Making a list of ways to save money

charleybear

So far I have these on my list:

1. Make a shopping list & stick to it
2. Sell unwanted items
3. Learn to say no
4. Ask myself – do I really need the item
5. Put spare change into savings tin
6. keep track of spending
7. Take in own tea & coffee on bus journeys
8. Use student card whenever you can
9. Limit the amount you can spend
10. Use the 50%(re-payments) 30%(myself) 20%(savings) rule
11. have more “stay at home” days
12. Sell unwanted trading cards
13. Do more overtime
14. Sell greeting cards
15. Pick up any coins on the street
16. Use clubcards & loyalty cards
17. Create a budget
18. Take lunch to work
19. Re-use bottles
20. Avoid taking cash and debit card to work/college at least once a week
21. Take part in MSE money saving challenges
22. Cut back on un-needed items that costs £1 - £10
23. Cut out sweets
24. Only eat out once a month at most
25. Go on more “free dates”
26. Put at least £1 for every day I have a no spend day into my savings.

I'm sure there's more.

Apart from paying my mum £50 a month to pay off my laptop and after putting £50 back into my savings to pay off my tablet and start my savings again, I don't really have anything else to pay for.

On September the 6th when I get paid, I will be using the 50% 30% 20% rule to help me budget better. Any gifts I have to get for birthdays & christmas would be taken out of the 50%.

Also I am wishing to save money to rent a house in a few years time and I'm not sure how much I'd need to deposit. my hopes are to rent a house with at least 2 bedrooms for £600 a month.
The goal is to live in a house in the next 10 - 15 years starting from now.

Moggins_2

Can't help with any tips but normally the deposit on a rented house is the same as a months rent or can be a months rent plus about a hundred pounds. Our rent for 2 bed house is 525, deposit was 625 as far as I remember

ziggy2004

we have had deposits ranging from 1 months rent to 2 months rent depending on the LL ( some wanted a higher deposit as we have children)

I love lists and would add : Check list to your list so you keep reassessing what is on there and what does and does not work as you intended

LameWolf

Make an inventory of your food stores, so your shopping list only has things you actually do need on it.

I have mine on spreadsheets on a flash-drive, one for the cupboard and one for the freezer, and update them when I use something and when I've been shopping.:o

Also, every time we get a £2 coin, we put it in a tin - it soon mounts up!:o Mr LW complains that he's being mugged every time I nab one off him;:D he turns his pockets out each night, onto a wooden tray he's got, and I'm always right there, ready to swipe any £2 coins.:D

charleybear

I don't need to buy food yet because my parents buy it all but shopping list is on there as I spend way more than I need to and I love the £2 idea! My partner does that kind of thing with £1 but it's for his comics

maman

I'm sure there are loads but I'd add:

• use the library rather than buy books
• always pick up the free magazines in supermarkets as they often have great recipes in them
• browse charity shops regularly for clothes and household items
• look after the clothes you've got to make them last (keep old stuff for housework/gardening, hang up your decent clothes etc.)
• my freezer is my friend (make HM ready meals, freeze or make soup from any bits of veg)
• NEVER throw food away
• use re-usable dishcloths or old rags for most jobs that kitchen roll/Jcloths can do
• ignore the 'number of washes' on boxes of washing powder, use about half recommended amount

I'm enjoying this! Keep them coming!

pigpen

House deposits here are usually 1 months rent in advance, 1 months rent as a bond and £100 admin fee.

Then you have to factor in moving costs, decorating, furniture and other housey necessities.

How about always using cashback sites/vouchers/codes etc?
Some such as quidco do a payment for checking in at various high street stores which is worth taking advantage of.. it all adds up!

double_mummy

pigpen wrote: »

House deposits here are usually 1 months rent in advance, 1 months rent as a bond and £100 admin fee.
!

wow im moving near you here it is 1 months rent in advance 1 months rent as deposit and anything from £150 - £400 for admin costs

tessie_bear

my 2 penneth

# take a bottle with water in my bag so dont buy drinks
# look for free stuff to do with kids such as heritage weekend in sept
#shop in the market for fruit/veg
# dont waste any food use leftovers
# limit eating out
# think very carefully before each spend

good luck

charleybear

I've got some more ideas on how to save money.
I've been researching all night. I may as well create a list of doable ways to save and do them when I can. May even post on here - maybe do a challenge ?

meritaten

my fave rule is - do NOT go shopping with 'loadsamoney', leave the plastic at home if you can and only take as much cash as you want to spend.
you spot something you 'want' - walk away and if you have forgotten it in five minutes you didn't really want it!