Great 'Recession Survival Tips' Hunt

renard_2

We have saved megapounds on telephone charges by signing up with 1899 and 18185. They charge only 5p to call any UK phone number beginning with 01 or 02, with no restriction whatsoever on the length of call. Overseas calls and calls to mobiles are much cheaper too (it's best to check whether 1899 or 18185 are the cheapest for mobiles or any particular country).
My wife has lengthy phone conversations with our daughter and other relations, so paying only 5p a call is really great.
I have made sure that the presets on our home phones all begin with 1899 or 18185.
If you want to know more, have a look at www.call1899.co.uk and www.18185.co.uk
We have used these people for about five years, with no trouble whatsoever.
You will find lots more about 1899 and 18185 on Martin's website.

Oh, and remember - if a company tells you to call an 0870 number or 0845 to contact them, first check with www.saynoto0870.co.uk to see if there is a cheaper or free alternative. That website has been a godsend in saving money on call charges - dialling 0870 etc can cost a fortune.

caroline1973lefty

also, talk to your neighbours (find an excuse if you don't know them!) - we save money by swapping local bargain spots, sharing tools, gardening stuff, surplus food, all sorts of stuff actually! we're also thinking about car sharing. i also read somewhere that being on friendly terms with your neighbours gives you the equivalent extra happiness to earning £35k and i can certainly vouch for the truth of that!

it's perhaps worth adding that i live in a fairly 'gritty' area of london, not some rural idyll, and the impetus for talking to neighbours was the desire to have a street party and improve the local development that was taking place. recently we have set up a residents association. our communities have survived much tougher times (like during the war!) through this kind of co-operation and mutual aid, and can do so again. that's my opinion, anyway!

moanymoany

LouiseTopp wrote: »

I would do but our city doesn't have one, the nearest one is 26 miles away. Is there anyway Lidles or Aldays have websites in which you can shop off of?

Keep a price book. The book 'The Tightwad Gazette' suggests that you do this and gives ideas on how to organise them. This way when you go into a Lidl or Aldi you can see if the items are really cheaper when you compare the price with other places you buy.

I went into a Lidl on Saturday and was surprised to find that it was not cheaper than Tesco for the things that I bought.

I would suggest that you invest in the 'Tightwad Gazette'. It is rarely in the library system but is easy to get cheaply on Amazon. There are three volumes and a combined volume.

I find it amazing, although it is American there is almost nothing that cannot be done here. It is the idea that is important. Many old stylers treat it as their bible - I regularly re-read them and I always find new ideas.

Reading the thread backwards! So adding bits as I think of them.

Use dried beans, Cook them as per instructions on the pack and then freeze in 80 gram portions (1 portion veg). Much cheaper than tinned. Possible exception is Tesco value red kidney beans. I use the cooking water as a base for soup.

I bought a slow cooker at a boot sale. They are often on freecycle. Soak and boil your beans for 10 minutes then cook in the SC. Cannelini beans are the cheapest, but all just about double in size 500g dried/1 kilo cooked.

HM wholemeal bread doesn't have to be kneaded and is cheaper than bought. Value plain flour makes bread - I've used that and strong white bread flour and didn't notice any difference - only the price! It also makes good soda bread which is a great quickly made standby if you run out of bread.

Use the internet for recipes and 'how to' advice. It's all out there.

gardengirl_3

We are on very limited budget (hubby out of work for 6 months) so I make it a daily challenge to eat well for as little as possible. Food from our allotment is virtually free, top quality and plentiful. Use (farm) eggs more often (ok according to my doctor). Less meat, but when we do, it's good quality so goes further. Fish in bulk bags from Lidl. Actually eat smaller quantities - good for the waistline. Shop at Lidl and Morrisons instead of Tesco and always with a list. Today we had veggie soup with sweetcorn, onions, kohl rabi, herbs and parsnip, all homegrown and very filling, followed by blackberry and apple - all for 'free'. Non-gardeners can grow quite a lot in pots - look on the internet for ideas. Don't throw away leftovers - be inventive. Luckily fixed our fuel prices with Safewarm (for the over 60s) before the hikes. And we never spend what we have not got!

poorbabe

woohoo_postingid wrote: »

Obviously now would be an expensive time to have children, but of course we all want the fun that goes into making one, therefore don't buy expensive ribbed condoms, just buy cheaper standard ones and chuck a handful of frozen peas in before use

postingid, what do you mean? You made me laugh, then I had a think about the frozen peas comment

pixieK_2

Hi im a newbie and i have been reading everyones great advise and thank you there are some fantastic tips.

My advise is visit your local bootsale you will be surprised what bargains you could pick up. I buy 99% of my son's toys there and most of his clothes at 50p an item. He isn't in them long and they are in great condition. I buy myself clothes at 50p an item and dvds for a couple of £. There is nearly everything you can think of being sold at a bootsale. Also you could buy items from the bootsale and sell them yourself on ebay. If you have stuff to clear out you could do your own bootsale for some extra cash. Think about it every penny counts.

:j Good luck with saving your cash

Isabelle

with reference to post #14 from Happysad.
Does anyone know? (just curious ).
Isabelle

oldandwise

I am appalled at the tone of these tips and so on. I am almost eighty and have yet to see anything to panic about, unless, of course, you are living beyond your means. I have never had any ill effects from these so called recessions. This is par for the course we have had these ups and downs for my entire life and if you live on what you earn and don't get into debt there is no problem. If you can't afford it go without, you probably don't need it anyway. Living throuh a war teaches you how to cope.

Charis

oldandwise wrote: »

I am appalled at the tone of these tips and so on. I am almost eighty and have yet to see anything to panic about, unless, of course, you are living beyond your means. If you can't afford it go without, you probably don't need it anyway.

That's a surprising comment, given that many older folk say that they are being forced to choose between heating and eating.

Thrifty_2

oldandwise wrote: »

I am appalled at the tone of these tips and so on. I am almost eighty and have yet to see anything to panic about, unless, of course, you are living beyond your means. I have never had any ill effects from these so called recessions. This is par for the course we have had these ups and downs for my entire life and if you live on what you earn and don't get into debt there is no problem. If you can't afford it go without, you probably don't need it anyway. Living throuh a war teaches you how to cope.

We can expect you to be giving your heating allowance to those less well off than yourself then can we.