I shower once a week and barely wash my clothes to save thousands in cash – soap and shampoo last three months and I’ve had the same box of washing powder since 2021

• A British woman has reduced her water bill by showering less 
• Nikola Howard, 52, said the habit has likely saved her thousands 

Nikola Howard only showers once a week.

The 52-year-old from Bexleyheath, UK, wears to her clothes four or five times before washing them and even has a box of laundry powder from 2021.

Nikola’s frugal lifestyle has reduced her water bill to £45 for half the year despite a water leak – costing her a mere £7.50 per month.

‘I started showering less because of my dermatitis. My skin is so sensitive it became extremely flaky that I would get body dandruff. But I started noticing the financial benefits too,’ Nikola, a low carb expert, told MailOnline.

She claims bottles of shampoo, conditioner and soap last her up to three months and the savvy habits have likely saved her thousands over the years.

Nikola Howard spent a mere £45 on her water bill over the last six months because she only showers once a week 

The 52-year-old from Bexleyheath, UK, wears to her clothes four or five times before washing them and even has a box of laundry powder from 2021 (pictured) 

Nikola said she used to shower three times a week but found her skin started ‘falling off’ with dandruff.

‘I live alone so don’t use a lot of water. I have a family-sized washing machine that I use twice a month,’ she said.

But in the kitchen she uses the dishwasher every couple days rather than cleaning dirty dishes by hand. 

Amid the cost of living crisis, Nikola also saves money by purchasing new clothes every 18 months. 

‘I’m not into fast fashion and buy clothes that will last. I own outfits that I bought between two to nine years ago,’ Nikola said.

‘I buy what I need and am not one to spend money here and there on clothes.’

To stretch out her money further she looks for yellow tags at the supermarket, bulk buys ingredients to prepare meals and ensures the fridge is stocked with food. 

Nikola, who helps women live healthier lives, also buys cheaper cuts of meat that are perfect for slow cooked meals and avoids junk food, pasta and rice. 

Nikola, who helps women live healthier lives, started showering less because of my dermatitis and started noticing the financial benefits too 

Read more: Shoppers reveal the ‘weird’ things they have started doing to reduce their bills

It comes as millions of hard-up Brits are cutting back on showers, washing clothes less and sharing baths to try to save money on energy and water bills. 

An astonishing 43 per cent of adults are taking fewer baths and showers, while almost half are washing their clothes less often to cut energy and water usage, according to new research. 

But while many are risking being less hygienic to mitigate the soaring cost of living, one in six people are making cost-cutting fun and flirty, without sacrificing cleanliness, by sharing baths and showers with a partner or friend.

Research by household money-saving site Nous.co found 58% of people in Glasgow and 57% of people in Newcastle are sharing baths more.

People in Leeds (35%), Liverpool (36%) and Manchester (37%) were at the bottom of the table, with most preferring to bathe alone.

Greg Marsh, founder and CEO of Nous.co, said: ‘Our research shows the lengths to which millions of people are having to go to drastically alter their lives because they are struggling so much to make ends meet. For many this is no laughing matter.’

New research has revealed which parts of the UK are saving cash most by sharing baths and skipping showers

The research also found that across Britain as a whole, women are cutting down on baths more than men, 45 per cent compared to 40 per cent, and that people under 25 are keener on personal hygiene than those over 65. 

When it comes to sharing baths, Bristol (21%) and Leeds (20%) are the most collaborative areas, while Liverpool (11%), Manchester and London (both 14%) are the shyest about getting soapy with a partner or friend.

‘While none of us can completely avoid rising bills for energy, food and mortgages, we can all make a difference by saving on the things we can have a bit of control over.

‘It is possible to save on your bills if you know where to look.

‘As for sharing baths, we can’t advise how much that would save – although get carried away and you may find your household costs increasing nine months later!’

When it comes to washing clothes, cutting back is harder to inject fun into.

Glasgow also lead the field on where people are admitting to using their washing machine less (67%) with Nottingham not far behind (64%).

Of the cities surveyed, Manchester and Cardiff are home to the cleanest clothes with their 40 per cent of residents using their washing machine less coming in as the lowest figures. 

Read more: Millions of Britons will get £300 cost of living payment between these dates

Where people skip the most showers 

Glasgow – 58%

Newcastle – 57%

London – 46%

Bristol – 45%

Cardiff – 43%

Edinburgh – 43%

Birmingham – 39%

Nottingham – 39%

Manchester – 37%

Liverpool – 36%

Leeds – 35%

Where people share the most baths

Bristol – 21%

Leeds – 20%

Birmingham – 17%

Cardiff – 17%

Edinburgh – 17%

Glasgow – 17%

Newcastle – 17%

London – 14%

Manchester – 14%

Nottingham – 13%

Liverpool – 11%

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