BRUSHING her teeth in the morning Claire Anne carefully measures out a capful of mouthwash.
She gargles and swills the mint flavoured liquid around her mouth for sixty seconds.
But instead of spitting the liquid into the sink, Claire carefully spits it into a second mouthwash bottle so she can re-use it that night.
“I can already hear the thousands of people screeching how gross or disgusting even the mere thought of re-using mouthwash is,” Claire says.
“But I’m determined to do whatever I can to save even a couple of pennies to be able to pay the gas and heating bill and save for next Christmas.
“Second or third hand mouthwash works fine. I tested it and it saves money.”
“I rinse my mouth with water first. I am not bothered if there is some left-over spit in the mouthwash, it is my spit and my money, and my teeth have not looked better.”
Mental health advocate and mum of two Claire, 44, who lives in Leeds, West Yorks, with her courier manager husband, 48 and her two children aged 16 and 12, says mouthwash is too expensive.
“I was buying two bottles of mouthwash a month and that cost me £7,” she says.
“My favourite brand went up 20p and it was then I had my radical money saving light bulb moment.
“Mouthwash is a disinfectant, so I figured why spit it after one use? People share bars of soap; we are being told to share bath water, so my mouthwash idea is logical.”
Since Claire started re-using the wash she makes one bottle last three months and re-uses a capful three times.
“My husband thinks it’s disgusting but admits my teeth look great and my breath is still minty fresh!
“That’s what started me on my path to becoming a cash positive cheapskate.”
Spurred on by her mouth wash money saving Claire also decided to cut back on cotton wool balls.
She began using the lint out of the dryer drum to remove nail polish.
“I tried it out and it worked so well, the lint’s clean and super absorbent and removes nail polish brilliantly,” Claire explains.
“I have also used a wad of dryer lint to clean the floor or wipe up spills which has cut down my use of paper towels as well, saving me even more.
“I used it to remove makeup and it’s great for fake tan application as well.”
Cotton wool balls can cost up to £4 and Claire reckons her lint logic is inspired.
“It’s means I waste not want not. I am repurposing and it is green friendly,” she adds.
Claire’s ‘lint love’ is in fact supported by major sustainability campaigners globally. One sustainable buildings material company called Ambient promotes the use of dryer lint as eco-friendly.
They recommend it’s used for insulation, spun into yarn to create clothes, as well as a type of stuffing for toys and pillows.
While researchers from the Lithuanian Kaunas University of Technology say converting lint into an energy source has million pound potential.
But not everyone is impressed.
I will take the kids and pop in on relatives unannounced and uninvited to score a free meal
Claire Anne
“When I told a pal I reuse dryer lint as well as the mouthwash they told me it was shocking and awful,” says Claire.
“Call me bonkers but if I can save a few pennies and pay the bills I will do it.
“We do not know how soaring prices will rise in the next six to twelve months and it’s time to get radical with cost cutting and re-purposing.”
Claire was taught to be careful with money, haggle for better prices and buy in bulk to cut costs by her dad.
“Watching my budget and getting discounts has always been part of my life,” she says.
“Now I am determined to try even the most extreme methods to save cash.”
Claire has found some seriously cheeky ways to cut back on the cost of feeding her family too.
“I will take the kids and pop in on relatives unannounced and uninvited,” she explains.
“I plan the visit around lunch or dinner time so we can score a free meal and enjoy their heating.
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it’s bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There’s not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.
“Inviting yourself and kids to a friend’s home or a relative’s house for dinner is the perfect way to keep your grocery budget under control and they get to enjoy my company.
“It can save me £30-40 pounds especially if it is a Sunday roast, they have made.
“I know my parents love to see the kids and I always make sure I take home an extra Tupperware container of leftovers.”
Claire also organises ‘Come Dine With Me’ dinner weeks with mates and reckons it is a great way to save cash and eat out six nights of the week.
“You only have to fork out for the meal at your house and the rest of the week it’s free,” she says.
Claire saves cash on electricity by refusing to iron, telling her family to either hang up their clothes after they are washed or live with wrinkles.
“My husband bought me an expensive £80 iron as a gift,” she adds.
“But I flogged it on eBay to ensure he does not have an excuse to make me iron and pocketed the extra cash.”
The super scrimping mum haggles for everything including hotel rooms and even food.
If I see an item I always offer a cheaper price
Claire Anne
“If I buy fruit and vegetables from a market stall I will haggle over the price and I do the same when I am buying almost any item,” she says.
Claire says people shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for a discount or haggle.
She explains: “If I see an item I always offer a cheaper price. You need to not be embarrassed. So many people think it is wrong.
“The worst someone can do is say no.
“I also spend hours researching local farmers markets, car boot sales and ensuring I know where to get the produce I want.
“I only pay a fiver to get my haircut at a local hairdressing school. I save hundreds on beauty treatments by offering myself as a ‘practice person’ at the local massage and beauty college.
“It’s mean’s big savings. Last week I had a £45 massage for just eight quid because it was done by a student.
“I tell people to find out what training colleges there are in their local area.
“You can get discounts on Botox, lip filler, hair cuts, massages and other beauty treatments if you sign up to use ‘student’ training services. They are overseen by teachers and the discounts are huge.”
Claire regularly shares her money saving tips on social media.
“I have people who love my unusual ideas,” she insists.
“Other people tell me I am embarrassing. I don’t care. If one person uses a tip and benefits I have done my job.
“Followers are obsessed when I show people who spend just one pound a day for a week on food.
“I am proud I am a frugalista super scrimper and I will be having the last laugh when I’m rolling in it.”
