Tip Of The Day: Wallpaper

Don't throw out those left over pieces of wallpaper. Use them for:

• wrapping presents
• lining drawers
• your children's craftwork
• decoupage
• creative decorating - do have enough for one signature wall or a chimney breast?
• brightening up furniture - you can affix wallpaper to panels in drawer-fronts, for example

Think outside the box and you can save money.

Soft Soap Your Friends To Save Money

Bizarre tip of the day:

Here's a real cheapskate tip you could try if you have enough cheek! I'm much too honest to try it myself but I know someone who briefly got away with this.... Pretend that your washing-machine has broken down and ask family and friends in turn whether you can use their machine. It should work at least once with each person.

Sensible tip of the day:

Pause for thought if you are tempted to buy an item that isn't an absolute necessity. Wait a week, during which time decide whether you really want it and, if you do, it gives you time to compare prices or come up with a cheaper alternative.

If you have any tips you want to share, leave a comment or email me by clicking here.

Tips of the Day

Bizarre tip of the day:
Are your little dears using as much toilet paper as the Andrex puppy? Here's an easy way to put a brake on their consumption. Before you put the roll on the holder, step on it (not too hard) to squeeze it out of shape. Now it doesn't roll quite so freely and you'll find they use less.

Sensible tip of the day:
Do you keep throwing out stale bread? Buy a big loaf (you can buy half sizes but it works out dearer) and put half in the freezer in an old loaf wrapper (no need to use a new polythene bag). It defrosts really quickly, especially if you carefully separate the slices. Don't store your bread in the fridge - it goes stale faster there than in a bread bin.

If you have any tips you want to share, leave a comment or email me by clicking here.

Tips Of The Day

Bizarre tip of the day:
Once you have cut a slice of lemon for your gin and tonic, how much do you end up wasting? The lemon, that is …. not much gin gets wasted in my house. Slice up any leftover lemon or lime into small chunks or slices, put them into an ice cube tray and cover with water. The next time you want a drink, you have the “ice and a slice” all ready to use.

Sensible tip of the day:
Switch off electrical appliances at the plug rather than use 'standby'. During standby the appliances are still using electricity, and this accounts for an astonishing 6% of all electricity used in the home.

Tips of the day

Bizarre tip of the day:

Always reverse into parking spaces. Tim Shallcross, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, says drivers can save 40p a day by doing this. Beginning a trip by reversing out of a parking space burns up more fuel because a cold engine uses more petrol than a hot one. When a driver parks he probably has to do a few manoeuvres. “It’s much better to do that with a warm engine using thimblefuls of fuel rather than a cold engine using bucketloads,” he says.

Sensible tip of the day:

Instead of using expensive cream cleaners use a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth - it works just as well.

Picture: Advanced motorist Mike Hill reverses into a parking space.

Tips of the Day

Bizarre tip of the day:
If you have to take your kids to the supermarket with you, play Bargain Hunt. Give them a list of items you need and the one who finds the cheapest wins. They won’t want dearer branded items and it will keep the little dears, with their incessant “I want….”, out of your hair while you shop. Prizes? Are you kidding – the glory of winning is enough!

Sensible tip of the day:
This is a great tip which was left by “anonymous” on a previous posting: Every time you dial an 0870, 0871, 0844 or 0845 number, you're paying money to big corporations like British Gas, the DVLA, TV Licensing and Barclays. Consumer group Which? says the DVLA made £3.4million from its 0870 line last year. This means we've all been paying for the privilege of making a complaint or getting something fixed. Visit http://www.saynoto0870.com/ . This site lists well-known firms and their geographical numbers. For instance, if you have a licence enquiry, the DVLA wants you to ring 0870 2400009 - but you can call 01792 782341 and avoid the rip-off charges.