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!

[BluelightsAndSirens]

Just marking my place, lots of great ideas here.

[ZeldaUpNorth]

Can i ask a daft question, what do you freeze the leftovers in? I find i cannot get much tupperware in the freezer, or if i do there is no room for anything else and I have no room for a chest freezer.

[sooperdooper]

If you have a Costco near you they are great for bulk buying essentials like l

[sooperdooper]

Ugh bloody phone! Essentials like loo roll and washing powder and the meat is really good value, it comes in massive packs do I split it out and freeze - don't assume everything in there is cheap though, toiletries are really expensive!

[FreePeaceSweet]

I use Ziploc bags for saucy stuff. These are great because you can also boil the bag in water. It has to be Ziploc though. Cheaper bags just can't hack it. :o

For stuff like pies, lasagne etc wait until the food is stone cold and make a little parcel out of foil which you wrap up twice and tightly. When you get them out of the freezer you can bung them straight in the oven on a medium heat. I find a portion of lasagne takes an hour at 180 degrees to be thoroughly reheated and not burnt.

[ZeldaUpNorth]

How do you lift the lasagne out of the dish to put it in the foil? Or do you mean cut it up and freeze portions? I'm new to freezing meals, but determined to have no waste from now on.

[FreePeaceSweet]

If you wait until its cold its easier to cut into portions. I usually add some cheese to the sauce if I plan on saving some as this helps it stay in one piece. Also if you cook extra to save some (like pie, lasagne etc) make sure you get everyone to eat from one end of the dish so it stays intact. Some of it is trial and error. I have served up some smashed up food but it still tastes good. :o

My friend lines all her stuff with greaseproof paper so she can lift it up but she is a serious frugaller (that a word?) and she always makes extra. She taught me about making my own boil in the bag curries and stews.

[Binfullofgibletsonthe26th]

I find those Chinese takeaway boxes wash well, and make good portion sizes. They stack well in the freezer too.

You can buy them cheaply in Costco if you don't eat takeaway.

I tend to cook mine, cool, cut, freeze. Then defrost in the fridge and micro/grill in my combi oven for a few mins.

[plus3]

Marking place

[Tobermory]

Marking my place as there's lots of good stuff here to think about.
We need to have a very frugal few months and ltd of ideas how to do it on here.

[OhDearNigel]

I find i cannot get much tupperware in the freezer

Bag it, don't use tupperware. If you put stuff in a freezer bag, suck out the air so that the bag adheres to the contents you won't get freezer burn either. You can fit much more in the freezer like this

[higgle]

Don't take out Wonga loans, get an overdraft set up with your bank.

[bangersmashandbeans]

I am going off on mat leave in 3 weeks and both me and DH would like me to remain a SAHM but I feel like I need to prove I can budget so will be watching this thread too. I use an app just called spending and it's good as I put stuff in it straight away when stuff goes on cards or cheques so it's not a nasty shock when I forget and the money comes out a few days later. Am also going to try the getting cash out at the start of the week trick because I am a nightmare for putting the odd coffee on my card - massively adds up! Oh and pack lunches are essential - I worked out I was spending an average of £7 a day in sainsburys just on food for work
As that MP said today - "british people do not have a god given right to a prosperous life, they have to earn it."
Good luck everyone!

[FreePeaceSweet]

Everyone can budget but I suppose its nicer when you want to rather than have to. Like I said earlier I love the challenge but if we didn't have a budget to stick to we'd be up the swanny. I am a SAHM but I have had a part time bar job for the past 3 years which really makes a difference especially over the summer.

[OhMittens]

Do cash only, for the first month. Gets you in the mindset of counting the pennies and watching how fast they disappear.

Start from the mindset of a point of zero. As in, you will spend no money today. Not a sausage. Then grudgingly work backwards from that. Essentials only, which are Food, Bills and Travel.

For birthday presents, either buy more inexpensive items (supermarket scarfs, hats, gloves, dressing gowns etc) and wrap them up pretty, or explain to everyone you are saving for something essential so it "isn't much, if that's ok" (ie a box of chocs/book) but that you hope to be more flush next year. Most people who you are in the business of buying presents for will fall over themselves to reassure that a small gift is more than fine.

Oh and try to take up a hobby that costs nothing or next to nothing. Keep fit for example - borrow fitness DVDs from friends, or go running. Learn a new hobby like crochet or knitting - doesn't require much in the way of materials. You need to keep your hands and your mind busy so you aren't tempted to spend.

[Wheresmypopcorn]

I have found I have cut down food wastage by resisting the temptation to go to the supermarket and using what's in the house. I also do not buy anything on sale that I did not like at full price.

[Wheresmypopcorn]

Oh and buy perfume off ebay - great savings!

[wildirishrose]

Throw away your credit cards!!!

[BoerWarKids]

Further to buying cheaper presents, how about having a 'no present pact' with friends and family, just buying for kids?

If you suggest it, others in your social circle may be relieved!

[FreePeaceSweet]

Further to buying cheaper presents, how about having a 'no present pact' with friends and family, just buying for kids? Oh God. I've been trying to implement this for years. Then someone always goes back on their promise and makes me look dead tight... Grrr!

[OhMittens]

Ha, yes FreePeace, I have found that too!!

Also, there are some people who you just can't not buy a birthday present for, for a variety of reasons. ie. you don't want them to know you are skint/they would be disappointed/they think you are being tight/it would draw attention to itself and you can't face fronting it up. Plus you can only do it for people who have kids you would normally buy presents for. What of the elderley aunties etc? Being realistic is the way forward otherwise there is a temptation to throw the towel in if it all feels to awkward....

[ByTheWay1]

I agree with don't buy stuff...... one week a month in our house is no spending week.... we spend NOTHING at all that week -barring emergencies... we save for our holidays that way.. but if we were in debt it would pay it off

[racingheart]

Best advice I ever got was: get out of debt and stay out. Always live within your means. Sort out what comes into and put a huge chunk aside for the next three months to really lower that 5k debt. It'll keep climbing if you don't, as interest rates are so crippling.
Live on beans and don't go out for six months if you have to, but get rid of that debt. Then follow all the tips on here to stay out of it.

[Fluffycloudland77]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

Read this.

[MushyPeace]

Loads of good tips! Thanks all.

I spend far too much on coffee so that will be struck off my spend list straight away!