Money saving tips

Cooking

If you have a microwave it is most likely cheaper to use than your oven. Slow cookers are the most cost effective way to cook. You can make curries, casseroles and soups. They cook slowly during the day ready for a meal in the evening. You can freeze leftovers in recycled takeaway containers.

Food

‘Best before’ dates concern the quality of a food item and not its safety. Use common sense - if the food looks and smells okay to eat it almost certainly is. Don’t throw it away if its’s still edible.

Ever found out of date food in the back of your cupboards?

Rearrange your cupboards and fridge so that items that need eating first are at the front. That way food won’t get wasted.

Medication

If you pay for prescriptions and have more than one a month you will save money with an NHS prepayment certificate. You can find an application form here or most larger pharmacies have application forms. You can pay by monthly direct debit.

Did you know that many branded medicines have the same active ingredients as non-branded ones at a fraction of the price? You can check the list of active ingredients on the packet. There is a PL number printed on all medication packs. Identical PL numbers mean identical medication, even if they are in different packaging and different prices.

Keeping Clean!

Soap bars are often cheaper and last longer than shower gel. Buying soap as an alternative to shower gel also cuts down on plastic, so it’s a win for the environment too. We always have a supply of soap on the hygiene stall at the community larder.

Tunbridge Wells repair café

Replacing broken household items can be expensive. In Tunbridge Wells we are fortunate enough to have a repair café that takes place at the Trinity Centre. You can take broken items for possible repair. They have repair stations for: electrical, mechanical, textiles, bikes, IT, jewellery and wooden furniture. Find more details including dates at http://www.tunbridgewellsrepaircafe.co.uk

WikiHow

The website wikihow.com has tips regarding do-it-yourself repairing, cleaning, making and lots more. Check it out before you throw something away or pay for a repair. The solution might be simpler than you think.

Quit smoking!

Hard to do in stressful times, but by quitting smoking you can save £100s per year and improve your health. Refer yourself for free to OneYou Kent for NHS support and advice on how to manage this.

Takeaway hot drinks?

Did you know that Pret, Starbucks, Greggs, M&S and many independent cafes give a discount if you use your own reusable cup when buying their hot drinks?