Top Ten Tip for Newbies!

cantcope

My top tip? theres so many but here are the ones that helped me the most.

join all the survey sites..pigsback/toluna/valued opinions/pinecone

Keep a diary on the boards

use tesco vouchers to buy yourself a treat (i used mine for magazine subscription)

Always take things back if once you get home you realise you didnt really really NEED it.

Each time i do a shop, put £2 on a savings card. Come christmas you'll have a nice sum on there.

Arrange good nights in with friends. A few nibbles go a long long way

Remember its a long road, and not always easy or pleasant but by reading the roll of honour board you'll see it can be done.

Good luck everyone xx

georgiasmum

Use vinegar/bicarb/lemon juice for cleaning. It does work. Buy good quality washing up liqid and dilute it - it does the job. Shop locally - I have experimented with this for 6 weeks now and have to say that it has saved me money, improved quality of food not to mention less wear and tear on car. Avoid days out that involve spending money, don't go to the shops for something to do.

Numpty_Monkey

A great idea Robbda,:T loved the bit about it being a cheat sheet:rotfl:

I think my tip is don't be affraid to ask, whether that be haggling for discounts, better contracts, changed terms

Or asking for help, i saw this on a different board on this forum

MothballsWallet wrote: »

purpleems - have a look at the "Forum Etiquette" box to the right of the page: Martin says there's no such thing as a stupid question, and he's right.

Confucius is attributed as saying: He who asks is a fool for 5 minutes but he who does not ask is a fool forever.

A_fiend_for_life

Before you buy a new one:
Freecycle,
Ask a friend / hint that your looking for a widget
Free ads / Supermarket ads / university or college notice boards / shop ads
Post a wanted poster - cherry pick if you can eg preferably a Widget F56/x
Ebay
Wait - be patient and try again

Water heating in its various guises uses a lot of energy.
Buy a flask from a charity shop to save the heated water the kettle.
Turn the temperature down on the shower and reduce the number of showers. Strip wash in between.
Wash hair / shave with cold water its refreshing honestly.
Turn the heating off - its summer - its 17C here and I feel fine.
Turn the tumble dryer off and use the washing line, or open windows to create a wind tunnel and freshen the house while drying the clothes on an airer.
Turn off the dishwasher and use cold soapy water for washing dishes - it really doesnt need to be hot.
Electric cooker and oven - use the residual heat from these to heat water.
Use a steamer or slow cooker.

Keep an eye out for good quality curtains or lining in charity shops this will save a fair bit come winter.
Put curtains up over doors and only heat the rooms you are occupying mostly the living room.

Visit the Old Style Board for ideas on detergents that work. Soda, lemon vinegar this will slash your bills.
Visit the green board for reducing energy bills.

When you get paid spend only what you have to for the first week and nothing else. It is easier at the end of the month. I'm on benefits at the moment and delaying by two to three days takes the edge off the gap at the end.
Singletons delay by two days and take only a couple of quid for reductions shopping. We dont need to spend any more than this. Even more important when your on a low income.

Many thin layers work better than a few thick layers to keep you warm.

Declutter and sell what you really dont need. Gumtree, free ad newspapers, supermarket boards, shop windows, university college boards, notice on your window. 2nd hand book / cd shops (not so good), car boot sale, last resort Ebay.

I've emphasised reducing costs rather than boosting income as many folk find it difficult to boost their income.

A_fiend_for_life

ooops done a verbose one again!!

Is there a 'Luxuries I don't miss thread / heading?'

One of the hardest things to give up is your luxuries. Yet these are often the things you'd wish you'd given up soonest.

Do you really need these:

Magazines - you can read them online
Newspapars - you can read them online
Satellite TV - up to £65 per month
New clothes - charity shop?
New books - library?
New CDs - library?
New DVDs - they depreciate faster than anything
2nd car
2nd holiday abroad
Big mobile contract
3, 4 or 5 nights out a week.
Expensive club memberships

Some you can't give up, all of us might have wished we'd given up sooner.

PS Don't give up too much too quick - it won't do you any good but see what you can do without - especially the most expensive.
.

DeniseNZ

Leave your purse at home 1 day a week - you'll be amazed at how much you spend on the odd chocolate bar

I MUST use this one! I'd hate to think how much I spend on chocolate each week.

Robbda

Will update as soon as i can x

Robbda

bump :j :j :j

Robbda

bump........

got-it-spend-it

Wow, what a great thread. This site has literally changed the way I think about money- a penny saved is a 1.25p earned (1.4p for higher rate tax payers). Do you really need that treat? Can you get a cheaper (or free) alternative? I used to spend £10+ a week on books that I read then put on the shelf. Now i use the library, charity shops and Freecycle. As soon as a book is read it gets passed on to family or freecycled (usually as a bundle).

Find free money- I don't just mean in the street etc but 12 months ago I had no idea that you can literally get free money through Quidco, Pigsback, Onepoll. It is worth doing the clicks and surveys- I've had £300 this year through Quidco, £20 through Pigsback and have more lined up to come through for Christmas.