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Original poster

economising

124 replies

popsycalindisguise · 15/02/2006 09:07

My work hours are being reduced

Economising tips please?
Have searched the archives but I am doing something wrong - any links to threads are appreciated

OP posts:

notasheep · 18/02/2006 20:25

Go away tomorrow,so if i am not about i am away-that makes sense!!!!!!!! for half term.
Are you on hols?

BIt of hijack here will go on Golf Sh#te thread

Nonyummymummy · 18/02/2006 21:54

Save on books - go to www.readitswapit.co.uk and register all the books you are finished with. Then you can either wait for somebody to request a swap with one of your books or choose the books you would like and request swaps. Once the swap is agreed, you just post 2nd class within a couple of days. Great choice of books and each new one costs you less than a £1 (postage) plus a book you are finished with anyway.

cheltenhamgal · 19/02/2006 08:43

Another thing I have just remembered is that my local market fruit and veg stall just before they shut for the day, sell of all their nearly out of date stock, so you can get stuff like a cauli, swede and some onions for a £1 they make various bags up. This can be made into soups and frozen, the fruit never lasts very long as my dd always eats it

bubblepop · 19/02/2006 12:14

my dh has just been to a carboot sale and brought home a pair of trainers for ds for £2 ! they are brand new in the box.

missd · 19/02/2006 16:33

I love this thread and i'm so glad it was started have just found a website that might be of interest, www.madaboutbargains.co.uk

moretolife · 19/02/2006 17:25

Nonyummymummy - no offence, but what about libraries? Any book anyone wants, for absolutely nothing! If i could afford to buy books i don't think i'd ever have looked on the 'economising' thread!

Frizbetheexpansionset · 19/02/2006 20:00

If you have sky ditch it, they have to sell you a freeview card, so you can still get c-beebies n cbbc n a few extra channels, but for a one off fee (think its £20)

Original poster

popsycalindisguise · 19/02/2006 20:01

we have freeview...

OP posts:

tegan · 19/02/2006 20:04

I have bought a telly with 30 free digital channels on it but dh won't cancel sky cos he watches things like fx which you can't get on there.

mammyjo · 19/02/2006 20:10

Hi. I am new to mumsnet, but saw this thread and wanted to add a little something. I changed from BT to Talk Talk last November. My direct debit for BT was a massive £65 every month. I now pay them £11 monthly for my line rental and £9.99 to Talk Talk for free day and evening calls to any landline. It does exclude mobiles and 0870, 0845 and premium numbers but I dont really use these anyway. Has saved me a fortune!

Original poster

popsycalindisguise · 19/02/2006 20:14

Hi mammyjo = I was thinking of switching to a phone company called Primus - you have to have a BT line reental but you dont pay primus anything (you have to have primus saver option 2...anfd can only organise over the phone apparetnly) and you get free evening and weekend calls...

OP posts:

Original poster

popsycalindisguise · 19/02/2006 20:14

we need to keep our bt line rental for broadband )which we have to have through DH's work..)

OP posts:

mammyjo · 19/02/2006 20:20

My line rental is still with BT but I have moved down to option 1, I just pay talk talk the fee of £9.99 monthly for all my calls. Great for me as I do tend to use my phone during the day which I think is what was making my bill so big before!

mammyjo · 19/02/2006 20:22

Fab thread by the way. I am always looking for ways to economise and seem to spend most of my wages in Tesco. I can recommend the veg box that someone mentioned earlier. For me it works out cheaper than Tescos as I used to buy their organic range which is far from cheap!

drosophila · 19/02/2006 20:39

Be aware of false economies iykwim. You know buying cheap clothes and then throwing them away after one wash or food that nobody will touch.

If trying cheap shops ask here what they are like. I can tell you that Primark is good for baby girl clothes but not as good for adult clothes. People here swear by Lidl and I have found some good things there but also not so good.

We had really cheap Broadband but when DP started working from home it wouldn't support his systems so we had to change to BT. We saved much more with DP working at home.

Bulk up meals with Veg less meat.

Treat yourself otherwise your austerity drive might not last. You will need something to look forward to even if's a glass of wine.

JiminyCricket · 20/02/2006 21:46

Also on an economy drive. Started using the re-usable nappies we had in the loft from dd1 (just a trial pack) for dd2. Also cut up an old cotton sheet with pinking shears into squares, popped them in my pampers wipes dispensers and added a little water + baby bath (put the used ones in the nappy bin and wash them with the reusables). Only noticed how much we spent on wipes when I stopped using them for dd1 because her skin started reacting to them.

Original poster

popsycalindisguise · 21/02/2006 19:22

I am about to do that with wipes too. I do a nppy wash so might as well chuck the wipes in aswell!

We use papmers sensitive wipes as ds2 has eczema but i read on another thread that they had changed and they are the ONLY ones he doesnt react to...

OP posts:

tegan · 23/02/2006 18:58

Today I have done my first internet order which will be delivered on saturday, dh not too impressed by my attempts to save a few quid but tough shit.

Original poster

popsycalindisguise · 24/02/2006 19:41

Just an update (as I know some of you like it)
So far we have:
changed our gas and elec over from british gas and are paying monthly DD
changed mortgage
set a food budget
changed credit card to 0%
ordered o2 phone cards
changed phone to primus

OP posts:

Original poster

popsycalindisguise · 24/02/2006 19:44

A question - may start another thread

In our mortgage quote (fisxed for 2 years at 4.55%), we have one option to take another 5000 which would pay off credit card and overdrafts and have a bit to spare. We would still be paying 50 pounds per month less on the the mortgage

I know that this 5000 over 20 years will amount to loads BUT! I want rid of the overdrafts and credit cards as we are looking at OD as 'free' which of course they are not.

Another option is move overdrafts to 0% credit cards - but I amnot sure whether they would qualify as bablance transfers.

I am inclined to get the 5000 on the mortgage against my better judgement as montly outgoings are important right now

OP posts:

tegan · 24/02/2006 20:20

I think it is swings and roundabouts. we don't use the overdraft but have a 0% credit card.
If you switch to Sky credit card they will suspend repayments at no charge until you have payed some of the overdraft off perhaps.

Original poster

popsycalindisguise · 24/02/2006 20:45

just looking on moneysaving expert site

a couple of banks offer 0% overdraft (I am paying a whopping huge intrest rate on my overdraft)

I need to change accoutns anyway

OP posts:

tegan · 24/02/2006 20:55

I would love to change my bank but dh gets paid by cheque every week and we are with the same bank as his bosses account, if not the cheque would take a week to clear and we can't be without cash for that long.

Filyjonk · 02/03/2006 09:10

tegan-can you open a second account and then transfer money from one to the other by dd? Not all banks require your salary to be paid in, some will accept a regular payment instead.

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