Moneysaving Tips

goody2shoes_2

What are your top 5 moneysaving tips?

laurajayne

1) Spending diary! It's amazing when you realise what you spend your money on.

2) Quidco - best site in the world!

3) Always ask - don't ask, don't get! (Helps to flutter the eyelashes)

4) Become an active member of MSE

5) Chin up - life can be a b***h at times...just keep on trucking, even if it feels like you're going backwards.

The_Boss

To be fair - Quidco is money earning rather than money saving. Got any tip to replace it?

Unfortunately, I'm useless at saving money but here are my suggestions.

1. If you have Excel, create a spreadsheet detailing your debts and percentage of credit limits on card used and use it to work out how much you would be paying them off. My goal is for all cards and overdraft to be below 50% by the new year and my spreadsheet tells me how much each account reduced by and the percentage of used credit when I pay of X amount of money.

2. 0% on balance transfers (purchases can encourage you to spend rather than repay)

3. Look for potentially cheaper alternatives if can be managed - e.g Wetherspoons instead of flash new bar.

4. Eat out less, take sandwiches to work more.

5. Pay back your debts with the highest interest rate first.

save-a-lot

1] I never impulse buy, I go away and think do I really need that, and more often than not I do not make a purchase

2] I always shop around, especially for things like insurance, with the power of the internet it is easy to compare things, read reviews etc

3] One week in the month we have a meat free week and this saves quite a bit

4] I take sandwiches to work rather than using the restuarant and that easily saves around £20 a week.

5] (this one is my wifes best money saver) - she subscribes to magazines, it is far cheaper than buying them monthly from the newsagent

Mrs_Sparkle

1. One night a week we have home-made soup

2. I only use 1 washing tablet instead of 2 in the washing machine- I don't notice the difference

3. Quidco + Pigsback

4. No more burying head in sand- I am no longer an ostrich when it comes to finances

5. I come on here every day!

southernscouser

1) moneysavingexpert.com

2) Spending diary without a doubt

3) Internet banking. Very helpful to know where you are

4) Research. Don't assume you won't find anything cheaper.

5) Patience (I'm not sure why, just sounded good) :rotfl:

save-a-lot

Here is a number six

6] cancel direct debits and standing orders for things you no longer use/subscribe to, i.e. recurring gym membership etc

MinnieSpender

1. Love the Spreadsheet - use one to enter your incomings and outgoings and to tell you how much you have left to spend at the end of the month/week.

2. Once you have that figure - budget, budget, budget! Set a weekly spending amount and stick to it!

3. Become a cash-only spender. Withdraw your budgetted amount once a week and only spend that. Leave your cards at home.

4. Meal plan in advance and shop according to your list. Home cooked is healthier and cheaper (visit the Old Style board for excellent ideas).

5. Double up! Take two bottles into the shower? What can you use that does two jobs instead of one? Stardrops is cheap (around 60p a bottle) and will clean anything (you can even use it as washing up liquid). White vinegar has a multitude of uses (OS board again).

hula-hoops

My tip has been mentioned - leave your debit/ATM card at home and go grocery shopping with just cash.

Also - go grocery shopping just after you've eaten a big meal. You'll feel full and be less likely to be tempted by snacks and extras.

Learn to repair/make clothes.

Reuse, reuse and reuse again.

Join a library and borrow books rather than buying new. Also saves trees!

Buying Christmas cards and wrap in January sales and keep till December. I also buy some gifts in the January sales.

laurajayne

The_Boss wrote:

To be fair - Quidco is money earning rather than money saving. Got any tip to replace it?

ah ha...but if it's something you were buying anyway due to the cashback it would be cheaper no? :rolleyes:

But admittedly....I do scout for quido finds to earn money

So to replace this......2 month rule...if I see something I 'want' rather than 'need' then I have to think about it for 2 months...if I still want it after that, then I treat myself (generally under the £30 mark though lol)

oops_a_daisy

my five are.........

1. Do a budget and stick to it ( thats the difficult part )
2. Shop around for best deals and cashback
3. Check bank account daily
4. Check MSE daily
5. Spending diary