Also museums and art galleries often organise free events and talks that can be a lot more fun than you think and a way to meet new people.

Beauty & Fitness

7. It sounds like a bathroom disaster waiting to happen but making your own beauty treatments can actually work and be a lot more fun. First, make sure the ingredients needed for the treatments work out cheaper than shop bought products. Good examples are using coffee sediment as a body scrub and milk as a cleanser – the model Marie Helvin swears by it. The Spa Index website has plenty of recipes.

8. Get free cosmetics. Ayton Online Research recruits volunteers to trial new ranges before they hit the shops. The products have already been declared safe, and are not tested on animals; the companies just want consumer feedback before launch.

9. Make lipstick go further by using a lip brush - not only does it last longer because you apply thinner and more even layers, but also you can get right down to the bottom of the lipstick containers.

10. Don’t throw away nail varnish just because it’s got a bit clotted, simply immerse the bottle up to its neck in a cup full of nearly boiling water for a few minutes, this will make the varnish runny again. And nail varnish is very handy if you get a run in your tights. If the run has not reached the knee yet, then paint over the very top of it and that will stop it ripping any further.

11. People tend to throw away bottles and tubes of expensive products because they think they can’t squeeze any more out. However, if you cut open the bottom with a clean Stanley knife there’s normally enough left for a few more applications.

12. Instead of buying chapsticks, the lanolin normally used for cracked nipples is a good substitute and costs £9.95 for a 56-gram tube. Put it on at night before going to bed and wake up with lovely smooth lips, but you can also decant small amounts into re-usable, travel size containers for use instead of lip balm.

13. Get over your vanity and stop using contact lenses. Wearing glasses saves money on solutions for permanent lenses, but also prevents big bills for disposable ones – a year’s supply of lenses can cost up to £300. Get in one month’s supply of disposable lenses for those special occasions when you don’t want to wear specs.

14. Chuck the gym subscription and get outdoors by joining the Ramblers, or volunteering for environmental projects.

Clothing

15. Before throwing away what at first appear to be worn or broken shoes, take them to a cobblers and see if they can be rescued. A good quality pair of leather shoes can often be re-soled for under £10.

16. Don’t buy clothes that can only be dry cleaned, check the label before you purchase as it’s a waste of money buying a £50 dress that will cost £8 each time it needs cleaning. Also, check that the clothes you are sending to the dry cleaners really do need that service.

17. Get a free wardrobe by organising clothes swap parties, or if you do not fancy the idea of hosting a party go online to the website What’s Mine is Yours. There’s a good mix of vintage items, designer and high street brands that the owner is bored of, as well as plenty of accessories.

18. When it comes to trainers, if your feet are size five or below check the children’s section of sportswear shops. Often they have the same designs, but VAT free, making them cheaper. For the smaller framed, children’s sections are also good for basics including plain t-shirts, socks and tights.

Food

19. Learn how to cook in bulk, therefore cutting out expensive ready meals. A Thai chicken curry with at least four servings can cost as little as £5 to make. Freeze the other three servings for later use. The same goes for stews, chillies and pasta sauces, all cheap to make in bulk quantities that can then be frozen in individual portions.

20. The obvious one, but worth repeating, is to bring your own sandwiches to work. Even a plain cheese sandwich from a supermarket can cost £1.50, for 50p more you can make a week’s worth.

21. Don’t be afraid of the money off shelf in supermarkets - buy fresh food, meat or fish near it's expiry date at a reduced price, then freeze it.

22. For basic food items, such as tinned tomatoes, kidney beans, rice, pasta etc, buy non-branded. There’s very little in the taste when mixed into a curry or chilli.

23. Watch out for Buy One Get One Free deals on non-perishable goods like toothpaste, toilet rolls and stock up as much as you can, budget permitting. This is especially cost effective for the average family who will get through many of these items in one month.

24. Get a teapot! When making a round of tea instead of putting a tea bag into each cup put two in a pot and let it brew for five minutes. The tea will be just as strong as if you had used one bag per cup.

25. Grow your own food. You don’t need an allotment to grow a few staple vegetables and herbs, just enough outside space to house some reasonably sized planters.

26. If you do buy fresh herbs and find it hard to get through a whole bunch, instead of throwing what’s left away make frozen stock cubes. Finely chop the herbs, put them in an ice cube tray and cover with oil. Put the tray in the freezer. When frozen, pop out the cubes and place them in a freezer bag for easier storage. Next time you need herbs for soups; pastas, etc. add a cube to your recipe and warm.

27. Last night’s meal can make a great tomorrow’s lunch by using the left over vegetables as ingredients. The Frugal Cook and Teri’s Kitchen both provide some excellent recipes.

28. Shoppers are often dismissive of money off coupons, but even if they wipe just £2 off the weekly shop, over a few months you will have saved enough to pay a bill.

29. Make the effort to find a green grocers or market to buy fruit and vegetables from rather than supermarkets - it can be up to 50 per cent cheaper and it doesn’t come in loads of unnecessary packaging.

30. Using pans with lids reduces cooking time, therefore reduces energy consumption. Also, turn the gas/electricity off ten minutes before you normally would, the heat from the stovetop will finish off cooking the food.

31. Instead of buying special freezer bags – simply re-use the plastic bags that bread or fruit come in. The same goes for Tupperware – just wash out the plastic pots that formerly housed soup, yogurt etc.

Transport & holidays

32. The most economical, and environmentally friendly, form of transport is a bike. But, if you can’t or are unwilling to give up your car then learn the basics about engines, so you don’t waste money taking it to the garage to have sparkplugs changed. Also, keep the tyres in good condition as this helps reduce fuel consumption.

33. When taking your car for an MOT use a local council test centre rather than a private garage. The council centres do not offer repairs and therefore have no vested interest in failing your motor. Contact your local council for details of your nearest centre.

34. If you use public transport to travel to work check if you’re employer runs a season ticket loan scheme. Often you can borrow the lump sum needed for a season ticket, with repayments coming out of your salary with no interest charged.

35. Making your own sandwiches and flasks of hot drinks for train journeys is the best way to save money when travelling, but should you forget or not have time then the next best thing is to apply for a Bite card which gives a 20 per cent discount on food bought at stations.

36. Be a bit more adventurous with your holidays and save money at the same time. Instead of booking a hotel, sign up to a hospitality exchange websites, such as CouchSurfing.com and HospitalityClub.org, that allow members to offer a few nights accommodation on a spare bed or sofa. All users have a profile page stating what they can offer and when, with information on themselves and comments – de facto references – from other members.

37. See if upgrading your bank account can help cancel out the cost of travel insurance. Many of the big banks encourage customers to upgrade, at a small charge, by offering incentives such as free holiday and mobile phone insurance, as well as discounts on theatre and gig tickets. For example, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Royalties Gold account costs £12 per month but included is free annual travel insurance for customers and their partners, mobile phone insurance, ticket discounts, holiday and flight discounts and id theft cover.

General Expenses

38. Get cashback on your internet purchases through the website Quidco. It gives between 5 and 20 per cent back on every transaction you make through its site, and if you’re making big purchases like car insurance, it does add up.

39. Check whether it’s cheaper to buy medicine over the counter rather than putting in a prescription. Many commonly prescribed medications, including painkillers, allergy tablets and dermatology creams, are also available over the counter without prescription. Often it's much cheaper just to buy them this way, rather than paying the £6.85 flat prescription charge.

40. Cut down on the number of magazines you buy by organising a magazine share with work colleagues. Everyone agrees to buy one favourite title each month, and when finished with brought in for others to read. This also works with books.

41. Get a piggy bank for all your 1, 2 and 5p pieces. If ever you get any in your change, when you empty out your pockets automatically put the shrapnel in there. Amazing how quickly they add up and many supermarkets have change machines that will swap the coins for notes for a small charge.

42. Re-gifting is a good way to pass on an unwanted present and save cash. Next time you’re given a gift that is not to your taste, simply smile, say thank you and store it in a cupboard. It may seem mean, but it’s better to hand the item to someone else (obviously not in the same friendship group or family) then leave it gathering dust.

43. Trade your skills. Need a bit of plastering done but don’t want to pay out large amounts of cash? Well find out if there’s a plasterer who needs your skills and swap jobs. The website Team Up Here is a good way to network.

44. The idea of swapping skills is a good one to apply to weddings. Instead of asking for presents, ask friends and family to contribute their time or talent by helping to organise elements of the wedding. For example, instead of ordering expensive table decorations and party favourites, get friends to assemble them. Are any of your friends in a band, or can DJ? Then get them to be the entertainment. It can even be as simple as asking people to bring a cake with them so that you don’t have to provide desert.

45. Use common sense when using a credit card – would it be cheaper to pay for the item with cash? Credit cards can be useful for big purchases that you can’t afford to pay for in one go, but do you really need to put a £20 pair of shoes on a card? By putting many smallish items on a card, soon it amounts to a big bill for which you are then charged interest.

Home

46. When it comes to energy bills, you can save a surprising amount by insulating your loft, using energy saving lightbulbs and putting down draught excluders. Look at the Energy Saving Trust's website.

47. Before buying a new sofa or bed frame, check out the second-hand options. There’s the free cycle website but also seek out charity shops that sell furniture and salvage yards for building materials.

48. Think about where you’re renting. These days many homeowners are looking to rent a spare room to help with the mortgage and it can work out cheaper than going through an agency. Also, consider the different types of accommodation on offer. Going for the popular Victorian conversion will mean you pay a premium price. However, if you are more flexible, renting a room on a canal boat, in a former council property or accommodation above a shop, can help reduce costs.

49. If you do have a spare room, want some spare cash but don’t want a lodger under your feet then take a look at the Monday to Friday renting agency. The agency specialises in matching homeowners with lodgers who only need a bed during the week.

50. Save money on computer software by going through the OpenOffice website rather than purchasing Microsoft’s version. Open Office is a free, professional open-source downloadable office suite of programs, including writer, calc, impress, draw and base, which are the equivalents of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Paint and Access. And it is all compatible with documents written and drawn up with the main Microsoft Office programs.