Help a Single Saver

Edinburghlass_2

xbox wrote:

What are you like!?

A moneysaving expert of course :money:

Seriously though, people forget about the main site and Martin's articles once they get involved with the forums. All the information is there for reducing your main bills and the OP only mentions cutting down on gas and electricity and not looking into switching, same with the phone.

When household/car insurances are due those articles should be read too and hopefully next year's insurance will be cheaper. Maybe a switch of bank account will help and always keep an eye on the credit card board for the latest 0% interest deal.

Martin does suggest tackling one thing at a time and once the usual monthly bills are reduced as much as possible you then have a better idea of how much money is left for other things.

Use the affiliate links in the articles if you can as this allows Martin to run the forums and donate a considerable amount to charity.

So, no apologies from me for promoting MSE

(and if you click on the Utilites Zone in my signature you might save money)

Rage_in_Eden

Dear Luis

May I also finally recommend the radio. Try having a telly free evening when you just listen to the radio - you may be surprised how little you miss the box. local radio gives you details of any local FREE events or radio 4 (my personal fave much to the annoyance of my work colleagues "Don't interupt Gillian, The Archers is on"!!!!) Radio 4 has a wealth of programmes that can either (a) give you darn good advice (b) spark an interest in something else or (c) inspire, e.g. "Veg Talk". Do you have access to a garden etc? even a small yard means you can grow some items in pots - go for the exotic lettuce etc - the stuff that costs and arm and a leg and when everyone else is having boring lettuce you won't be able to move for the continental salads bar look!! hope this helps a bit. remember we are all here if you need us....... :wave:

Luis

Cheers gang!

I am already on the cheapest tarriffs for utilities etc, and very rarely watch more than about 2hrs TV per week (except that might go up a bit at the moment with BB back on ).

I am eschewing the home phone for the inclusive minutes on my mob contract that I commenced in more affluent times - until I can cancel the contract at the end of the 12 months.

I am doing all the usual storecupboard challenge lark, never go to the cinema, and don't go out drinking etc.

I have a pretty thrifty existence as a rule, which is why I need the advice on how to cut back further - I feel as if I am already doing as much as I can, but I am about £200 pm short now

I think I am going to have to take on extra work to get by - but as I work 50 hrs pw as it is I am going to be knackered lol. It is so frustrating when you have been in this boat before, clawed your way out and then find yourself in it again. !!!!!!.

Edinburghlass_2

Have you thought about a lodger? You can do this tax free I believe or pretty nearly and it would mean help with the utility bills as well.

Oh and chin up, you will get there

crana999

If you hardly watch any telly you could consider detuning your telly and cancelling your TV licence.. you can get a refund on any unused 3 month portions and it's still legal to keep the TV just for watching videos or playing games on. You need to write to the licensing authority and let them know, though. All the details are on the TV licence website.

SnowyOwl_2

If your outgoings are pretty much as trimmed down as you can make them then the next thing to consider is getting your incomings to go up by your monthly shortfall.

So, as suggested before, a lodger would be a good idea if you have a spare room. It could be a pain in the butt however you might get lucky and have someone who just wants the room during the week while they are in the family home at the weekend. Or target shift workers so they are in the land of nod or at work when you're in.

Ebay...buy stuff from the paper or in auctions dirt cheap then sell on via ebay where collectors would see the items and pay a premium (in theory this works, though am an ebay virgin myself).

Get your employers to give you a payrise or a payrise and a promotion. Well it is worth asking, the worst they can say is no.

I second Crana999's suggestion of ditching the telly...used to watch about five hours every night, but haven't had one for about a year and don't miss it (well hardly miss it). How much do your two hours a week actually cost - compare this to the cost of hiring videos/cd's/games and then ditch the more expensive one.

If you have the stamina a 2nd job might be in order...something with regular hours and regular pay. did this myself and yes it is a killer, but knowing you have that extra coming in is a blessing...but the tiredness, gosh I became so disorganised...wasted so much money on rubbish food because I couldn't be bothered cooking after working for 13 hours four days a week...looking back it must have been counter productive...

If your ex left anything behind get it to a car boot sale. I did this, made about 50p - well I had to get rid of his stuff, no point in taking it home!! I blew the 50p on an ice cream. It was the most delicious ice cream I have ever had.

Does your £200 also cover your budget for presents and clothing? If yes, then you could look at making things, buying things when on special offer, not giving presents at all (but telling people so of course), giving time, using charity shops and swapping with friends/family. Does it also include your holiday budget? Hate to suggest it but a holiday at home can be errr...nice...if you really feel up to it then a fortnight's holiday from your main job could be a fortnight's agency work (oh shudder at the thought...)

FLEX24

Must agree with Crana999 and Snowyowl re Telly , just remember to send back reminders as they dont believe anyone cant manage without TVs!! Just a thought...you should also detune the video too, I think that counts.

Addition to Queenie tip...I do the cook-in-sauces thing to make 3 or 4 servings, then put what I didnt eat in freezer for another day, but if I was really lazy I just put it in fridge and had it next day and next day using veg/rice/noodles(Curry with noodles....mmm!)

crana999

No, like I said before you are allowed to have a video/DVD player and just use your telly for watching videos/DVDs and also for playing games like on a playstation on, without paying for a licence. You just can't actually watch TV.

Willsnarf1983

thats a load of crock, if u have equipment that can recieve bbc channels such as a tv then u must pay a license other wise everyone wud be saying 'i only use it dvd's' when its not true

Will

SnowyOwl_2

The "tv licence when you don't watch telly" debate has been done already... see this thread...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=26640

If Luis, the original poster, is interested in getting rid of her telly to save a few bob then the answer to the tv licence dilemma will be contained therein.

I've got a telly but don't have an aerial...have been in this house for a year now but have heard jack squat from the tv licencing people. I really must chuck my telly away, it's just gathering dust, though the cat likes to sit on it so I might keep it.