I'm a super-saver who pockets £600 a MONTH with easy cost-cutting hacks… it's amazing what people will give you for free
To maintain her tight budget, she grows 85% of the food she eats, and even furnished her entire home for free.
4
4
4
Sharon Shaw, 58 is proud to have cut her expenses to just over £300 a month.
It's part of a lifestyle that means not spending money on anything that isn't essential.
This included furnishing her home in Chorley, Lancashire, for free using Facebook Marketplace.
She even bagged herself a TV, sofa and king-sized bed worth £400.
She bought her four-bedroom home for just £21,500 in 1987, and paid off the mortgage in 2015.
The currently-unemployed mum-of-four has managed to cut her expenses to just £300 a month.
This includes £118 for gas, electric and water bills, while she spends just £40 on food she hasn't grown or got for free on the Olio app, as she otherwise shops in the reduced section.
She said: "I don't buy anything - everything is mostly free in my home.
"I use sites like Facebook Marketplace and food apps like Olio, which have changed my life. It's amazing, and you'd be surprised what you can get for free.
To cut down on food costs, she grows most of her own produce in an allotment, doesn't buy takeaways, and gets any remaining essentials from the reduced section.
Free data roaming abroad and HUGE council tax bill reductions
The allotment includes potatoes, plums, pears and apples, leaving her with "plenty of food".
She also has 10 hens which she collects eggs from, some of which she sells to put towards sugar and tea.
She said: "I make money from selling my eggs, and use the change to get small essentials like sugar and tea or my partner will drop sugar and tea bags round mine.
She added: " All the furniture in my home is free from Facebook Marketplace - including my bed, bedside table, and mirror."
Her savvy habits developed after she grew up in a family without much money.
Sharon adopted her mum Jean's mantra: "if you don't have it, make it", passing the Brownies group leader's message to her own children.
However, she said Philip, 37, Daniel, 33, Alex, 27, and Anna, 23, aren't a fan of her frugal lifestyle.
Sharon said: "They can't really understand it and they think I'm silly.
"I've tried to get them into my lifestyle, but they aren't.
"For Christmas and birthdays, I make all the cards and some of their presents.
"They do roll their eyes when they see that something has been made. I don't feel guilty at all, it is still a present."
Her inspiration also comes from The Good Life, a 1980s comedy in which the couple Tom and Barbara Good are self-sufficient.
She said that her partner Terry, 73, also struggles to adapt to the lifestyle.
"He thinks I'm mad. He can still see the logic in why I have to do what I do, but most of the time, he thinks it's a load of rubbish," she said.
Terry does help out with decorating the house, saving her even more money.
However, she's still looking for someone to re-tile her bathroom, which she's hoping to do for as cheap as possible.
She said: "If I need anything, I'll look online to see if anyone will give it to me for free.
"My house is furnished entirely from being resourceful - all the furniture in my rooms is either from free sites, given to me, or handmade."
Household bills are a somewhat unavoidable expense, although Sharon has found ways to cut down on these.
To save money on electricity she has swapped out her hoover for an old-fashioned Ewbank carpet sweeper; while she cuts down on heating costs by using blankets.
After Sharon's dad Frank, 85, passed away in April of this year she inherited three of his classic cars - a Citroen C1, Citroen ZX and Citroen CV2 - all worth £21,000 which she has kept for their sentimental value.
She also has a bike for shorter journeys.
Overall, she said her motto is "if you don't ask, you don't get", saying she has "no shame about asking for freebies".
Ultimately, "It's all about being resourceful. People waste so much money that it amazes me."
In addition to second-hand furniture, she gets most of her clothes from her daughter or for free on Facebook Marketplace.
She just wants to educate others on saving money as she is "proud" of her ways.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
20 minutes ago
- The Sun
WAG Taylor Ward shares gender of second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez at stunning reveal in Dubai
TAYLOR Ward has shared the gender of her second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez at a stunning Dubai reveal. WAG Taylor, 27, gathered friends and family for the lavish celebration, where she and husband Riyad, 34, opened a giant box to discover they're expecting a baby boy. In a video posted to Instagram, the couple beamed as a burst of blue balloons and smoke billowed into the sky, confirming the exciting news. Guests were seen cheering and clapping as the couple embraced on the beach. The loved-up pair already share daughter Mila, three, and have been documenting their journey to baby number two online. Taylor – daughter of Real Housewives of Cheshire star Dawn Ward – looked effortlessly chic in a fitted cream dress, while Mahrez kept it classic in a matching shirt and trousers. The reveal took place in Dubai, where the couple split their time between the UAE and the UK. In her caption, Taylor wrote: "The most special day, baby boy we can't wait to meet you!!" Taylor recently hinted at her second pregnancy on social media, sharing bump snaps and saying she "couldn't wait" to meet their newest addition. It was just last month that the influencer revealed she's expecting again. Taylor appeared in a sweet video with her hubby and her daughter Mila, two, on Instagram. She held her growing baby bump as she wore a skin-tight white crop top and her denim jeans were undone. Her young daughter kissed her stomach whilst holding the polaroids from the first scan. Riyad proudly posed beside his wife of three years in a matching blue and white outfit. He was seen lovingly embracing his daughter as she got more and more excited in the video. Later, the parents were seen hugging their tot on the sofa - who was born in July 2022 - as they all embraced the prospect of an expanding family. The right winger - who plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli - has two other children from a previous marriage with internet personality, Rita Johal. His other children were also sat in their stylish lounge as Taylor announced the news. They soon hugged as a blended family of five as they prepare to welcome a new addition. Taylor captioned the post: "Our family is growing," with a white heart emoji. She initially tied the knot with the footballer in an intimate and low-key religious ceremony in January 2022. The duo then officially wed in a legal ceremony in September 2023 at The Londoner Hotel. This was before they celebrated with their family and friends at a lavish ceremony at Lake Como in Italy. 6 6 6 6 6
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Why that super-sized shampoo bottle isn't so super-sized after all: We've all long suspected that we're being hoodwinked - so are ANY actually filled to the top? SARAH RAINEY investigates...
Have you ever opened a new bottle of shampoo, jar of face cream or tube of suncream only to find it's far from full to the top? You're not alone; tens of thousands of unhappy shoppers have taken to online forums to vent their frustrations about part-empty containers in the beauty world. Toiletries are among the worst offenders, with super-sized packaging often giving customers a misleading impression of just how much they're getting for their money. Some leading brands use opaque bottles or labels, so you can't see what's inside, while others have double-walled sides, large lids or false bases that can make quantities appear bigger than they are. So why do manufacturers put their products in such big containers? And why don't they fill them to the top? 'They use bigger containers so it looks like you're getting more for your money,' says Ariane Young, a celebrity and media make-up artist. 'Ingredients, labour and marketing are more expensive but customers are less willing to shell out on new products every month, so brands are finding ways to cut corners.' There may be a practical reason in some cases. Kyle Frank, a beauty expert, cosmetics formulator and founder of Frank's Remedies, explains that some products need extra 'breathing space' so that the bottles and tubes reach customers intact. 'Product packaging can expand due to temperature changes and rocky movement during transit,' he says. 'Depending on the formulation of the product, this may cause more air to be produced. This is known as thermal expansion.' Such expansion could cause leakage, or make containers burst open, so leaving a little space at the top of the bottle or jar ensures it reaches customers in one piece. So how much product is there in your everyday toiletries and are you being fooled by the size or shape of the packaging it's sold in? We conducted an experiment, comparing the amount of liquid, gel or cream in beauty products (stated on the packaging) against the total volume of the container (in millilitres). We did this by squeezing the product into a glass measuring beaker and filling the empty container with water to see how much it could hold when full. The results will make you think twice on your next visit to the beauty aisle. Unilever and Procter & Gamble, makers of the products we tested, were approached for comment. Garnier Vitamin C Nutri-Glow Body Cream, (£10) Jar holds: 530ml Actually contains: 380ml Difference: 150ml Percentage full: 72 per cent This jar of deliciously-scented body cream looks like a very generous size - enough to last several months. But when I unscrew the lid I'm disappointed to see it's only three-quarters full; the rest is empty space. There's a whopping 150ml difference between the amount of product inside and the total volume capacity of the jar. Simple Gentle Cleansing Shampoo (£3.25) Bottle holds: 460ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 60ml Percentage full: 87 per cent This large white bottle stands out as one of the bigger ones on the shelves, but all is not as it seems. Our experiment shows there would be room inside for another 60ml of product, nearly a fifth more liquid than what is in the bottle. CeraVe Foaming Face Cleanser (£12.50) Bottle holds: 285ml Actually contains: 236ml Difference: 49ml Percentage full: 83 per cent There's a large pump inside this bottle of face cleanser, so less room for liquid than you'd expect. But even accounting for that, there's capacity for another 49ml of product - that's 21 per cent more than you actually get. Garnier Ambre Solaire Soothing After Sun (£6.99) Bottle holds: 410ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 10ml Percentage full: 98 per cent This bottle feels pleasingly heavy and, looking inside the cap, I can see the white after sun lotion filled very close to the top. For a large, family-sized bottle, there's impressively little empty space inside - just 10ml. Dove Moisturising Hand Wash (£1.49) Bottle holds: 300ml Actually contains: 250ml Difference: 50ml Percentage full: 83 per cent The hand pump fills up a whopping sixth of this bottle. But when I tip it out and fill it to the top with water I find there is enough missing for 10 to 15 more hand washes. Nivea Sun Protect Suncream Factor 30 (£6.79) Bottle holds: 205ml Actually contains: 200ml Difference: 5ml Percentage full: 98 per cent At this time of year, we go through bottles of suncream weekly - so it's important to know what you're getting (and how long it will last) when you stock up. Impressively, this 200ml bottle is almost full to the top; there's space for just 5ml more liquid inside. Sanex Expert Soothing Bath Soak (£3) Bottle holds: 505ml Actually contains: 450ml Difference: 55ml Percentage full: 89 per cent This big bottle of bath soak feels weighty, so I'm hopeful about the amount of product inside. When I open the cap, it looks like it's almost filled to the brim - but looks can be deceiving. When decanted from the container, you could still fit another 55ml liquid in there. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion (£3.25) Bottle holds: 275ml Actually contains: 275ml Difference: 0ml Percentage full: 100 per cent This thick, luxurious lotion is incredibly hard to get out, and I resort to hitting it on the end like a ketchup bottle. It would be much more user-friendly in a jar. But rest assured; the results show the quantity of product inside fills the bottle right the way to the top. Dove Body Love Self-Tan Lotion (£3.99) Bottle holds: 450ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 50ml Percentage full: 89 per cent This gradual fake tan lotion comes in a tall, sleek bottle, but the beige packaging makes it impossible to see how much is inside. Our experiment showed there's room for another 50ml - or one sixth of the total liquid already in the bottle - in there. Oral B 3D White Luxe Mouthwash (£1.99) Bottle holds: 540ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 40ml Percentage full: 93 per cent When I take the cap off and look inside, this bottle of mouthwash looks remarkably full. But the results show there's room for 40ml more liquid (mostly inside the narrow neck) if it were completely full. Nivea 2 in 1 Cleansing Milk and Refreshing Toner (£4.60) Bottle holds: 198ml Contains: 175ml Difference: 23ml Percentage full: 88 per cent Though it's a small bottle, this feels light in my hands, and the product doesn't feel like it's filling the container. So I'm not surprised to find you could fit 23ml more (or 13 per cent of the quantity of liquid listed on the bottle) inside. Nivea Men Energy Shower Gel (£1.70) Bottle holds: 424ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 24ml Percentage full: 94 per cent It's not only women's products that come in part-full packaging, men's toiletry brands are just as guilty of giving customers less than they bargained for. This luminous blue shower gel comes in a bottle that could hold 24ml more than it does. Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine Shampoo (£1.95) Bottle holds: 455ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 55ml Percentage full: 88 per cent This is the tallest, thinnest bottle in the test and, though the packaging is bright green, when I hold it up to the light I can just about see the product inside. There's a clear inch without any liquid in it, and the results show this is equivalent to 55ml shampoo. Head & Shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1 Shampoo (£2.49) Bottle holds: 268ml Actually contains: 250ml Difference: 18ml Percentage full: 93 per cent There isn't a huge difference between the amount this Head & Shoulders bottle could hold (268ml) and the amount of product that's actually inside (250ml). The spout is quite wide, with a flat cap so it's easy to get almost every bit of shampoo out. Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner XL (£5.89) Bottle holds: 580ml Actually contains: 470ml Difference: 110ml Percentage full: 81 per cent Promising to turn 'parched locks to fabulously refreshed' ones, this bottle is deceptive because it's nowhere near full. Our experiment shows that there is enough room for 110ml more conditioner in here. As the product is thick, it's tricky to get it all out so customers will get even less value for money. Palmolive Naturals Coconut Milk Shower Cream (£1.62) Bottle holds: 542ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 42ml Percentage full: 92 per cent This super-sized bottle of shower cream looks ideal for a family, but there's less product inside than you would expect. My experiment showed you could fit another 42ml of liquid in there if it was full - enough for 8-10 more showers. Baylis and Harding Goodness Natural Body Wash (£4) Bottle holds: 542ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 42ml Percentage full: 92 per cent While lots of body wash products come in clear containers, this one is in an opaque black bottle. At 500ml, it's one of the bigger sizes around and certainly one I'd buy to last the family several weeks. But it's not as full as it appears, there's space for another 42ml. Lynx Africa Body, Face and Hair Wash (£1.49) Bottle holds: 230ml Actually contains: 225ml Difference: 5ml Percentage full: 98 per cent In its distinctive black container, with an opaque red and green label, this body, face and hair wash contains 225ml of product. When full to the top, the bottle - which is squat and wide, with a narrow bit in the middle - could squeeze just 5ml more inside. Bulldog Original Shave Gel (£3.75) Tube holds: 190ml Actually contains: 175ml Difference: 15ml Percentage full: 92 per cent This clear shave gel comes in a squeezy tube, which is white so you can't see how much is inside. There's just 15ml difference between the amount of liquid that could fit inside the tube and what's in there when I buy it - not too bad. Vaseline Healthy Hands and Stronger Nails Hand Cream (£2.85) Bottle holds: 209ml Actually contains: 200ml Difference: 9ml Percentage full: 96 per cent This little bottle of hand cream doesn't have much surplus space inside; you could squeeze just 9ml more inside. It might seem more expensive per millilitre than a big bottle but you're getting more for your money and less empty space.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
BP's scramble to rally big investors behind new chief
Amanda Blanc embarked on an intense charm offensive among top BP shareholders last week to convince them that the choice of low-profile building materials executive Albert Manifold as chairman made sense. There had been an expectation in the City that a thorough recruitment process – conducted by the no-nonsense Aviva chief executive – who is BP's senior independent director and who led the search – might yield a more prominent chairman with wider knowledge of the energy industry. BP was stung by early criticism of Manifold by City brokers Panmure Gordon, who accused the oil giant's board of a 'panic appointment'. The energy giant also found it necessary to repudiate derogatory comments made by an unnamed 'bitter and twisted' losing candidate for the post. Working from Aviva's Canadian headquarters in the last few days, Blanc spoke to all of BP's leading UK and American investors and has seemingly managed to turn the tide of opinion. Most now are reportedly positive about the BP board's final choice. But there was some disappointment at the oil giant's headquarters about the lack of a rise in the share price following the announcement, as well as at some of the negative briefing in the Square Mile. Blanc is said to have convinced leading investors that the naysayers who challenged the choice of Manifold 'lacked credibility'. In selling the selection to the City, BP and its advisers have pointed to Manifold's stellar, under-the-radar performance at CRH, where he drove the value of the group's shares up 342 per cent during a ten-year tenure. The share price performance of CRH, which moved its listing to New York two years ago, is described by BP insiders as 'magnificent'. Blanc is also understood to have pointed to Manifold's considerable experience in making deals, and his knowledge of a building materials industry that has come under close scrutiny from regulators. Despite claims about the new chairman's modest Irish-based lifestyle, it has been noted that he became one of the best rewarded executives in the British Isles, amassing some £54 million of stock options between 2020 and 2024. But while Manifold has a reputation for successfully managing bids and deals, chairing the oil giant is regarded very differently. Being BP chairman requires great diplomatic skills given that its operations include sensitive territories such as Iraq. He will also have to contend with the battle being waged by chief executive Murray Auchincloss to refocus the company on oil production after a disastrous effort under his predecessor Bernard Looney to transmogrify the company into a green energy pioneer. Nevertheless, BP insists that the job of chairman is to lead the board and hold the management to account. 'It is not to be the deep technical expert,' one person involved in the search noted. Being an industry expert is also no guarantee of success. Manifold's predecessor, Helge Lund, a Norwegian veteran of the oil sector, quit due to mounting investor pressure and criticism of his performance in the role. An adviser to BP's rival Shell expressed surprise that the selection panel overlooked its newest non-executive director, Simon Henry, who was appointed to the board earlier this month. Henry is a former finance director of Shell and has been influential on the board of mining giant Rio Tinto. BP's response is to argue that in bringing both Henry and Manifold aboard, the group 'had the best of both worlds'. Manifold's first task will be to keep notorious activist investor Elliott Investment Management onside. It welcomed his appointment and wanted to see him 'urgently' address the company's 'shortcomings'. But other leading American holders of BP shares have recognised that turning the tanker around will take time, and believe that the newish team deserve at least eight quarters, or two years, of grace to show that things are on the mend. The big question is whether Manifold will be able to withstand the pressure on BP to cut back spending on new oil and gas facilities while providing better returns to shareholders. He has experience in this area, having previously faced down activists at CRH. There has been some concern about the length of the process to appoint the chairman. Blanc insisted on a thorough process using head-hunters, a long-list and short-list, and bringing the board along with her. But the drawn-out procedure allowed speculation to build of a takeover approach by Shell. Fortunately for BP's top team, Shell denied any early-stage talks and took itself out of the picture for at least six months. Outside observers were not the only ones surprised by the choice of Manifold, with many BP insiders having no knowledge of his background. In a bid to bolster his credentials, he has in the past few days made a point of touring the oil giant's offices in St James's Square in central London and holding a series of one-to-one meetings with executives and colleagues. But only time will tell if the former building materials boss can cement his legacy at BP.
