Money saving tips for the new year

[MushyPeace]

New year, new start and all that... Anyone have any fab money saving tips?

Just due to everyday costs I have somehow managed to run up £5k debt and am so embarrassed. I don't budget well. DP and I have been taking about having a baby soon (not getting any younger) and I just can't go into it knowing I have this debt. AF was three days late until today and while i would be so happy to be preg I am also relieved I am not.

So what's your top tip?

I am so far trying the budget supermarkets and it will be packed lunches from now on. I will also eBay anything and everything!

Thanks for some great tips . i have applied for a myWaitrose card and made a playdate with a friend to go to storytime at the library tomorrow!

This is just me being anorak_y, but when we had dd1 I very carefully "filed" clothes in age range (three to six months etc) in labelled pillow cases before vacuum packing away.

Expecting dc5 and recently moved dd4 up an age range and it felt sooo good to just reach in, grab bag, and re file other clothing for next one!

Sorry, slightly smug post but I really felt proud of myself!

Pancake day is fast approaching - but did you know you could make an excellent pancake with just flour and water?

These will cost you approx 1p each - as against 9-10p for those using traditional ingredients - and they taste just as good:

nobreadisanisland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/pancakes-using-just-flour-and-water.html

And, I don't know why I didn't mention this earlier, but, if you practice the 5:2 diet, you'll save 20% of your adult food bill - and you can lose weight at the same time!

Cheers, B&W

Meant to include a link to the current Mumsnet 5:2 diet thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/a1663998-5-2-Diet-Thread-Perfect-number-10

Check it out, there are scores of posters losing weight on there - and saving money into the bargain!

Hello: I not only wanted to save money, but wanted to make money. i joined www.retaileyes.co.uk and have had 2 assignments from them. One was to do mystery shopping on hotel receptionists and give feedback. 90 minutes got me £90.

i also went through www.sarosresearch.com/home.html and that questionnaire took 2 minutes and I've just done 4 surveys @ Stansted for £78 in total. They choose who they want to take on, after you fill out a questionnaire for every market research assignment. I try and be as open to suggestion as possible ;) I had to go Pet's Corner & buy dog food. I got to keep the dog food, and got a rennet for taking part. The questionnaire afterward was LONG! Not quite worth doing that one. But, it gives me about £1,000 extra a year, which I whack into premium bonds.

Bump