Your random money saving tips?

The graphical representation of the needs was done by the same guy who designed pyramids for a full-time job. The Maslow stuff was a side-gig.
 
Salvadore said:
Thanks to a recommendation from @Sue Ellen i now get my meds from Pure Pharmacy which is significantly cheaper than my previous pharmacy - I got three months meds for the price I previously paid for two months.
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It may not be worth your while for one month only but Chemist Warehouse are advertising up to 70% off commonly used prescriptions from 13th January, 2025 to 29th January, 2025 or while stocks last.

They list Rosuvastatin 5mg, 10mg and 20mg for 28 tablets for €2.99 so even cheaper than Pure pharmacy's €4.00.
 
Things/habits that have actually saved me money, but may not be for everyone. Saving money is not the reason I do them, but just a side-effect.

1. Went vegetarian. The shopping bill dropped when i started buying chickpeas, lentils, beans, tofu etc., cooking veg lasagne, rice, pasta etc. Meat is expensive.
2. Bought an electric car. Traded in my old i10 for a Volkswagen e-up. It is charged on night rate electricity and costs a fraction to run rather than the petrol i10, which was fairly frugal to begin with. '09 i10 was due replacement anyway after 11 years. Between what I bought it for (7k)and the trade in (1.5k), it had cost me €500 per year.
3. Cycle to work and shower at work, get the health benefits and free showers.
4. Bought a rice cooker, cheap €40 one. We had been using those convenience microwave rice packets for 2. €2 each, which is dearer than a kilo of rice. Pop the rice cooker on, go for a walk, and you then have perfect rice when you get home. Add it to one of the defrosted veggie meals from batch cooking and you're golden. I know you can cook rice in a pan, but the beauty of the rice cooker is you can leave it alone. It will cook it and keep it warm.
5 Learn to cook. Batch cooking pasta sauces and Indian meals is easy and cheap. Freeze single/double portions for later use. Making a big saucepan of minestrone or mushroom soup is a doddle, and much cheaper, and gives me/us soup for a week.

None of these have made my life any harder.

And one habit that would save money, and probably improve my health, which I may do in the future - give up alcohol. That is definitely a money-pit. I don't drink a lot, but it has a noticeable affect on my wallet and waist.
 
It’s well worth signing up for Parking Tag if you do on-street parking in Dublin.

It’s a €1 monthly fee but you get:

  1. 3c per litre off fuel in all Circle K garages
  2. 8% off tyres at Best Drive
  3. 25% off car washes at Apple Green

I drive only 8,000km a year and saved about €40 in the last year with the above, €28 net of the monthly fee.
 
When I think about these things I sometimes end up thinking on a global scale
I buy the 1.75Ltr Dunnes pure orange juice but for some unknown reason I could only buy the 1Ltr over the last year, think it's back in stock now
When I empty the 1Ltr there's always a little bit left that you can't pour out, it's not much probably would amount up to a glass a year
So now I cut open the container of not only the orange juice but every container that doesn't empty fully
It's not saving me much, pennies on the pound if even, but imagine what it would amount to if we all did it, globally

Another one, is when supermarket shopping I do a quick scan of the floor to see if anybody has dropped the "Return" receipt
Again not much but I am going to break the €10 mark in it's first year

But in all seriousness one of the best money saving tips I could suggest to anybody, is always ask for a discount
Obviously there are some transactions where you cant ask or expect to receive a discount but for the others, if you don't ask you'll never know
 
I thought I was doing good buying a bag of apples in Lidl last week for 69c.

When I went to eat one I was immediately hit with the smell of must. When I bit in to it after peeling the taste was still there. Absolutely disgusting. The birds are feasting on them now.
My wife always tells me to smell the packet of fruit before buying. Not the first time I have had a smell of must from a bag of apples.
 
It only takes one bad apple...
 
Firefly said:
I've given up on Lidl/Aldi fruit & veg. They go off too fast and a lot end up in the bin. False economy in my opinion. Which is a shame..
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I find generally that their stuff is inferior quality and would be very selective about what I buy there. Always avoid the fruit/veg. Handful of items that I would buy on a regular basis because tried and tested over the years. I find even their milk goes off quicker than Dunnes. Tea bags and their porridge that amounts to dust are two items that spring to mind.

Their prawn rings are good though but stupidly restricted to Christmas and maybe Easter

This old AAM thread refers
 
One that just popped into my head, if a bit frivolous

DO NOT GO SHOPPING WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY!

The amount of high cost crap I buy when I'm hungry is daft. Go after a meal, with a list.

And now that I think of it, I have two rules (well, more guidelines) when I'm clothes shopping.

1. What I call the "wow" factor. If I'm looking at it and don't immediately go "wow", then I don't buy it (not talking essentials here). Because I know it will stay in the wardrobe while I wear the stuff I already have and like. I want more shirts, I don't need more shirts.

2. If I do like something, I'll go away for an hour or a day, and then come back. if I still like it I'll consider it. This rules out the impulse buying aspect of clothes shopping for me.
 
Buddyboy said:
If I do like something, I'll go away for an hour or a day, and then come back. if I still like it I'll consider it. This rules out the impulse buying aspect of clothes shopping for me.
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I think its a good plan alright but invariably when I go back its sold out. Because of this I always convince myself that I need to buy it now
 
Cervelo said:
Another one, is when supermarket shopping I do a quick scan of the floor to see if anybody has dropped the "Return" receipt
Again not much but I am going to break the €10 mark in it's first year
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Could you explain what this is?
 
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