Back to 'Martin Lewis' Basics

chicken-noodle

Hi everyone,
Just thought i would try a little experiment which it looks like the majority of you have already done.
I am going back to the basics of saving money without changing lifestyle. What I mean is I'm going to look at each of the outgoings I have in turn and see if I can cut them down without having to change the things I do (will work on that later!!)
I know a lot of them have been drifting away from me as I havent looked at most for over a year. I think it will be interesting to see how much I can save monthly and the equivilent yearly saving. OH usually deals with this stuff so just about to go through joint account and see what we actually pay.
I know its a bit like the whole SOA thing except please help me by giving advise on how to cut these bills but not yet on lifestyle stuff... hope this makes sense and I look forward to everyones input.

ze bills!!!...


Mobile no 1 £28
Yell £28.77
Car insurance £18
Contact lenses £22
Contact lenses £13
Washing machine hire £17.50
House insurance £18
Mobile no 2 plus broadband £38
Landline £31
gas £37
electric £20
audiobooks £8
Insurance £43

Already I can see stuff to deal with...going to cracking on one now....

taxi73

Hi there...in my opinion ..that is the best place to start and you will be amazed at how much you can save...I do this regularly about every 3 months and have saved 1000s...don't forget to have a look at your shopping bills as there is loads to be saved off this also keep a spending diary and that can be a real eye opener...I used to add up what that cup of coffee was costing me per year and that soon stopped me spending..good luck

Miss_Marple_2

What does your £8 audiobooks cover ?

Could you get them from the library ? At my library they are £1 to hire for 3 weeks and are unabridged, so each one lasts lots of hours.

esthomizzy

could you get a washing machine off freecycle? that would save the 17.50pcm (good luck )

CLAPTON

you're spending 200 per year to hire a washing m/c.. .. you can buy for for just a little more and with a 2 year guarentee

Burlesque_Babe

or for the equivalent of 8 months hire

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1921286439.1196187965@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddmjeiefjgcflgceggdhhmdgml.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=076038&category_oid=-30549

What's the Yell payment?

kacie

Why have you got 2 mobiles and 2 contact lenses?

Swampmonster

I used to hire my washing machine but got fed up of forking the rental fee out each month.

As I was out of their minimum contract I asked if I could buy my existing rental machine off them and was bowled over by how cheap a price they quoted me!

Saved me a fortune in the long run.

:T No harm in asking is there?:T

chicken-noodle

Bills are mine and husbands...hence 2 lots on contacts and mobile bills.
-Swampmonster- think I might give your idea ago with the washing machine. I think it is one of those things which is relative though as these things do tend to break on me so I consider it a saving by renting. Will look into the options though.

First success though......
Landline seemed high and we dont even use it except for having internet...turns out we had some extra capabilities on it, diverts and stuff making it way expensive. Have taken this off so down from £31 a month to £15 a month..thats a yearly saving of £192 hurrah.
Sorted that out yesterday so will try on another today..it does take a lot of rooting and sorting through stuff but by gum I think it may be worth it!!

Karmacat

Well done on the landline! This is a good idea! The washing machine screams at me too tho. Even if you bought a cheapie every year, thats the same price, and even the cheapies last more than a year, I'm *sure* its not mse to rent a w.m. Anyway, keep going, I like this!

painted_lady

Contact lenses - I got a years supply for £77 online and I have expensive toric lenses in hard to find prescription. Saves a fortune from £22 a month from optician. I already had enough solution, I stocked up on optician stuff. I found asda online cheapest for me, although it depends on prescription. You can go through quidco or other cashbac sites, but the opticians on there didnt stoc my lenses.
Cheaper still, wear specs, although if your like me, i am far too vain for this.