Making a list of ways to save money

ERICS_MUM

move "down-market" on toiletries brands - Aldi sell a good skincare range called Lacura, we buy Schwarzkopf or Silvikrin shampoo and conditioner in the Pound shop - both are good brands but a third of the price of the trendy designer brands from Boots. Don't go mooching around cosmetics counters if you don't absolutely need a new lipstick/mascara etc (you know how tempting it is if you see a new range or colour you like).

Could you walk to work or part of the way to cut bus/train fares ?

It sounds like you are definitely on the right track, and as you get more money-wise other ides will come to mind and before long it will be an obsession !

Good luck with your longer term plans but don't forget to have some short-term fun as well !

maman

May help OP who's still living at home. My DD1 lived on very little when she was a student and found all sorts of ways to live frugally. When she qualified/got a job/gained promotion etc. she carried on living on very much the same budget as when she was hard up. Result after a few years, house deposit!!

charleybear

Here's the other part of the list some have been mentioned I added them to the list.

Re-assess what works and what doesn't.
Use the library even for dvds.
Pick up free store magazines some have monthly tips on how to save money.
Make a budget every week or month.
Don't buy on impulse.
Check bank account frequently.
Check freecycle website (? ).
If friends are getting rid of good condition items,offer to buy them - you can use the items as gifts or for yourself.
Use the iron budget - only take the amount of cash that you plan to use - no cards.
Save receipts of everything you've bought ;
Cut back or create a limit on unessasary spending.
Watch all the dvds you own or swap with friends.
Disconnect from technology could help you save money on useage and electricity bill.
Spend less than you earn.
Don't buy music - use youtube, Spotify ect. ..
If you haven't already set up a savings account, do so and save money even if it's not alot.
Keep score of your repayments and bills.
Make a master list of everything that needs to be done and do them when ever you have free time you wish to 'waste'.
Buy gifts in the sell or for Christmas buy little bits for people all year round as the prices won't rise like they do in the holiday season.
Create a management folder - can save you money as you can track down financial situation and about your house.
When you're going out,take your own drinks.
Look for free stuff to do or really really cheap things to do.
Set up a standing order to put money in your bank - you won't miss money you don't see.
Set short,medium and long term financial goals.
Create an emergency fund.
Plan to shop for 1 hour as this lowers the chance you'll buy something appealing also it can be fun to time how long it takes you to complete your shopping.
.se coupons and deals wherever you can.
Try to get coins or change when you can - put them into a savings tin and at the end of the month put it all in your savings.
Go to charity shops.
Up cycle and recycle / diy your old or unwanted clothing.
Add any extra given money into savings tin or account.

ADDED:
Unplug electronic items.
Avoid over-draft fees
Avoid atm fees
Research expensive products before buying.

K9sandFelines

charleybear wrote: »

Here's the other part of the list some have been mentioned I added them to the list.

Re-assess what works and what doesn't.
Use the library even for dvds.
Pick up free store magazines some have monthly tips on how to save money.
Make a budget every week or month.
Don't buy on impulse.
Check bank account frequently.
Check freecycle website (? ).
If friends are getting rid of good condition items,offer to buy them - you can use the items as gifts or for yourself.
Use the iron budget - only take the amount of cash that you plan to use - no cards.
Save receipts of everything you've bought ;
Cut back or create a limit on unessasary spending.
Watch all the dvds you own or swap with friends.
Disconnect from technology could help you save money on useage and electricity bill.
Spend less than you earn.
Don't buy music - use youtube, Spotify ect. ..
If you haven't already set up a savings account, do so and save money even if it's not alot.
Keep score of your repayments and bills.
Make a master list of everything that needs to be done and do them when ever you have free time you wish to 'waste'.
Buy gifts in the sell or for Christmas buy little bits for people all year round as the prices won't rise like they do in the holiday season.
Create a management folder - can save you money as you can track down financial situation and about your house.
When you're going out,take your own drinks.
Look for free stuff to do or really really cheap things to do.
Set up a standing order to put money in your bank - you won't miss money you don't see.
Set short,medium and long term financial goals.
Create an emergency fund.
Plan to shop for 1 hour as this lowers the chance you'll buy something appealing also it can be fun to time how long it takes you to complete your shopping.
.se coupons and deals wherever you can.
Try to get coins or change when you can - put them into a savings tin and at the end of the month put it all in your savings.
Go to charity shops.
Up cycle and recycle / diy your old or unwanted clothing.
Add any extra given money into savings tin or account.

ADDED:
Unplug electronic items.
Avoid over-draft fees
Avoid atm fees
Research expensive products before buying.

Use comparison websites
Do questionnaires/ surveys online for extra cash. I find Value Opinions to be the best, though haven't been using as much of late as pc tower and laptop both in for repair, so online via phone.

[Deleted User]

I have worked out a reasonable system for myself.I budget for a seperate food purse per month which is only spent on food that's needed.
As I live alone I have got it down to £60.00 per month.I shop perhaps once every 10 days or so if required.I came home from my holiday last Saturday and apart from buying some milk,bread and eggs I have stayed away from shops and am using what I have in the freezer.
As my freezer is jam-packed with HM meals and stuff from before my holiday I have as yet no need to go shopping I have a list by the kettle of things needed as opposed to 'grab and go' as I used to.

At the moment on the list is only banana's and green veg.I had some fruit in the freezer that I have used over the past couple of days also some frozen veg so I shall probably not shop until mid next week.I try to ensure that I have at least 10 items to buy before I shop and if I have run out of something I will adapt what I already have in stock instead.
Last night for example, I go to a regular quiz night every Tuesday.It's £2.00 and great fun.You get a cooked supper thrown in as well so I didn't need to cook dinner last night before I went and had a lovely stew and mash about 8.30 So Tuesday nights dinner is taken care of along with my entertainment.:):)
I have a pot that my 'fun money' goes into once a month usually about £20.00 and any cash left over goes into my holiday account for next year also any cash left from my food purse as well.I only pay cash for food etc from my budget purse so once its gone thats it until the 1st of the next month.

At the moment I have about £17 odd left from my holiday money which will more than see me through until 1st September and then its back to my normal £60.00 per month in my small brown purse.
Until about two-three years ago I never really thought much about what I spent,I have always lived within my means and never spent what I didn't have. I do have a credit card but its paid off every month and I get cash back on it (I usually use it instead of cash for dielsel,Christmas /birthday presents etc)
By keeping a close eye on what I spend now it enables me to have my holidays for a fortnight once a year with my family (I pay for the accomodation and my DD buys the food days out etc)
Once you start to watch what you spend you realise how much you have been buying things that you really don't need.
My grocery bills have come down, yet I can still enjoy the odd treat.
I cook from scratch all the time so my food is HM.I make vats of soup which uses up odds and ends of veg so nothing is binned foodwise.

I recycle and re-use as much as possible.The libray is great for books or even the odd jigsaw in the winter :) I knit,cook,bake and make as many things as I can I make all of my own cards for Christmas /birthdays etc.Lots of fun as I recycle bits from other cards as decorations.Empty jars and bottles get reused for all sorts of things I bake 8 small Christmas cakes in small empty half size bean tins and decorate as use for gifts for friends at Christmas who like me live alone.

Foraging for blackberries especially at this time of the year is great fun my grandsons and I managed to find around 3lb yesterday which have been washed and frozen for use during the winter in pise and I like to mix them with vanilla ice cream (value of course) to make a nice blackberry ice cream.I reuse old envelopes for shopping lists or as scrap paper.Nothing gets wasted if I can help it and my DDs always say I can find a use for almost everything :)
Good luck with your saving you are on the right track and you have had your 'light-bulb ' moment so its full steam ahead
Well done

Chrisblue1962

Better / cheaper phone usage

1. Make a list of all people and organisations you are most likely to phone or regularly phone - i.e. closest friends & family , plus bank(s) / building societies , gas & electric provider , local council, doctor, etc. A spreadsheet may be best for this

2. Once list of numbers is made, try to use any free minutes you get with current landline &/or mobile package and best time of day to use these minutes.

3. Check with Saynoto0870 for cheaper rate numbers.

4. Monitor use of bundled minutes on mobile to prevent going over allowance.

5. If using landline , keep an eye on call time length , especially during "Peak" time

6. Mark on spreadsheet which is best for phoning each individual number - mobile or landline and best time of day.

cupcakeprincess

I know it's hard keeping track of money you spend (I can't stand a purse full of receipts)...download an app if you have a smart phone. The one I have is called 'Spending Tracker' it makes it easier to keep tabs on things.

kboss2010

If you drink coffee, invest in a cafetiere and a reusable travel mug. My OH and I have saved hundreds taking our own coffee in the mornings instead of Starbucks/work prices.

The best travel mug I've found (and the only ones I've had that don't leak when tipped upside down!) are the Starbucks ones. The plastic one is around £6 or you could opt for the metal one as it's a bit sturdier if you're clumsy like me and drop it occasionally although it's quite pricey at £16 (Xmas present maybe?).

Don't buy the Bodem ones. I bought one for my OH and it leaked EVERYWHERE. I thought it was faulty so took it back and the replacement one did the same. I was not impressed as it cost me about £12!

Savannah02K

Pay yourself the Stupid Tax - which is what we call the lottery in our house. Used to be every Wed and every Sat we'd each put a £1 in our penguin money box. When Mr Penguin was full, we'd buy a premium bond. Any wins on that bond, or other bonds bought via Mr Penguin, also went back into him. I have to pay £1 for parking at work so any day I can walk in and out, that money also goes to Mr P. Ditto any savings on shopping (BOGOFs, those little vouchers you get that say 'today you saved ..... shopping at Tesco/Sainsburys), that money gets fed to Mr P. Soon mounts up!

marmiterulesok

Hi charleybear.You have some great ideas,well done!

Here are a few more ideas that I use:

-batch cook

- consider giving up meat,which can be quite pricey.You can eat very well as a vegetarian.

-if buying spices,dried beans and peas go to an Indian shop,as the prices are very low compared to the supermarkets.

-don't go window shopping in town or online.If you don't see it you won't be tempted.

-take lunches plus snacks for your break to work and a packed lunches/snacks/a drink if going out for the day/a few hours.

-when buying fruit or veg that is prepackaged or loose,choose small fruit/veg.The logic of this for me is that if you eat an apple a day,and you buy eight small ones instead of four medium/large,the apples will last you eight days,and not four.It really can make a difference.

-this doesn't actually save you money I don't think,but consider setting up an emergency fund within your budget.it can be a 'life-saver' for any unexpected bills etc.

-like you say,think of needs not wants,but maybe have a small treats fund for the odd magazine/coffee.It's great to be in control of your finances and save money,but we're human beings,not machines.

-if you have a blip,try not to let it bring you down.Nobody's perfect...

-try to think ahead for birthdays/Christmas and get your presents in the sales/homemade.

I hope that these ideas are of use to you.I'll try and read the whole thread later.