You can save a fortune on household cleaning by using everyday items in unusual ways. Wood ash can be used to clean the glass doors on a woodburning stove, according to The Sunday Telegraph’s ‘1,000 Ways to Save Money and Time’. Mix some ashes with a bit of water then rub the mixture over the glass with a damp cloth, rinse, then dry with a clean cloth. Bicarbonate of soda will remove tea and coffee stains from mugs and cups if you dip a moist cloth into the bicarbonate then rub the china. And a light application of hairspray to a pair of tights strengthens the threads to help prevent runs.
Free theatre tickets
Anyone between 16 and 25 can get free theatre tickets for shows across England through a new campaign from the Arts Council England. Just tap in your postcode to find participating theatres near you.
Insulate outdoor taps
Avoid the cost of a broken outdoor tap with a little cheap insulation, says Emma Wall in The Daily Telegraph. Shut off the valve and drain off any excess water. Then insulate it by wrapping the tap with a few sheets of newspapers covered with a plastic bag. Tape the bag in place or use rubber bands to secure it onto the tap.
Tell your insurer how healthy you are
If you have given up smoking recently, make sure you tell your life and/or health insurer, says The Sunday Telegraph. Then your premiums can be adjusted, as smokers typically pay 50% more for these policies. So if you haven’t given up smoking, stop and save yourself a small fortune. Also let them know if you don’t drink, or only in moderation, are not overweight, and if you exercise regularly.
Get free vouchers
Join WHSmith’s Privilege Club and you’ll be emailed £20 of vouchers for joining and a further £10 of vouchers every month. Membership of the Privilege Club is free.
More free food at Pizza Express
The restaurant seems determined to give away as much free food as possible just now. If you buy a full price ticket for certain West End shows on Ticketmaster.co.uk, you’ll received a £20 Pizza Express Gift Card. Shows include Hairspray, Grease, Les Miserables and several others – the offer is valid until 9 April.
Switch mobile-phone provider
Virgin Mobile has just launched a mobile-phone deal that is the cheapest in the country. For £8.50 a month you get 100 free minutes and 100 texts and a choice of several good-quality handsets – but you are tied to the contract for 18 months. It’s a good deal, but if you don’t want to switch, it’s worth calling your provider and telling them about Virgin’s deal as they may match it in order to keep your custom. To get the best deals from your mobile provider, always deal with the cancellations department even if you don’t want to switch providers – they have far more power to adapt deals to suit you than the normal customer services teams.