Great Tips... one liners

Plan_for_Chaos

Online grocery shopping, I know some swear by whoopsies, but there is the danger of buying something reduced that you normaly wouldn't have in anyway. I'm a big fan of one open and another one in.

Another vote for meal planning, and always do one extra portion that can be saved for the next day, there is nearly always somebody at home for lunch here.

Standing order to transfer money directly to a savings account.

Buy clothes out of season, gloves, hats and thick coast can often be picked up for a song at this time of year.

Make clothes last longer, a few simple stiches in a split seam, colouring in the stains on jeans with a biro, if you lose one button from a shirt and don't have another - change all the buttons, giving booots/shoes a good ploish and new laces all make a difference. Also try to get more than one wear out of some items, I often have a sniff of trousers and think "they'll do another day".

Think about everything you got, both posessions, friendships, family, employment etc and be thankful for that. I often find that if you take a long hard look at everything you've got you feel less incline to buy more.

MoneySaverForever

Wow! what a great community and what a fantastic help you've been. Thank you everyone, you've made me really happy xxx

littlejaffa

Freeze Freeze Freeze Freeze Freeze Freeze.

Shop at the end of the day when things are reduced, meat & fish especially that's use by today/tomorrow etc and is vastly reduced.. and freeze.

Any fresh stuff likewise - though I chop peppers and freeze in that 'ready to use' state, or make a sauce with the toms/herb etc then freeze that.
Likewise fresh berries - freeze them then throw direct from frozen into smoothies - great for a breakfast that feels like a treat

As previously mentioned - make a bigger meal portion than needed and freeze the extra (this also saves me ££ as a healthy ready meal option when I can't be bothered cooking).

Also i often think when buying something - how long would have i have to work to get that - it makes me realise a lot of stuff just isn't work a fully days work!

Lastly - freecycle - it's amazing.

culpepper

2 from me
1.Give yourself a cooling off period when you think you want to buy something.

Ask yourself
how many purposes can this item fulfill?
Can I make it?
Can I find it for free on freecycle/freegle?
What can I do instead if I cant have it? (this one often is the decider to NOT purchase)

2.Learn how to do as much as you can yourself even if you don't have a need right away because that information is so empowering when things do need doing .

paidinchickens

swap services with friends and family. babysitting for a plumbing job or pet walking for some gardening. Picking fruit and giving load to friends who in return give some back in the form of jam or wine. Let people know what you are looking for and be prepared to wait, things often come up for free or a small cost so the more people know the better. On the same token look out for what other people are after as they will be more likely to help you out later.

Coming up with unique ideas for the kids instead of having parties. We had a retro gaming night for my DS instead of a party. A few snacks and and Atari, spaceinvader / pacman evening. The kids also learn how us oldies used to spend our time:rotfl:

Come dine with me fancy dress nights instead of going out. Camping with friends near to home instead of hols abroad. Plus you can go last minute when you know the weather is going to be good.

Always look in Fridays local paper for any jumble sales in the area.(charity shops are too expensive)

Take you own scrap metal to be weighed in.

Always keep an eye out for ebay free listing weekends and do a carboot.

Have more than one water barrel in the garden and try and grow your own fruit and veg.

Stop getting pets they cost a fortune (I can't say I have ever managed this:D)

Do not let you other half do the shopping as they always buy something that was not on the list grrrrrr

Collect birthday and xmas gifts through out the year from sales etc and always keep a drawer full of cards.

blackandwhitebunny

Check out the discount coupons thread on this forum and then use mysupermarket to get the best out of the coupons. The supersavvyme ones are great for laundry products and if you only print them off when the items are on special offer you can stockpile cleaning products for pennies.:D

ubamother

Do everything you can do minimise the monthly/quarterly bills - gas, electric, telephones, metered water etc. Use them less, get on the best possible tariff for you, insulate your house, block off draughts etc. and wrap up to lessen your use of heating. If you're using an oven, cook several things at once to lower the cost-per-use. Shower quicker, avoid baths, don't leave electric items on standby etc. etc. You can get a good 25% cut in your fuel bills if you really work at this. By not doing this, you are choosing to give your money away, so you have less to use to maximise using all the other wonderful advice on this forum.

VJsmum

Going on from Paid in chickens post - how does one go about taking your own scrap metal? Where do you take it?

YORKSHIRELASS

My best tips are:

Know your finances inside out. Know how much cash you actually have to spend and keep accurate spending records. Seeing it black and white makes it so much more real.

Be organised. Meal plan religiously, take picnics, take snacks and drinks for the kids, buy birthday presents well in advance, save for special occasions, only buy what you need.

When it comes to food shopping try and have a goal of never buying anything ready made that you could make yourself. Dont be afraid to have a go at cooking and baking new things. Try stepping down a brand - ie Heinz down to Tesco Own down to Tesco Value.

Streamline your life. Declutter and sell what you dont need. If nothing else this is a sobering experience seeing how little you get for the stuff you had cluttering up your life and helps to stop you buying more. Try and learn that material things do not equal happiness and find other things that do make you happy. Dont be afraid of not keeping up with the Joneses.

Remember that every penny really does count, especially if you have got debts to get rid of.

Oh and keep reading this website - its fantastic!

grunnie

My best tips
Mealplan
begin a store cupboard( start slowly and build up )
bulk buy items you know you will use ( eg toilet roll ) when they are on offer.
Get a steam cleaner and you will never need to buy cleaning products ever again.
Also get a second freezer and freeze all leftovers for an extra meal for when you are busy or just can't be bothered.

I didn't think I had room for a store cupboard but I emptied a huge sideboard ( ebayed the contents ) and soon filled it with tins and jars.
Join freegle - this year I have given away quite a few bits - mostly clothes and have received the last 3 years of a magazine I liked also a huge bag of suncreams.