Great 'Recession Survival Tips' Hunt

Davesnave

Isabelle wrote: »

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

Another diet based on getting back to nature. Unsustainable, (as we are not all hunter-gatherers) and therefore expensive too!

Here's a link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-564859/Caveman-diet-lowers-risk-heart-disease-new-research-shows.html

Davesnave

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.

I think you will find that the recession has barely started yet and that, like the last really deep one, when it arrives, it will last for a considerable time. As you will know, Hitler solved his county's problem in the Depression years with a massive programme of investment in infrastructure and armaments, all of which culminated in the War you speak of. Let us hope that history does not repeat itself, eh?

cozzasmith

cranezoe wrote: »

Use the library. I'm amazed at how many people don't!

I too am amazed at the number of people who don't realise that it is free to join the library and also free to borrow books. What many people also don't realise is that your library will order in new books if you request them and that this only costs 50p. Compare this to the price of buying the book yourself (even if you later sell it on) and you are making a huge saving.

Also, if you make your children library members, any books borrowed in their name that are damaged are not charged for by the library - handy to know!

Taffybiker

I have the perfect answer to everything. Let's all vote for Martin Lewis to become Chancellor!:money: Now there's a man who would get my full support!:T

happyinflorida

The two things that I notice people spend too much money on is mobiles/landlines/internet connections and also cars. Everyone seems to think they cannot manage without a car nowadays - if you add up the monthly cost of a car you will be shocked - the fuel, insurance, car tax & servicing/MOT/tyres/repairs - not to mention if the car's on hire purchase! It's far too much. People need to think about reducing their outgoings as much as possible.

HappySad

caroline1973lefty wrote: »

i've saved a fortune on food in the following 2 ways:

1. cut down on meat. vegetarian meals - from replacing mince with tinned pulses/lentils, to buying the cheese sandwich rather than the BLT - are generally cheaper - sometimes, massively so.

2. take snacks like apples and nuts/seeds out and abput, and a bottle of water re-filled from the tap (and making sure i have a glass of water and some food before i leave the house!). i've already stopped smoking but realised i was spending almost as much on snack food for a while!

We do the same. Carry tap water & homemade sandwiches with us. We always have bottled supermarket water in the car just incase so we don't run out & have to buy expensive water.


Holidays camping & special deals in Uk hotels.

Charis

happyinflorida wrote: »

The two things that I notice people spend too much money on is mobiles/landlines/internet connections and also cars. Everyone seems to think they cannot manage without a car nowadays

If you live in a rural area, and many of us do, public transport is infrequent, patchy and in some cases only runs once or twice a week. It might suit some people who can arrange their day so that they only ever travel in daylight, remembering of course not to catch the school run cattle truck in the morning or afternoon.

If you want a normal life though, and you don't live in a city, there is no choice other than having your own transport and out here four wheels are marginally safer than two. The only other option, for evening events or getting teenagers home at silly hours from college trips, is to pay for a taxi, which would cost more than a couple of weeks' running costs for my little car.

I only use my mobile for texts (at 3p each) and emergency calls. I send quite a lot of texts but it still costs me less than £10 a month and it has, on occasion, been a lifesaver, possibly literally. A dozy bus driver, realising my daughter who didn't know the area, had gone past her stop, simply let her off the bus in the middle of nowhere, in a layby with no pavements on a 60mph road. Had she not had her mobile, and I my car, I don't like to think what would have happened.

ZoeGirl_3

I would have to say don't waste money on non-essential things you may be buying out of habit, eg,

1) Don't buy special cleaning cloths, use old tea towels or other rags.
2) My parents never bought us tissues (we were always pretty broke) and we used toilet paper (keep a new clean roll in the lounge lol when you are sick, don't have to use the germy one in the loo ) or use hankies you have made yourself.
3) I don't buy paper towels, kitchen paper etc. To line my cake tins etc I use the papers that come on top of margarine tubs, or butter paper.
4) Cleaners can be expensive too, read around the Old Style thread, and get some great ideas for savings there.
5) You can make your own salad dressing that taste pretty similar for less than bought ones, look around for recipes online. Simple ones just use some oil, vineger, lemon juice etc and maybe a few herbs or something else depending on taste.

Above all, don't let being a bit tighter let you down, once you get into the savings game it can become a lot of fun, there are plenty of challenges out there and supportive people online, even if those you meet everyday are too much in denial to support what you are trying to do. :cool:

For example, I think the idea of having two couples come round, one with the starter, one with the dessert while you supply the main is actually such a GREAT idea. :beer: In whose books is that a hardship? :eek:

Sue-UU

Before buying anything that isn't within your budget, ask yourself "do I NEED it - or is it that I WANT it?" If it's the latter then leave it!

If you're still unsure, leave it for that day and go back when your next in town. Often when we see things the second time around we often view it in a different light and aren't so keen at all.

If it's already gone - then it was never meant for you anyway!

Mostly remember that however bad things may get, don't worry too much as it's no good worrying about things that you can't change, keep tabs on those that you can!

Good luck and cuddle up more with the ones you love, it's they that'll help you as much as anything else.

Sue

ixwood

Live within your means and pay down any debt ASAP. Living off future earnings isn't ideal at the best of times, but potentially disastrous in harder times.