Save-a-quid-or-2 thread

[DR]

So guys and gals....

.... The money markets are tough - loans are hard to get - people are not confident in their finances...

.... So I thought time for a bit of community involvement - what are YOU doing to save a few quid here and there? The aim? To help out or give tips to anyone who wants to get them - families - students - and even single people...!

Have you canceled the gym and just run instead?
Brewing your own booze?
Turning off your TV off Standby at night?
Buying house brands over big brand products?

Have you noticed a different - what else you considering?

I don't want this thread to turn in to a debate about money/credit - but more so be something members can read through and maybe get some tips or tricks...

And if you aren't doing anything - good on you - please don't post in this thread - this is mass market for all readers who are being thoughtful with spending suddenly....

[Scott B]

I'm down to one bottle of wine a night.

[SiM]

Stop upgrading pc unnecessarily...

but I just bought 3 terabyte hard drives!!!

[neonplanet40]

going out on the drink less....

[manwithnoname]

I've given up coffee at work, I trying to go caffeine free for while but I've just work out how I am saving.
3 cups at 80p
a day : £2.40
a week: £12
a year: £624
that works out to be a 1.6% pay rise

[Steve]

I write my weekly shop off as a work expense.

Other than that I don't live in extravagance - I'm a student.

[kalniel]

Read the money saving expert website

I've not really changed anything as I was actively scrimping before anyway, but these are the kinds of things I do:

Transport
-Try and carshare where possible
-Drive at 55 rather than 60 if roads are empty and you're not in a rush
-Don't go above 70 on motorways
-Slowdown in gear as much as possible before needing to brake

Food
-Packed lunches rather than canteen
-Plan ahead so you can buy food on offer more times than not
-Cut down on cans and bought teas/coffees
-Cut down on snacks, buy in multipack and never individually
-Cook own food in evenings, especially veggie pasta dishes Very good for you too

Social
-Drink halves occasionally instead of pints
-Invite friends around more often - cheaper than meeting at the pub/cafe/restaurant etc.

[Whiternoise]

Buy all your books from charity shops. The RRP's are a joke in bookshops. You can get a lot of near enough new releases for a quarter of the cost, if not less!

[tiggerai]

cook for 4 and freeze 3...

get reduced meat etc when it's on "yellow label special" and freeze it.

be a hermit. (this one is my most difficult one)

Set yourself a weekly cash budget (mine is £22 - £10 on bowling and £12 on other stuff) and stick to it (FAIL!)

[Ferral]

We've been buying house brand items especially meat that is in the pre packaging, it saves a lot. Cheap meat is ideal for casseroles, curries etc. Just cut off the usual non trimmed bits.

We have also been putting in energy saving lightbulbs

[DR]

I can't believe how expensive certain meats like chicken have got....

[Behemoth]

Turning your PC off when your not going to be using it (e.g leaving them on over night)

[FifthFreedom]

My top tips to save money:

Share cabs with random people after a night out (Beer + Women = Profit)

Smuggle food into the cinema rather than paying their stupid prices (Chocolate + Movies + Women = Profit)

Don't buy expensive deserts for women - (50p Kitkat + Women = Profit)

Use eBay for presents (Second hand stuff + Women = Love + Profit)

Sell your own (and other peoples) crap on eBay (Used crap + eBay = profit)

And lastly, don't drink, eat the Mushrooms of magic. (Homegrown mushrooms - Booze = Profit + Women)

[tiggerai]

My top tips to save money:

Share cabs with random people after a night out (Beer + Women = Profit)

Smuggle food into the cinema rather than paying their stupid prices (Chocolate + Movies + Women = Profit)

Don't buy expensive deserts for women - (50p Kitkat + Women = Profit)

Use eBay for presents (Second hand stuff + Women = Love + Profit)

Sell your own (and other peoples) crap on eBay (Used crap + eBay = profit)

And lastly, don't drink, eat the Mushrooms of magic. (Homegrown mushrooms - Booze = Profit + Women)

Yes but doesn't adding a woman to the equation make it infinitely more expensive?

[DR]

Guys


Please keep this thread serious - a mass prune will happen otherwise


DR

[ACiD303]

I sometimes put my shopping in the hands of the supermarket - whatever's on offer (like a good offer, not a 5p off job) I'll buy - get to try out lots of things too.

Don't leave mobile phones connected to the charger - just let the batteries run empty (or as close to as possible if you're having to travel around).

Use charity shops/ebay - I mentioned this in another thread before and some people don't like the idea of having someone else's clothes for whatever reason, but clothes aside there's plenty of bargains to be had.

I empty out all the change I have each day into a jar . . . and keep doing that for a while until I need money...it accumulates quite quickly, and I don't really notice this money gone otherwise.

Go to house parties instead of going out - cheaper to buy your own drink, don't need to care about closing times, chances are most people will be sound (if not everyone) . . . although pick houses close enough for you to walk home or on a bus route...as paying for a taxi ain't fun.

I don't have a call allowance on my mobile, but I do have free (close to anyway) txts - so I message people all the time. I only use my mobile to call people when texting is not convenient.