Changes you've made in 2009?

LameWolf

Really, carrying on as we've been doing - switching off things when not needed, only buying what we need grocery-wise, buying veggies from the market (cheaper and tastier), looking out for bogofs on non-perishables (eg shampoo etc).

I've always done my own hair - Mr LW helps me with it these days as i can't do it completely on my own now, and we've found him a less expensive barber (I'm not talented enough to cut his hair unfortunately), and I'm not really interested in clothes. As long as I'm warm enough, and decent, that's enough. (I have clothes I've had for literally decades, and still wear them!)

Sadly, I can't walk or cycle anywhere, as I'm disabled, but we plan car journeys to do several errands at once if they are on the same route, and for local things, Mr LW walks and I get my mobility scooter out.

Finally, the one that makes Mr LW laugh..... I often look at something on our list, announce "I'm not paying THAT sort of money for it" and put it back on the shelf. We'll either get it cheaper elsewhere or do without.

Lyger

I've started meal planning every week, which seems to have halved my monthly shopping bill! I was quite surprised at that, given how I started meal planning more as a personal experiment as opposed to a money saving scheme.

I keep a spending diary now, with all spends itemised into various categories such as food, social, petrol, household, etc.

I invested in a bottle of stardrops. I love that stuff.

I got my Dad to get me a slow cooker for my birthday (which is today, incidentally). He let me have it early because he knew I was desparate to have a play around with it.

I've organised my savings and finances, and finally got around to opening that ISA account I've been meaning to do for the last 3 years or so.

I've been teaching myself to cook from scratch, instead of relying on ready made shop stuff.

I took homemade cakes into the office today, instead of buying a load of cakes from the supermarket for my birthday as per office tradition.

I joined some cashback websites, and filter all my online purchases through there.

I've started buying my clothes secondhand off eBay. I brought an entire new wardrobe outfit for £7 (including p&p). I got the boots to go with it all free off a family member.

ellawood

I have cut down the money we spend on food mostly junk stopped taking my purse out with me when I do not need to I just used to buy allsorts go round turning everything off when poss but the bill is still high not had my hair cut for ages will have to go soon I may ring the local collage as they cut hair for free or very cheap cut down on spending on clothes using the ones I have got loads more too

Sun_Addict

These are the changes we have made so far:

We shop around for cheaper flights and book privately owned accommodation for our holidays. Before we used to book some huge villa for just the two of us from James Villas and then worry about how we were going to pay for it.

I have a big shop delivered once a month of the basics and heavy stuff. Then I shop around each week for the fresh stuff. I shop in a combination of Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi and Wilko in my lunch hour at work. I can then pick up the cream of the bargains to keep my grocery bill down.

When DS left home we converted his bedroom into a mini gym and I cancelled my gym membership. After one year the equipment had paid for itself and now we're quids in.

I walk to work everyday instead of catching the bus. More free exercise.

We no longer go into town every weekend. We used to just mooch around the shops buying stuff we didn't really need and having lunch out. We now only go when we really need something and I can honestly say we don't miss it.

I used to be a devil for the expensive cosmetic brands when they were offering a free gift if you buy two items. Now I would only buy if I had the cash spare and really really needed something.

We used to give ourselves a budget each of £120 personal spending money per month. Now we have just £50 each and we're not missing out on anything. I allow myself £10 per week and whatever is left over I put in a treat fund. The spare £10 usually goes in this as well. After 3 months I am going to see what I've got in the pot and treat myself to a facial or new handbag or something like that. No doubt I will be loathe to part with the cash when the time comes. I have become really frugal with my £10 per week budget.

I used to buy clothes just because I liked them not because I needed them. Now I only have my little £50 a month budget I only buy things I love or really need. It's amazing how fussy I've become.

We have started growing our own veg. This is the first year we have done this and we're not very greenfingered so here's hoping!

I also complete surveys and am going to finally get around to ebaying some unwanted items.

david69_2

my biggest change is I've left my job full time paid ok but it just got to me in the end.
I had the last 4 weeks off catching up on jobs in the garden and I've really enjoyed it I'm now looking for a part-time job to keep me ticking over and also looking to start up my own business.

tattoed_bum

this year we have changed all bulbs to the energy saving ones
meal plan
bought bulk in a few things eg,soap powder ,dishwashing powder ,etc
bought our meat in bulk from makro which is working out a lot cheaper .
we have also been buying 25kg bags of maris piper potatoes for just £6 these last us ages .
we have also traded in one of our cars for a more economical and cheaper tax and insuranced car
shopped about on insurances and saved a small fortune ( roughly saved £800 on just this )
have spent a lot more time going out without my switch card .
and switching everything of at night has made a huge difference to the electric bill

Joolzr68

We have started to eat less meat this year by having at least 2 veggie meals a week.

My Husband now takes a packed lunch each day to work

Instead of going out for meals with friends we invite them around for a home cooked one.

I plan to grow more veg myself this year although I've always grown tomatos, radish,herbs and lettuce each summer.

I also plan to find a butcher (if possible) and investigate if it would be cheaper than supermarket meat. But i've not actually got around to doing this yet!

Gers

Most of the above, apart from formal meal planning. Lifestyle is too hectic to be rigid in this but I appreciate how it works for others.

Cutting back/using up stuff in cupboards and freezer etc and making better use of ingredients means that I now have sufficient funds to buy a new car. I was shocked and surprised to find that changing to a diesel engine has brought down my road tax (fewer emissions), fuel costs and insurance.

Love it all, and it's mostly down to this site.

Butterfly_Brain

Lyger wrote: »

I've started meal planning every week, which seems to have halved my monthly shopping bill! I was quite surprised at that, given how I started meal planning more as a personal experiment as opposed to a money saving scheme.

I keep a spending diary now, with all spends itemised into various categories such as food, social, petrol, household, etc.

I invested in a bottle of stardrops. I love that stuff.

I got my Dad to get me a slow cooker for my birthday (which is today, incidentally). He let me have it early because he knew I was desparate to have a play around with it.

I've organised my savings and finances, and finally got around to opening that ISA account I've been meaning to do for the last 3 years or so.

I've been teaching myself to cook from scratch, instead of relying on ready made shop stuff.

I took homemade cakes into the office today, instead of buying a load of cakes from the supermarket for my birthday as per office tradition.

I joined some cashback websites, and filter all my online purchases through there.

I've started buying my clothes secondhand off eBay. I brought an entire new wardrobe outfit for £7 (including p&p). I got the boots to go with it all free off a family member.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYGER _party_

Fozz

The main things I have done are:

Keeping a spending diary - this has had amazing results, I just used to spend without thinking, now I have a weekly budget and stick to it religiously.

Meal planning.

Using a shopping list.

Using the washing machine early in the morning to save electricity.

Using my new slow cooker as much as possible!