This recurring section used to be called “blog highlights from around the web” but I’m changing it because it really is a tips roundup rather than a list of my favourite posts. Or I should say they are my favourite tips posts!

Anyway – here is a list of some of the most useful posts I’ve found in the past few weeks. The last thrifty tips post can be found here.

101 ways to save money from Monevator

The items worth buying at Poundland from the Telegraph

16 gadgets that will save you money from LoveMoney

Lessons from Toy Story 3 – Grow your pennies from infinity to beyond from Magical Penny

Avoid the pension pitfalls: Retirement experts’ top 10 tips from WalletPop UK

Make money selling cakes, jams and sweets from Money Magpie

17 alternative uses for toothpaste, from bee stings to cleaning rings from WalletPop

10 key characteristics of debt free people (of modest means) from Len Penzo

Boden sent around a list of their current best sellers. What do you think? Are any of these lovelies on your wishlist? I LOVE the Ravello Silk Top.

There are a few 15% off codes floating around, including LNAM, LN2T and LNAR. The code XTHB promises to give £10 off £30 spend with free delivery. (Thanks fellow Mumsnetters for these codes!)

Velvet Trim Cami £15.00

Casual Dress £59.00

Uptown Top £29.00

Essential Tee Crew Neck £17.00

Cosmopolitan Tee £25.00

Waterfall Cardigan £49.00

Ravello Silk Top £45.00

Autumn Printed Skirt £49.00

Rainyday Jacket £95.00

Nothing crazy yet this week but I’m really quite shocked at just how much we spend on groceries! We’re barely past the halfway mark for my tracking month! This is a real reality check.

Running total: £167.13

2nd September – £3.36 for two boxes of cereal
1st September – £26.25 for Abel & Cole delivery – fruit and veg, milk and eggs, plus pork mince for burgers (plenty will be frozen for another time) and more bread flour
31st August – £6.29 for massive block of parmesan (went on last night’s courgettes and pasta)
30th August – £4.25 for goats cheese (half off! to go on beetroot salad and baguettes) and £.89 for the baguette
29th August – nothing!
28th August – nothing!
27th August – nothing!
26th August – nothing!
25th August – £23.73 for Abel & Cole delivery, which included salmon and mussels (but we had a £10 off voucher)
24th August – £3.20 lunch stuff
23rd August – £28 misc lunch and dinner stuff (E didn’t save his receipts so this is an estimate)
22nd August – £5.20 baking stuff for chocolate chip cookies
21st August – £37.24 (guessing again here, as I also lost my receipt. argh!) mainly on fajitas stuff and also rye flour which we will someday use to make sourdough starter
20th August – nothing!
19th August – nothing!
18th August – £20.13 Abel & Cole order – fruit and veg, milk, eggs and bread
17th August – £5 on 2 x 500g steak mince, £1.50 on 2 x 750g tomato sauce
16th August – £1.80 on stirfry stuff for dinner, £.98 on cereal
15th August – nothing!

Save money and eat well by choosing food that is in season. Here is what to buy in September, according to BBC GoodFood:

Fruit
At its best: apricots, blackberries, broadbeans, damson, figs, gooseberries, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, tomatoes

Coming in: bramley apples, cranberries, quince,

Veg
At its best: aubergines, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, cavalo nero, celeriac, celery, courgettes, fennel bulbs, garlic, globe artichokes, kale, lamb’s lettuce, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, sorrel, spinach, sweetcorn, swiss chard, watercress

Coming in: brussels sprouts, pumpkin, salsify, swedes, sweet potatoes, turnips,

Meat
At its best: autumn lamb, goose, grouse, guinea fowl, lamb

Coming in: duck

Fish
At its best: crab, halibut, oysters, salmon, tuna

Coming in: mussels

Other than our Abel & Cole delivery we haven’t spent much…except for a few investments in cheese. I love vegetables with cheese – beetroot with goats cheese or blue cheese, spinach or courgettes with parmesan. Yum! Anyway the increase in veg in our house correlates with an increased spend on cheese.

We were away this weekend visiting family and friends so we didn’t eat in very much but we’re trying to get back on track with the home cooking – even with MORE family in town this week!

Here is where we stand:

Running total: £137.52

31st August – £6.29 for massive block of parmesan (went on last night’s courgettes and pasta)
30th August – £4.25 for goats cheese (half off! to go on beetroot salad and baguettes) and £.89 for the baguette
29th August – nothing!
28th August – nothing!
27th August – nothing!
26th August – nothing!
25th August – £23.73 for Abel & Cole delivery, which included salmon and mussels (but we had a £10 off voucher)
24th August – £3.20 lunch stuff
23rd August – £28 misc lunch and dinner stuff (E didn’t save his receipts so this is an estimate)
22nd August – £5.20 baking stuff for chocolate chip cookies
21st August – £37.24 (guessing again here, as I also lost my receipt. argh!) mainly on fajitas stuff and also rye flour which we will someday use to make sourdough starter
20th August – nothing!
19th August – nothing!
18th August – £20.13 Abel & Cole order – fruit and veg, milk, eggs and bread
17th August – £5 on 2 x 500g steak mince, £1.50 on 2 x 750g tomato sauce
16th August – £1.80 on stirfry stuff for dinner, £.98 on cereal
15th August – nothing!

Barratts are offering two pairs of men’s shoes (select styles) for £50 and if you enter code MOV5B at checkout you’ll also get free shipping!

For example, you can buy this Lace Up Formal Shoe for £35…

…and get this Leather Casual Lace Up Shoe worth £35 for just £15!

Panini Press each £19.99	Autumn Heather per pack £3.99	Italian Salami each £1.99
Italian Breadsticks per pack 99p	Grissini Breadsticks each 99p	Bruschetta Snack Breads each 79p
Chunky Italian Soups each 69p	Mini Bruschetta each £1.29	Stir Through Pasta Sauce each 89p
Bronze Pasta each 99p	Wholewheat Pasta each 59p	Pasta Bake each 99p
Italian Egg Pasta Nest each 99p	Premium Pesto each 99p	Spaghetti Meal Kit per pack 99p
Risotto Rice each £1.29	Italian Spice Mills each 99p	Gilt Head Sea Bream Fillets each £1.99
Italian Grated Cheese each £2.29	Aceto Balsamico Di Modena each £2.99	Mini Ciabatta Rolls per pack £1.39
Balsamico Crème each £1.69	Carbonara/Tomato & Ricotta Pasta Sauce each 99p	Reginette/Tagliatelle each 89p
Birra Moretti 4 x 330ml per pack £3.49	Italian Lemon Cream Liqueur each £4.99	Sambuca each £8.99
Amaretto with Peach each £6.99	Italian Travel Sweets each 89p	Italian Biscuits each £1.49
Cantuccini each 79p	Milk Chocolate Pralines each £1.79	Amarena Cherries each £1.99
Full Support Bra each £4.99	Ladies’ 2 Pack Briefs per pack £3.99	Ladies’ Waist Slip each £2.99
Ladies Shapewear each £6.99	20D Tights per pack £1.39	Cushion Sole Knee Highs per pack £1.99
Control Top/Support Tights each £1.99	Ladies’ Pyjama Set per set £5.99	Insoles per pair £1.29
Ladies’ Trouser Socks per pack £1.99	Warm Lined Clogs per pair £4.99	Men’s Classic Boxer Shorts per pack £3.99
Men’s Briefs/Boxers per pack £3.99	Men’s Cotton Lycra Suit Socks per pack £2.99	Men’s Pyjamas/Lounge Pants per pack £6.99



Hello Baby have provided a voucher code just for VoucherMum.com readers. Just enter code vouchermum at checkout to claim.

Hello Baby sells a wide range of baby stuff from top brands including nursery furniture, prams and pushchairs, car seats, baby safety, accessories, activities, baby toys and travel products. UK shipping is free if you spend over £150.

Here are a few things you can use the discount toward!

Caboodle Fun and Funky Spots Baby Changing Bag – Cream/Red/Blue – £31.99

Infantino Picnic Tummy Time Activity Mat – £23.99

And if you want to splash out…KidKraft My Dream Mansion – £114.99

The Co-operative Best Buys for the week commencing 30 August 2010

OWN BRAND

The Co-operative British Fresh Beef Burgers 10’s 855g – £4.00
The Co-operative Elmwood British Hot & Spicy Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks 1.2kg – £4.00
The Co-operative Elmwood British Garlic & Herb Thighs and Drumsticks 1.2kg – £4.00
The Co-operative Elmwood British Chinese Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks 1.2kg – £4.00
The Co-operative British 8 Jumbo Cumberland Sausages 840g – £4.00
The Co-operative British 8 Jumbo Pork Sausages 840g – £4.00
The Co-operative British Hot & Spicy Pork Loin Steaks 420g – £4.00
ANY 3 FOR £10

The Co-operative Plums 400g – £1.50
The Co-operative Nectarines Punnet  - £1.50
The Co-operative Peaches Punnet – £1.50
ANY 2 FOR £2

The Co-operative Cherries 200g – £2.00
The Co-operative Blueberries 225g – £2.00
The Co-operative Strawberries 400g – £2.00
The Co-operative Raspberries 170g – £2.00
The Co-operative White Grapes 500g – £2.00
HALF PRICE, ANY 3 FOR £5

The Co-operative British Dry Cured/Breaded/Honey Roast Ham 300g – £3.00
HALF PRICE

The Co-operative Twin Pack Peppers - £1.00

The Co-operative Watercress, Rocket & Spinach Salad 100g – £1.00

The Co-operative Charlotte Potatoes 750g – £1.00

The Co-operative Kiwi Fruits 6’s – £1.00

The Co-operative Soft Bathroom Tissue 9’s
2 FOR £5

BRANDED

Thirst Pockets Kitchen Towels 2’s – £2.00
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Gu Chocolate Soufflés/ Fru Lemon Cheese Cake 2×65g/2×90g – £3.00
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Head & Shoulders Shampoo/Conditioner 200ml - £2.54
BUY ONE GET ON FREE

Pantene Pro-V Shampoo/Conditioner 200ml - £2.50
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

KP Assorted Discos 10 x 28g – £1.14
HALF PRICE

Cadbury Fruit & Nut/Crunchie Blast Ice Cream Bars 3×90ml/ 3×100ml – £1.39
HALF PRICE

Honey Monster Sugar Puffs 450g - £1.29
HALF PRICE

Febreze Fabric Spray 500ml – £1.50
HALF PRICE

Gillette Fusion Razors (each) – £3.99
HALF PRICE

Gillette Venus Razors (each) – £4.17
HALF PRICE

Gillette Fusion Hydragel Sensitive/Ultra Protection/Stealth 200ml – £2.00
HALF PRICE

Gillette Satin Care 200ml - £1.50
HALF PRICE

Fairy Washing Up Liquid 450ml - £1.06
BUY 2 FOR £1.60

Lenor Concentrated Fabric Conditioner 750ml – £1.82
BUY 2 FOR £2.00
Fairy All In One 90 Dishwasher Tablets – £7.99

Chinese grocer Wing Yip sent along two recipes specially designed to introduce children to Asian food. Both recipes are simple enough that kids can get involved in the cooking and the ingredients have been selected for childrens’ picky palettes. I am VERY familiar with picky palettes and how easy it is to fall into the trap of fixing the same foods day in and day out (egg mayonnaise…again?!) so I love this idea.

Bananas in Coconut Milk (Kluay Buad Chee)

This is a typical Thai dessert. Choose bananas that are not too ripe as they need to hold their shape after cooking. This simple dessert is traditionally eaten warm, and sometimes as a snack. Remember to treat coconut milk as you would fresh milk or cream and refrigerate any that is left over. The addition of a little salt is important as it balances the sweetness of the sauce with the richness of the coconut milk.

Ingredients

• 4 bananas (cut each into 4 or 6 pieces)
• 400ml Mai Siam Coconut Milk
• 56g Mai Siam Palm Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)

Preparation

1. Peel the bananas and cut each into half down the middle of the fruit using a knife (with help from an adult) and then cut the banana across to make 4 or 6 pieces.
2. Heat the coconut milk in a pan (This must be supervised at all times) and add the palm sugar and salt.
3. Simmer gently until the sugar has melted. Do not cover the pot with its lid.
4. Gently add the banana to the coconut milk and simmer until bananas are soft. This should take about 2 minutes. (Again supervision is needed at all times)
5. Take care to keep the bananas submerged or they will change colour.
6. Adjust sugar and salt to taste.
7. Serve immediately in shallow bowls, allowing one banana per person.

• Serving – 4 children’s portions

Mild Chinese Curry

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts (diced) (Any use of sharp utensils must be supervised by an adult)
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 Tbsp Wing Yip Chinese Curry Concentrate
• 1 medium onion (small dice) (optional)
• 1 large potato (medium dice)
• 60g frozen peas
• water

Method

1.      Heat the vegetable oil in a pan (this must be supervised by an adult)

2.      Add the diced onions and cook until they are soft and start to turn a little brown at the edges.

3.      Add the diced chicken and the curry concentrate.

4.      Mix well and after 2 minutes add 500ml of water.

5.      The curry will start to thicken as it cooks and you might need to add more water as required.

6.      Add the potatoes and cook the curry until the potatoes are soft.

7.      Add peas at this stage.

8.      Serve with rice or on jacket potatoes

Wing Yip is the UK’s leading Chinese grocer, with stores in Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon.