Money Saving and Thrift Ideas

As we have entered a downturn in the economic stakes and the Celtic Tiger has become the Celtic Donkey consumers may need ideas on how to save money and make there euro go that little bit further.

Has anyone gotten any good ideas on how to get a bigger bang for there buck?

I have started to bring sandwiches to work rather than going out for lunch. I am car pooling and using the clothes line to dry clothes rather than tumble drying.

Feel free to add any revolutionary ideas to make the euro go that little bit further.

I have just started to plan meals a little better and use up what is already opened. We used to always bin half loaves of bread and jars of open sauces or tins of kidney beans etc...We don't bin any more food. In a wierd (and sad probably) way, you feel somewhat fulfilled at making good leftovers etc.

I get the impression that for a lot of people there is expenditure that is regarded as 'essential' when it is far from it. Stating the obvious maybe, but these elements should be the first to go (or put on hold if not already committed):

e.g. gym membership, very expensive TVs, designer clothes that end up being worn only once or twice etc etc

It's amazing the amount of people that will go around switching off lights and hunting for the cheapest loaves of bread while stubbornly maintaining the above lifestyle.

The Banker, hopefully your not casting a slur on the intelligent donkey!

People that are within reach could walk to work-good for the health also. The dishwasher could go, I don't have one as I think washing up after mealtime is one of the easiest and quickest kitchen chores.
Maybe cut down on the nice cream cakes etc, and keep these for Sunday treats.

Caveat said:

I get the impression that for a lot of people there is expenditure that is regarded as 'essential' when it is far from it.

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I think you've have it in one with that statement.

cut out booze & fags!!!! (even give up the booze for a month or two to see how much u save)
walk/cycle instead of driving....where possible
Do not get a car loan EVER
only put on the dishwasher when its full
when meals are nearly cooked turn off the cooker and let the meal cook from the remaining heat.
only fill what u need into the kettle.
Dont ring 11811 or those other services that charge....
if u have to use a credit card never run up a bill that u cant pay back within a month, if you do run up bills on your credit card be sure to shop around and avoid the exorbitant rates some banks charge
always ring around for house/car insurance.

Caveat said:

I get the impression that for a lot of people there is expenditure that is regarded as 'essential' when it is far from it. Stating the obvious maybe, but these elements should be the first to go (or put on hold if not already committed):
e.g. gym membership, very expensive TVs, designer clothes that end up being worn only once or twice etc etc
It's amazing the amount of people that will go around switching off lights and hunting for the cheapest loaves of bread while stubbornly maintaining the above lifestyle.

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I'm thinking of getting rid of one of our 08 cars,(who needs three)
Probably go to Bundoran on holidays instead of Dubai,
Send the kids to a state school,
Return half of our credit cards,
Sack the nanny and get an au pair,
Drink wine instead of champers,
bike ride instead of horse ride,


The list is endless really, savings to be made everywhere!

Ash 22 said:

The dishwasher could go, I don't have one as I think washing up after mealtime is one of the easiest and quickest kitchen chores.

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Funnily enough, I've heard that it's cheaper to use a dishwasher than hand wash dishes in general if you only use it when it's full up. Uses less hot water - less energy? Is that true?

covered already in this thread? Should save time and money duplicating!

Abolish pet insurance

Here's my list:

Sell the dishwasher
Sell the dryer
Stop lighting fires (no coal, no firelighters, less cleaning stuff needed to wash smoky walls)
Stop buying cleaning stuff (lemon and vinegar instead)
Use one razor blade until it starts making your skin bleed
Make dinners that last two days (from scratch)
Use tin of tomatoes instead of spag bol mix.


..I'll think of more, no doubt....

An ad on radio the other day said if you ring 11890 directory enquiries its free for July and August.

Welfarite said:

Abolish pet insurance

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and Train your dog to beg for food from strangers, so you won't have to buy dog food.

I started the thrift route in the winter, due to the blinkers coming off rather than fear of recession, so the following was implemented;
Cancelled monitoring of Homewatch, cancelled the home landline, cancelled the gym, joined the Library, cut out my socialising by about 50% except during Lent when I felt I had an excuse to drive and drink juice and not stay out till all hours drinking overpriced alcohol and getting taxi's home (its hard to admit to friends that you are broke!!) Met my mortgage provider and worked out a repayment plan for a small amount of arrears I had stupidly fallen into, stopped putting the heat on in the house in the morning (winter time) and only for a few hours each evening, curtailed grocery shopping to one trip per week unless out of something really needed, stopped shopping for clothes for myself, began a spending plan. Its not that my finances were in a desperate state but repayment on two 'lifestyle' loans I had taken out in the past number of years were affecting my cashflow and thus cutbacks had to come from somewhere unless I fell into the trap of taking out yet another. I'm not on the pigs back yet, but getting a perverse pleasure in getting by month to month without utilising the overdraft or abusing my credit card....also I have been more creative in some areas, made jam, knit a few really nice things, go to the park and museums more, cook regularly rather than eating out or getting take-aways, read some fantastic books that I wouldn't had if I was in front of the tv each night with the tv on, walking with friends in the evening for exercise instead of the gym is great too as we get a chance to chat and catch up.

Cut out buying newspapers. You can read the majority of them online.

bamboozle said:

always ring around for house/car insurance.

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...and use someone else's phone to do it.

Ash 22 said:

Cut out buying newspapers. You can read the majority of them online.

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I was going to suggest this mainly because they are all full of crap, especially the tabloids. Who would want to spend €15 (at least) per month to read about Jordan, the Beckhams, Tom Cruise, Colleen Rooney etc etc.

And even the 'real' news is out of date. You will have seen it anyway if you happen to watch the TV News.

Came across the supermarketownbrandguide which some of you might be interested in. Its based in the UK but also lists some Irish based supermarkets.

Won't help as a price guide but its useful as a comparison guide for branded products.

moondance said:

Funnily enough, I've heard that it's cheaper to use a dishwasher than hand wash dishes in general if you only use it when it's full up. Uses less hot water - less energy? Is that true?

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From environment-agency.gov.uk
Dishwashers now use between 12 and 18 litres to wash 12 place settings and Which? estimates that washing the same crockery by hand would use 40 litres of hot water. So if you dislike washing up then a dishwasher is easily justified, but avoid rinsing items before putting them in the machine and make sure it is full before switching it on. However, if you want to save cash and kitchen space, then careful washing up by hand using water heated by gas or solar and modest amounts of washing up liquid is probably the greenest option.

Planting a few veggies in the garden. I keep saying I'll do it but haven't in a long time, but it is nice to go out and pick something fresh. I have herbs in pots and they're very convenient, but I don't know if they're saving me anything.

Hypermile. Basically it's about driving your car more economically (gliding/cruising in neutral as often as possible etc). I now get 50 mpg around town instead of 32mpg.