Smart savings

Saving in sales is a misnomer — by the act of spending money you are not actually saving money.

Still, if you find the right products, items that handle your everyday resources better, in the long term they could be a wise investment. Look out for great prices on real household helpers.

PUT A FINGER IN THE WATER DYKE.

Water charges are on the way potentially as early as January 2014 if the EU has their way. The roll-out of water meter installation nationwide starts this year. An old-style pre-2001 cistern can swallow up to 11 litres a flush. Install a balloon to reduce the volume held in the tank to instantly cut your losses to 5-7 litres — €4.30 from www.watersavingproducts.ie or any good DIY outlet. Aerators on taps can mix air with the water stream for showers and hand washing, saving up to 12 litres per minute. Try www.watersavers.ie. Prices from €6 for a retrofit threaded model. Eco-save shower heads are widely available at any good hardware outlet.

BUY A WATER BUTT

All that lovely Irish rainwater sloughed off down the drain can be put to use all over the garden and is good enough to wash the car off too. By attaching a hose you can irrigate remote areas of the lawn and beds. A diverter kit will take the water from the gutters to the barrel. A slim barrel holding up to 100 litres, the Slim Butt, is a mere 38cm wide and deep, ideal where space is tight — €39.99, Argos. Hozelock offer a high pressure pump (1.1bar) you can submerge in the barrel to siphon water off anywhere in the garden. €80. Woodies DIY.

LAUNDRY WISE

These days you cannot buy a washing machine with less than an ‘A’ rating for washing performance based on 60C washes and ‘B’ spin cycles are commonplace — so don’t be dazzled. To get a better idea of what to expect in wash results from the more familiar 40C cycles check out Which consumer magazines ratings based on these cooler temperatures. www.which.co.uk. A+, A++ and even A+++ energy efficiencies are now available and will redeem their initial investment in a few short years. An estimated water consumption and kW/year is stated on the EU energy label on the front of every machine, ideal for quick comparisons. If you don’t need an 8kg load capacity, don’t buy one. A ‘B’ rating in a stand-alone dryer is superb for these energy hungry monsters. A 15m Minky double reel retractable outdoor drying line (30m total) is just €22, perfect for getting started with free outdoor loads. Littlewoods Ireland. www.littlewoodsireland.ie.

MANY A NICKLE

Clear out your change and take it to your nearest coin sorter. These are often found in larger supermarkets and for a small percentage will sort your loose change and deliver it to you in either notes or as a receipt to redeem at the checkout in cash. Keep some large jars and sort your change as you empty your pockets. Bag it and take it to your bank for cash or deposit as savings. Gadgets Ireland does a Euro Coin Sorter and Saver which counts your money as it automatically sorts. €15.99. www.gadgetsireland.com

PRESERVATIVES

Look out for DIY products on offer that you can use to maintain what you already have. Will the front door need a coat of varnish this year? Would clean grouting transform the bathroom? How’s your ladder and other DIY arsenal? Stock up on brushes, tools and fixings for small jobs you can carry out around the house from replacing worn fittings to performing small repairs. Complete tool kits are often great value. Homebase have a 52-piece set for just €10.

PROGRESSIVE COOKERS

Forget those silly fad buys that will soon wander to the back of the kitchen cupboards and try cooking with proven energy efficient methods on your countertops. Halogen ovens are not only cheap to run, safe and fast, but drain off that heart-stopping oil for moist, even results. The Russell Hobbs Halogen Oven offers 40% faster cooking times on everything from pizza to roast chicken with its generous, 12-16l expandable bowl and self-cleaning feature, €74. We also love Tefal’s new Actifry, using less power, and just a 200ml of oil to serve up 1kgs of chips. The unit can also deliver stir fry, meat, fish and puddings. If your family are hooked on deep-fried food and you find a frier for less than €185, grab it. Slow cookers are not just for stew. Morphy Richards offer a choice of models from €32 at Argos.