Alternative money tips...lot's of 'em

[Buddy80]

I was searching for more money saving tips and came across this mega list 55 Money Saving Tips you've probably never heard of

It prompted me and I thought it would be fun to start our own thread

[sparklecrates]

God some of those are boring!.. but here's mine!.

1. Old tshirts. cut into squares and use as cleaning cloths. You can even colour-code. Bung in wash and never buy dishcloths again.
   
2. Regularly have a 'cook to zero'. Audit whats left in all cupboards, freezer etc and plan meals for everything to be used up Call it mother hubbard week if you like. You'll be amazed how long you can go without buying any more food. Especially if you occasionally buy lentils and rice!
   
3. Buy expensive. I have two pairs of shoes that were expensive but well-made. I can have a 'shoes to zero' period where all the fashion and soft shoes get worn out and the nice ones keep going. Its great fun restocking when you get to the last soft pair. If they have memories I take photos. If I don't want to see a fashion pair go, I stop wearing them and preserve them.
   
4. cex and charity shops are great for films, books etc.
   
5. get rid of your printer and use print services or workwhen necessary. Its cheaper and stops printer rage.
   
6. Shop local and buy little and often. This will save £££ and if you fit little items into your daily routine instead of the 'drive to the warehouse, pick and pack yourself, 'accidentally' buy haagan daaz, lose three hours crap then you might get your household finance done or some extra sauce for the freezer done and dusted. Also a nip into costa and grab some meat from the butcher is just nicer than swearing at bad drivers on the way to tge warehouse!
   
7. Don't pay debts. Write to all the companies telling them you can't pay and that a court will freeze interest anyway and see what they say. Many will stop interest. See how long you can ride it out for! The interest rates are so low its hardly casting them so shift the burden. You can make nominal payments if the pressure is too much but screw them.. they tried to screw you to protect their revenue stream so how about a bit of payback! For a fun game count how many company names they write to you with! My record is 28 company names for five debts (I'm looking at you Santander, and you Halifax). deceptive scheming bastards

[Buddy80]

Oh, I am so in agreement with buy expensive/quality for certain things - pays for themselves over and over.

[Moresproutsplease]

at don't pay debts!
Not good advice. What is cex?

[Buddy80]

Yes, the debt measures are to help those in genuine need in freezing payments, etc.

[avocadotoast]

Not paying debts is terrible advice. If you're in debt, please get proper professional (free!) advice rather than just changing your arm, especially if you have property.

[avocadotoast]

*chancing your arm, even...

[NoisyOyster]

Agreed, how terrible to try and not pay back debts just because you can work the system. You needed money and the company gave it to you. Why should they not be given it back?

If you have financial troubles go to the citizen advice bureau

[ssd]

what do you mean dont pay debts , how are they trying to screw you to protect their revenue stream??? if you are in debt you've spent the money and need to pay it back, how are they deceptive scheming bastards for wanting you to pay what you owe them??

[5EllipticGoldRings]

Was with you till no. 7

[Buddy80]

Some good tips, please keep them coming

[sparklecrates]

debts aren't a moral thing they are a business transaction. Lenders are adversarial to their 'customers' 'customers should be adversarial back. I'm not a charity donor for bankers ffs!

[oswellkettleblack]

Don't pay debts by not getting into debt.

[Buddy80]

Moving on from the debt comments...

Just a couple more to add...

If you have a disabled child, they are normally eligible for a special library card which does not accrue late fees, free DVD rental for them.

If you have the patience to extract seeds from supermarket strawberries (or any other), you can grow strawberry plants from them. Lot's of tips on YouTube on how to germinate the seeds. I added this as strawberry plants are expensive.

[sparklecrates]

hey I wouldn't have all the cool things I do have without debt.. like my health and a roof over my head. Just because debt for you guys means cruises, cars and rattly gold jewellery that makes you look cheap doesn’t mean that's what mine was spent on!

[NoisyOyster]

No one mentioned cruises and gold jewellery sparkle

Chip on your shoulder?

We're just saying that yes, debt happens, but deliberately trying to swindle out of paying it just because you've found a way to do that is cheating. It's called thieving

I'd rather pay back slowly but surely over time if I had to than be labelled as a thief

[PerpetualStudent]

I'm actually with you on the debt comment - not ignoring them, but going to CAB, getting a proper assessment of your outgoings/in comings and send a summary of these along with a letter requesting something like a freeze on interest and a nominal payment of £1 a month for x months or years.
I did this 5 years ago, the companies readily agreed. You get the company calling you every once in a while asking if your circumstances have changed, but that's it. When I inherited some money this year I was able to finally pay them off - by this point they had been registered as a default, which will sit on my credit rating for a few years, but I had interest-free, affordable debt for 5 years, so a fair deal IMO.

Perhaps 'don't pay your debt' is rather dramatically phrased, and of course 'don't get into debt' is even better if not always followable advice. But actively managing your debt, rather than running scared and allowing it to escalate, is just sensible. It is a business transaction, and businesses only make money on it as long as you're scared. Once you face them down and discuss sensibly, 9 times out of 10 it's better business-wise for them to go along with your request...

[Fluffycloudland77]

I agree with the debt thing. If you can tough it out it works.

I know of someone who said she lived with her mum and went bankrupt for circa 60K. She basically had 60k of free stuff and the insolvency service let her walk away from it. I think the fact she comes across as thick as mince aids her greatly.

[sparklecrates]

ha noisy.. noone said my debt relief was so I wouldn't freeze either. Re 'thief' etc. these are just emotional tactics used by people who can afford the game to keep poor people out of the game. You get shit and name - called whatever you do. I know plenty of people who bully people and disparage their social status and character if their clothes look worn - nasty fuckers are always seeking a face to step on.

[HopeNope]

Don't own a credit card.

Only use a debit card - money if you have it.

[sparklecrates]

um can we get back on track and stop all the 'I am considerably more moral than yaow' crap.
Also darning socks and reinforcing jeans gives a few months extra wear and saves £££ therefore.
Drink a bit before you go out.
Go out later.
Practice not getting stressed about making quick meals like pasta and a tomato sauce. This means wash up promptly in my case so no pre prep headache.
If you cba with lined curtains panel curtains flat over windows and hang two or three layers. fit to size of window and pin or tack down round edges.
Keep one room warm. encourage a run upstairs and quick into bath room bedclothes and dressing gown. put elec blankets on then turn whole heating off for last bits of telly in warm room. Makes it a wee adventure and no room luxury means v. little bedroom reading etc

[sparklecrates]

Oh yeah! Never buy sugar again! Go to a high street coffee giant and take your tax allocation of sugar home!

[sparklecrates]

Freeze old chips from a fish supper and use them in your next casserole. It looks odd but its edible! Watch for the faces as your English guests get stuck between politeness and horror! Who needs telly!

[Mrsgrumble]

Recently moved to aldi almat washing powder.. Saved a fortune already

Buy a bottle of spirit instead of wine - it works out cheaper

Bulk mince dinners with lentils

Yellow label stuff reduced in supermarkets - freeze immediately

I split packets of sausages, chicken file,to etc in potion sizes and freeze rather than leaving to off in the fridge

Tesco clubcard points - save for trips to the zoo etc.

[NoisyOyster]

I sincerely hope your comment about stealing sugar was in jest sparkle

Again, just because a big corporation is doing well at something gives you no right to steal from them. I re-iterate my above post about stealing. And yes, I'll keep my morals thank you