Muriel Newman: Frugal tips

It’s been a little while since we shared the best of the money saving tips being sent in by the oily rag community. So we have dug deep into our mail bags are come up with these goodies:

Lisa from Lower Hutt, says you don’t need to own everything you use. “Things like drills, tents, lawnmowers, you only use occasionally. You can borrow stuff you use infrequently from family or neighbours. I recently borrowed a power drill from my neighbour to build a raised garden, and will repay him with vegetables. Toy or tool libraries or book libraries let you borrow stuff for little if any money. www.hirethings.co.nz lets ordinary people hire out things they use infrequently to other people safely and easily.”

Giblet from Wellsford has a tip for winter flu. “A very bad sore throat can sometimes be stopped in its tracks by chewing garlic and gargling the mash with water. It 'burns' the tongue a bit, but works. Garlic [the smelly bit] is equivalent to a particular big name antibiotic for some diseases.”

Julia from Nelson searches out old community cook books at garage sales. She says they usually contain tried and true recipes that have been family favourites and are great low cost everyday recipes.

M.H. from Christchurch says frozen ripe bananas are great for muffins and banana loaf. “They can be frozen in their skins (as is) and just defrosted prior to use. I microwave them for a minute before I use them.”

“Anyone who buys the dozen pack of eggs, should just have a quick look at the price of the 1/2 dozen pack, as I always find you can save anywhere between 2cents and 20cents by buying two of the 1/2 dozen packs instead of one dozen pack”. - M.M., Auckland.

Rocky from Napier has a gardening tip. “I grow silver beet, but can’t eat it all before it goes to seed. Now I just pick and chop up and freezing in bags works nicely. Bags can also be reused. When I cook I just put the frozen silver beet in.”

Nora from Rangiora has a magic oven cleaning recipe. “In a roasting dish put 3 tbsp ammonia, 3 tbsp washing powder and then fill with 2 litres of boiling water. Place in the oven, block all vents and leave overnight. Switch oven off at the wall. Next day use the water to wipe out the oven and clean the racks. So easy and baked on gunk comes off with very little effort.”

M.W.G., Hastings collects loyalty shopping cards. “Use loyalty cards especially ones that don't have an end date. It might take a couple of years to fill your card, but it's worth it at the end. Paper Plus have cards for books, for greeting cards; (buy 9 get the 10th one free); many cafes do; Plastic Box does, many beauticians etc. You have to spend money to take advantage, but if you have to spend, you'll do it at the place that stamps your card!”

Jaycee from Kawerau says, “Watch for ‘Use today’ meat specials, often half the normal price, and freeze for future use. Towards the end of the week meat that is already on special becomes an especially good buy.”

Bella from Auckland writes, “When you’re going to the supermarket for midweek top up shopping use the basket instead of a trolley. It saves time, makes you think what you really need and saves you money. If you have young children sit them in the supermarket trolley as this will reduce space and help you buy less!”

M.M from Waitakere City gets free firewood from the local tip on the concourse: “They say you can go in and fill your car up with as much wood as you want”.

Many thanks to everyone for sending in their tips - if you have some favourite money-saving ideas, why not share them with others by visiting the oily rag website (www.oilyrag.co.nz) or by writig to Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag, PO Box 984, Whangarei.

* Frank and Muriel Newman are the authors of Living Off the Smell of an Oily Rag in NZ. Readers can submit their oily rag tips on-line at www.oilyrag.co.nz. The book is available from bookstores and online at www.oilyrag.co.nz.

© Scoop Media