Great 'ways To Cut Back' Hunt

Smudge32

Find out what Martyn is advising recently by looking at his most recent posts.

Click on his name wherever you see it (at the top of the forum: "Welcome New MoneySavers: Do read this" section is a good one) and this will take you into his profile. Then click on "Find all posts by MSE Martin".

Big Brother is watching!!

Also, don't wait for the weekly news bulleting to land in your e-mail box. Log on Wednesday afternoon and check for it. That way, all the bargains should hopefully still be there!!

Strike_Team

Learn to fix things, like how to:

Unblock a sink

Change a tap washer

Change a fuse/fuse wire

Change oil on your car

Sew on a button

Repair furniture and other items using materials such as strong thread, superglue, wood glue, screws, metal plates and brackets (from DIY shop), garden wire, etc

Fix a sticking door

DIY repairs can easily be as good as those done by the professionals (at vast expense), and can make the difference between something going in the bin or giving you a few more years of useful life. Just take your time and be careful to do a good job.


Oil the moving parts on mechanical things such as door and window locks and bicycles. Rust-prone items such as saws and air rifles (check it's unloaded first!) should be wiped over regularly with an oily rag. This'll make them last longer.

Mr_Hair_Bear

Just an idea how to save money on namley clothes........ A few years ago I was told by a fashion designer(who happens to be a friend of mine!) that all large fashion designer shops(lacoste burberry just to name a few) over supply their outlets with the latest designs so they could run on into their sales. So if you see something that you like in one of there shops and you are not to fussed to have the designs bang up to date all you have to do is wait for the sales. I know this might sound simple but I have done this myself and saved god knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Burberry have a end of the line warehouse in East london. (chatham place E4) check it out!

Maddie

Eliza252 wrote:

(has someone mentioned this already? - feel free to delete this post board guide if it has!)

Avoid using expensive 0845 numbers (etc etc) to call banks, credit card companies and other providers. Use the internet where possible - or find an alternative number to the 0845 option.
For instance many banks/credit cards list an overseas number - remove the '44' and replace with a '0' - I have just done this with my credit card company, I included my 1899 code and the call is totally free! Am now listening to entertaining holding music on speakers, probably for about half an hour - but for once I wont be really irate about the amount its cost me!
You can also try finding a free phone number for the company and then asked to transferred to the correct department - slightly underhand, but then so are their call-up rates! :cool:

1) Use this great website to find alternative numbers;
www.saynoto0870.com


2) Use your clubcard and nectar points in better ways. Clubcard points are worth 4x more if you get a Clubcard Deal, you can use them for things like RAC membership or theme park entry.

http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/frames/main.asp?url=/clubcard/clubcard/deals/main.htm&left=/clubcard/frames/default.asp?ref=L3

Nectar points aren't quite as good, but are worth twice as much at Adams clothes shops.

http://www.nectar.com/rewards/generalSearchHome.nectar

bennyvdb

robindunne1 wrote:

Never carry cash in your wallet.

Always carry cash! Plastic has no perceived value. If you pay cash it makes you think first!

Bargainloverbec

It might sound mad but I think my gym membership saves me quite a lot of money. I belong to Fitness First and my monthly fee is £24.95 (not sure how much it is for new members now).

If I go before work, apart from feeling incredibly smug all day because I've done some exercise, I can get: Use of the shower, shampoo, shower gel, hairdryer, iron etc; free breakfast; free copy of the financial times. Plus, the branch I belong to has a video and DVD library which I reckon saves me at least a tenner from my local video hire shop each month.

You need to go at least 2-3 times a week to make it worthwhile but if you're someone that enjoys the gym then make sure you belong to one that gives you lots of extra freebies.

Mickalls

The cost od alcohol goes up and up. There are many good beer and wine kits on the market which are very pleasant to drink and are made at a fraction of the cost of the pub or even supermarket prices.
Personally I prefer the white wine kits. There isn't sufficent body in the red kits for my liking. Some kits you can make and drink within 3 weeks. Beer takes about a week to brew and is best left for another 2 weeks
To be a real cheap skate you can make wine from fruit juice and sugar. How does 30 bottles of wine for under a fiver sound????

oscardog

Here are a few more:

1. Only half fill your car with fuel as it is the same as carrying another passenger if full and so uses more fuel!!
2. Get a cash and carry membership any way you can. Costco / Makro (we are members of both) will save you a fortune on stuff you always need (dog food, washing powder etc).
3. If you like wine and are prepared to buy in bulk, do the evening shopper on the Chunnel. It costs around £25 return regardless of time of year and is great. We tie it in to a nice dinner in France and you get your ticket cost back in the savings on a case or two of wine. (Only really works if you live close enought to the Chunnel to make fuel a non-issue).

blackberry-rum

Even cheaper than wine and beer making kits is to make it from scratch from free ingredients. I've just begun this year's elderflower champagne: pick 4 ripe elderflower heads (they're out now and for another couple of weeks so MOVE!!!), don't wash them, put them into a bucket with 1 gallon of water, 650 g of sugar and a couple of chopped up and squeezed lemons, including peel. Stir about to melt the sugar (you can melt the sugar in a little of the water heated up). Cover so no flies drop in and stir each day for four days. Strain and bottle into SCREW TOPPED bottles, held back from your recycling trips. Within 4 weeks it will have turned into a gallon of fragrant bubbly summery drink for the cost of a bag of sugar & 2 lemons!

thebarefootchef

Stop wearing shoes!
It's not as daft as it sounds,
Feet are really comfortable and guaranteed not to leak.