How did you convince your family to save money?

SaveTheCheerleader

Thanks for your first post, I've just had a giggling fit trying to imagine myself and hubby sitting on the settee in homemade fleecy ponchos........:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Oldernotwiser

Tiger_greeneyes wrote: »

The thing that finally convinced him to be more frugal was the fact he's got a fairly expensive deep space telescope and he's really into learning about it and wants to use it, although he needs £150 to buy some equipment that will enable him to use it without worrying about condensation etc building up in it.

Over the last few months, I've managed to halve our Tesco shopping bill from £70 to £35 per week - I pointed out that fact and he hadn't noticed any difference in the meals. I told him that he could order the equipment he needs with the money I've saved. He's really chuffed with his new boy toys and he's now making plans with what to do with the next lot of saved money now he's seen the light :eek::D

I'm a bit puzzled as to how it's moneysaving to cut back on food so that your husband has more gadgets! It seems to me to be a strange order of priorities and pretty selfish on his part.

belfastgirl23

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm a bit puzzled as to how it's moneysaving to cut back on food so that your husband has more gadgets! It seems to me to be a strange order of priorities and pretty selfish on his part.

I think this probably counts as using a sprat to catch a mackerel. Some men need a nice clear example of the point of saving money, relating it to something they want but can't afford does this for them. If it finally gets his lightbulb lit up then it's worth it...

I know we had a moment in the supermarket where I said well we can either buy expensive dishwashing tablets or we can save for the house abroad we've always wanted, what do you think is more worth it, and DH finally got it...

miserly_mum

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I think this probably counts as using a sprat to catch a mackerel. Some men need a nice clear example of the point of saving money, relating it to something they want but can't afford does this for them. If it finally gets his lightbulb lit up then it's worth it...

I know we had a moment in the supermarket where I said well we can either buy expensive dishwashing tablets or we can save for the house abroad we've always wanted, what do you think is more worth it, and DH finally got it...

I know exactly what you mean. In my OH case he won't wear anything that doesn't have a "name" on it (apart from undies) where as I couldn't give a hoot.

He still gets his nice clothes (all be it off discount sites at a fraction of the price and using cashback) but he's had to be prepared to help me save money in other ways.

He also loves books and thought nothing of buying brand new ones at 10 or 12 quid each. He now gets them used off ebay, greenmetropolis or bookmooch. He reads a LOT so it is a signifigant saving over a year.

He's cutting back without feeling deprived so he's happy and so am I :T

I knew he'd finally cottoned on to being frugal when he went to get nappies from Asda one evening and came back with a garlic chicken reduced to 69p. He was so pleased with himself...... if he'd been a dog his tail would have been wagging.:p

Tiger_greeneyes

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm a bit puzzled as to how it's moneysaving to cut back on food so that your husband has more gadgets! It seems to me to be a strange order of priorities and pretty selfish on his part.

I do understand where you're coming from but Belfastgirl and Miserlymum hit the nail on the head - it was worth spending the money on his gadgets because a) he's now got a hobby that will last a lifetime without needing to spend more money on it, b) it was his lightbulb moment and he's now on board 100%, c) we've not had a single confrontation about me being tight and finally d) he works 11 hour days, he should be able to treat himself occasionally. I personally think it was cheap at half the price I've already converted him from designer labels - he used to buy a pair of jeans for £150 and now he wears £3 jeans from Asda.

I know I mentioned he was planning on what the next tranche of savings would buy but trust me, he'll forget all about it :rotfl: In a few months time (or whenever he remembers it) I'll be able to produce the savings book and will easily be able to convince him that we can leave it be and watch the balance grow, especially in this financial climate

Oldernotwiser

Apologies then, I'm glad it's working for you.

Tiger_greeneyes

No apology necessary Oldernotwiser - it's cool - I'd probably have said something similar a few months ago! :):)