There’s a lot more to the Women’s Institute (WI) than learning to make jam while posing for nude calendars. It seems the credit crunch is making people turn to the WI for the penny-pinching tips that were second nature just a generation ago – sales of Mrs Beeton’s Book Of Household Management were up 13% in the year to April. Here are some valuable lessons The Times garnered from the WI.
• Buy new clothes that match the colours already in your wardrobe. That way you don’t have to buy more clothes to match those you’ve just bought.
• Never buy fabric softener: “It’s an unnecessary luxury.” And forget buying cleaning products: all you need is lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar.
• Love your microwave. They use less power and are quicker than conventional ovens, saving time and money. But that doesn’t mean you should buy ready-meals – they are another unnecessary expense.
• “When taking cling-film from the dispenser to a dish, hold it flat over your bosom,” says WI member Sue Bridger in The Times. “This way, it is less likely to get screwed up and you will waste less.”
• Save boiled water. Keep a Thermos flask by the kettle. “Boil what you need, but if there is any extra, you can use it later for washing up,” says Innes Brett, a WI member for 42 years.
• Re-use leftovers. Last night’s vegetables can be roasted and covered with macaroni cheese for another meal. And if you use lemons, keep the skins in a bag and put them around the roast chicken on Sunday for extra flavour.
What the other papers say
• Cut your food bill. It may be stating the obvious, but one of the easiest ways to cut your supermarket bill is to make a shopping list and stick to it. Plan your meals and buy only what you need. To save even more money, head to www.mysupermarket.com with your list. The site “claims to cut bills by 20%”, says Lisa Bachelor in The Observer. It compares every item on your shopping list across Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Ocado (Waitrose) to find the best price and any suitable special offers. Then you swap things around before deciding which supermarket to check out with. The site is free, but if you do buy from an online supermarket you may have to pay a delivery charge.
• Visit www.freebiesbank.co.uk to discover a wealth of online free offers. “A lot of it is tat,” says The Observer, but hunt around for some gems. Among the most popular freebies on the site are skincare samples, shaving oil, tea, lip gloss and shampoo.
• Fit a water meter – most people could save money by doing so. “The general rule is if there are more bedrooms than people then you may be better off with a water meter,” says Anne Marie Flanagan in The Daily Telegraph. If you fit the bill, get one and cut your water wastage. Fix any dripping taps, take showers not baths, only use the washing machine for a full load and don’t keep the tap running when you’re cleaning your teeth.