Great Tips... one liners

sadiedoll

9. Don't get caught up in thinking that you must be like everyone else, buy what they buy, own what they own, do what they do etc. You don't know where their money comes from, they may be going in debt to fund that new car or holiday. Xmas is especially bad for this, trying to keep up with everyone else, it's a race no one can win. Don't be afraid to say no to something because you can't afford it. Be yourself, define your priorities, needs, wants, limits, budgets, plans, goals etc. Live your own life, look after your own finances, because no one else will.


This should be pinned! Wise words indeed. Wish there was a smiley for taking my hat off to you.................;)

Herbyme

Hi,
Some Qs and some As:

I bet you all know about freecycle.org and I know it waa mentioned above but if you haven't tried it, you should, it's brilliant - I've had a coffee grinder, a garden umbrella, some hair straighteners and some curling tongs (don't ask!) And also good for advice eg where to download freeware from.

Another e tip, if you have lots of something in the fridge and can't think what to cook with it, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ where you can put in up to 3 ingredients and get loads of recipes with those things in.

Can I ask what is a thrown out diary - a list of what you throw out? From the fridge? how does it help? and also what are the challenges and coin tubes people have on their posts?

Thanks all - I'm new here!

exlibris

inkie wrote:

It is a wonderful cleaning agent - can be sued for almost everything including washing up -

Please don't sue Stardrops. We need them to continue!

(I am the worst for typos but this frightened me lol)

Herbyme

Some more Qs and As:

I put dishwashing brushes in the dishwasher and dishcloths in the washing machine, so they last for ever. matalan sell net bags for e cloths for (I think) £1 for 4 so you can put them in the machine too.

How do you use soda if you use liquid? I thought it would rot your clothes but obviously not. Where do you buy it? I am an Ecover fan too and never use conditioner but do tumble dry things when they're almost dry, on the 'easy iron' setting which uses hardly any heat but means you can avoid ironing most things, even jeans.

Last Q, how do you stop yourself using things up more quickly if you know you have loads left cos you did a big BOGOF buy?

Thanks all! No snow here, boo hoo, and flat tyre too, ditto!



Also

Herbyme

OK, I should have thought of these all in one go, but lastly:
When you get books from the library, write the return date in your diary so you don't run up fines. My library does 2 weeks for the price of 1 on CDs etc if you go exactly one week before a bank holiday so you couoldn't return them in 7 days cos it'd be closed.

And I buy a big cheap box of, eg, Capri Sun to keep in the car for when we're out and the kids say they're thirsty. I know it's not free like tap water but I can't remember to fill a bottle every time I go out, at least this means I'm not paying silly prices for bottles of drink in cafes or leisure centres.

And re keeping all this to yourself - why is it considered (by some people) embarrassing to have a money saving drive when half the world is trying to kick smoking and/or lose weight in january - what's the difference? It's just a rat race buying all this stuff .... to make you feel better .... cos you work so hard to buy all this stuff....once you see that, it makes not spending a whole lot easier!

mrsmortenharket

when you 'want' something rather than 'need' something calculate how many hours you need to work to earn the money for the 'wanted' item. If you still want it, go home & wait a few days & think about it. Do you still want it?!

MENU PLAN, MENU PLAN, MENU PLAN. Its my mantra!!!! I used to spend stupid amounts daily going to the supermarket out of habit. My shopping bill has reducined ENORMOUSLY since menu planning.

Also cook things from scratch. I don't even buy pasta/curry sauce jars any more

Lisa

Jnelhams

Use Washing Soda to remove Tannin stains in Cups, works a treat!

a few drops of Zoflora in a Spray bottle of Warm water, makes a great Window cleaner, and it leaves them smelling nice too.

fairy3

Oops hope this does not get posted half done, pressed a wrong button and everything disappeared (if only it was so easy in real life!)

Was replying to carolinerunner and her intersesting Q's and A's, particularly the one which refers to using up things when you have loads? Simple, hide them assuming they are non perishables? My wardrobe is stacked at the bottom with loo rolls etc as they are just sooo tempting for the lovely DD and DDS's so they are rationed.

Regarding the Q on why to keep quiet about having a money saving drive when half the world is trying to kick smoking/weight loss what's the difference? (Wish someone could help, my pc won't allow me to do quotes)

Scorpio princess post 20 in this thread gives a good rationale.

Personally think the question can be answered in two parts. A Money saving drive in January is quite acceptable by other people although will not get much air time or generate as much income as the diet and giving up smoking advertisements, rather you are much more likely to see the adverts for debt consolidation loans, buy now pay later schemes and the Sales, of course!

I am not on a money saving drive for January but want to change my habits for good and have found through experience that OP either discourage or actively want to sabotage my efforts, not maliciously by any means but do anyway so I keep quiet and just get on with it.

Good luck

J
X

CFC

My top tip!

Before you spend money on anything, try this:

How long do I have to spend at work to pay for this?

When I was not very well paid, I used to lust after Ben and Jerry's ice cream or something very similar. When I worked out that it actually meant that I had to work for three quarters of an hour to get it, I thought - no way is that worth 45 minutes of misery.

Once you equate your money to an amount of lifetime, you can see how much you either do, or do not want something. It makes you a lot more cautious about buying stuff.

Grated cheese in a bag? Work time X amount of minutes going to pay for it, at home with a grater 1 minute...it may help to keep you on the straight and narrow OS!

letsgobilliejoe

my top tips are:

NEVER buy canned pulses - especially if you eat the amount I do!

Bigger is not always better - it's false economy if your "three times more for only twice the price" ground coriander tastes of flour after 2 years of sitting in the cupboard.

reusable containers are a godsend - plastic food bags are a waste.

reusable material shopping bags MUST be used! If not, make sure the carrier bags you picked up last week are used this week and, if they're still useable, the week after as well!

a stick blender that won't melt in hot soup is genius! Buying 3 tesco value ones in as many months is not.

Waste not, want not. That scraping of stew in the pan will come to good use when you want to use the end of that HM loaf tomorrow!

get a decent sized freezer. In the halls I live i we have a freezer the size of a pitiful suitcase and it shows in my wallet - bulk buying and freezin (especially when you have a fruit or veg glut) is OS gold and I'm suffering!!!

Hope those tips can help somebody.