The Great 'MoneySaving New Year resolutions' Hunt

Like many households with older children, our house is recharging something around 50% of the time, a lot of laundry & at least 20 showers a week.
I am fortunate in some respects as The Offspring are all grown & can understand the difficulties of economic survival, so are mostly compliant with wearing sweaters around the house & extra fleece covers on beds & such. BUT...
I really need for them to be aware of how much they use, well, everything.. from water to fuels to even ordinary things like loo roll, so will be scouting the sales for devices to limit usage of household amenities at least. Things like an alarm for the shower & timing switches to recharge mobile devices will involve spending of course, but hopefully encourage saving in the long run.


Anyone with any working knowledge of said devices, please advise....soon

I'm thinking ahead to next Christmas. Cards, wrapping paper and tags bought in the sales, along with a few gifts. Wilkinsons sale in July is particularly good for children's items - that's where I usually buy the Christmas gifts for my Rainbow and Brownie units.

I have started saving for next Christmas already. £1 a week from Christmas Eve equals £50 in the first week in December next year.

I think I will up the amount of freebies that I send for this year, but only the things that either I can use (which is what I do now), or things that my mum will use. I read on another thread a while ago about someone who saved freebies throughout the year and made a freebie hamper for her mum at Christmas. Obviously on some items you have to check use by dates, but I thought it was a great idea.

I have started an ideas notebook, initially for my elderly mum, but I'm going to use it too. Some family members are awkward to buy for, so as we have ideas (or if they mention anything!), we are writing it down. For example, I found out on Christmas Day that my sister would love a lazy Susan, but would never buy one for herself. So that is in the ideas book, as I a bound to forget before next Christmas. It also means that I an look out for one during the year.

Turning off lights and chargers is a biggie for me at the moment. I, like everyone else, have seen regular increases in my bills. The last three winters haven't helped. So now, we are on a 'cutting out unnecessary costs' drive - I just need to keep reminding the kids!

I have a set amount of cash each week for petrol, school expenses such as snack money, food shopping, and anything else. My bank account is used for direct debits only. I find that by paying in cash, I stop and think first. That's how I cut out magazines. I was spending on them each week, but now I no longer buy them, and I don't miss them at all. Each week, any left over cash :rotfl: will be put into a separate savings account. I'll give it to my mum, as she goes into town every week and will put it into the bank for me.

I'm also going to go through my direct debits to make sure I am not paying for something I shouldn't. I realised last week that my new house insurance cover includes Homeserve, which I was paying for separately. I don't need the same over twice, so that's a saving each month, now that I have cancelled the original policy.

Thanks Kingfisher, but we don't have those shops anywhere close by to make it worth a visit nor the wonderfully sounding Asian stores that many folk advocate for exceptional bargains. It's part & parcel of living Darn Sarf I'm afraid, & bluddin' annoying to say the least >:( Not everyone down here is well-heeled y'know, with a whole kitchen drawer filled with silver spoons!

I aim to stop 'dribbling' money away - unnecessary food on the go, bus fares where I'm just being lazy and impulse purchases of tat, or extra food because it's what I fancy rather than what we have in. I have around £200 a month expenditure that isn't really accounted for (on top of my designated 'spare' money) so I'm hoping keeping a spending diary will help.

Also, I'm saying 'no' to takeaways - we usually get one or two a week, going to aim to reduce it to one a month.

i am again saving £2 coins - either towards a cheap holiday or christmas. also saving spare change (just until the tin is full - its about half full already) we also do this for my five year old step son. instead of treats etc for good behaviour, he is given pennies (thankfully doesnt understand the value of money yet) and every other month we empty it, change it and he gets to spend the money on something he chooses.
i am pledging to pay at least £225 a month on my cc with any extra money received to it also.
i have today started a fitness plan so will be eating healthier and hopefully cheaper too - drinking more water which is free at work too. i do have a gym membership but i am reluctant to give it up as i dont socialise very much,. rarely drink, dont smoke so it is the one thing i enjoy. if it came to it obviously it can go.
i plan only to buy essential clothing - underwear etc and anything else required i will look for on ebay.
i am making a gift list and picking up items through the year. sale or ebay only.
i need to start to learn meditation again and will also be reading more biographies - i enjoy learning about other people and their lives. reading katie piper at the moment. very inspirational. trying to keep anxiety at bay and become a more positive person.
lights etc switched off when not in use. submit regular readings for gas. having issues with both british gas and eon charging me when i switched to Eon three months ago. so frustrating. but at least one only has my bank details.
no more buying magazines unless there is a specific freebie that i will use and is worth the money.
also read last night on here about keeping the fridge and freezer full to save electricity. so last night i stocked up the rest of the cans of diet coke (not buying them again - will go on the treat list) and the bottled water we have. not exactly full but will try to be more aware of shopping etc. today i tried to have a no spend day but bought somethings online to help with my fitness plan. all sale with a discount code. have to go out for a walk but i have £5 in my purse and that will buy bread and eggs. that is all i need.
menu planning ahead. will help with my diet and make it more difficult to eat rubbish because its quick!