Help need your money saving tips to help survive - you guessed it - the credit crunch (and can anyone think of another name for the credit crunch while we're at it?)

[JustineMumsnet]

All tips/ ideas very welcome folks - the Sunday Times interested...

re use all food - apparently you can fry veg up for brekkie the next day and serve it as bubble n squeeke - ingenious idea!

george - count it yourself & take it to the bank - then saves you the cost of the machines.

use the library instead of buying books (fantastic as DS is finding out!)

capp! I used to live in XH's fluffy socks from the market - 3 pairs for £5 can't be bad! nice & thick as well!

do a xmas clubif you can.

saving stamps in the PO each week can help pay towards road tax/other bills.

walking instead of the car. in my case the train as it works out cheaper to use that than petrol plus parking - also means I carry less = spend less

DR - we were the same - we had gas fires in every room, I distinctly remember having blankets & sheets (no duvets) and taking it in turn each s with DB to have dad's sheepskin coat over us on a night - the other one had mums long one but it wasn't so warm!

Cut down on buying meat - go for cheaper cuts and cook longer, Bulk out casseroles, soups and stews with pulses and vegetables. Shop around and buy local produce in season.

If I know The Sunday Times, and I do know The Sunday Times, their key money saving tips will involve massive outlay. I would lay odds on them including 'solar panels' or similar

I don't know if it's still possible but fixing fuel costs is a good bet.

Go on to monthly direct debits online for as many utility bills as you can. You do pay less.

I mean 'monthly direct debits with statements viewed online' of course

Reduce any luxery outgoings -

we have reduced our Sky package form £42 a month to £19 main thing we lost was sports but still loads of channels

also both our mobile phones were on high tarrifs, kept mine as it is as I use all free minutes and have unlimited texts (need mobile for work) and use instead of landline and reduced dh to minimum was was £9 a month so equilivant as if he had payg.

Capped all energy prices

Go shopping with cash and no debit/credit card amazing how much you pay attention to prices and make your something come in on budget.

We've also stopped using debit cards and get a set amount of cash out each week and we have to make it last (£50 for dh and £60 for me but I put petrol in the car, get odd bits of shopping and pay for dd's activities out of that)

Eat less meat,I've found cooking with pulses and vegetables so much cheaper

also bulk buy if you can esp 'dry' stores.

don't use the oven unless it's full as dad keeps telling me.

lids on pots when boiling, oh and also close the curtains early in the winter (mine are thick so keep the heat in as it's not double glazed), door curtains as well.

only boil enough water in the kettle for the cups of tea you want. oh and use boiled water for veg - it's cheaper to boil the kettle first than use cold water & wait for it to heat up.

Forgot we also do christmas club at ~£50 a month so makes £600 payout at end of october so christmas presents and food sorted plus get £10 a month in car tax stamps so when car tax due we have 70% of the money available

Have £10 a month deducted from salary that goes into staff account and that pays for the dd's birthdays presents in september and january!

Pay as you go mobile and use only in emergency

x post with spandex re saving stamps

I sometimes use 'the buggering economy'
HTH

Meal plan.
Buy cheap vodka.
Stop feeding the children such healthy nutritious food, they stop growing, you save a fortune on clothes and shoes.
Don't put the heating on, put a jumper, socks, a hat and a poncho.
Watch more television and socialise less.
Oh and cut your own hair - go on I dare you.

Then post pics on mn.

Scottish wool, not Scottish Gas. It's the new black.

IKEA bumper packs of candles - saves electricity and smell nice, too.

Spend nights out learning a new, fun skill in an evening class rather than a wine bar - sewing, quilting, crocheting and knitting. Learning skills forms a new way to turn a few coppers or make lovely gifts, too.

Bored a Saturday afternoon or morning? Head for boot sales, charity shops, estate sales and auctions rather than the mall.

Drop the gym, a pair of hiking boots or MBTs are cheaper, especially on Ebay (broken in, too). Saves on petrol as well.

Vegetarianism isn't just for weirdos, and has added green points as well.

Instead of perfumes, try essential oils - mix your own. Lasts longer, too.

Drink at home - no worries about thugs in taxi ranks or going over the limit.

use freecycle

Supermarket saving schemes. Tesco and Morrisons do saving stamps and also Tesco do a christmas saver where you can top it up at the checkout with your clubcard.

eat a someone elses house

brew your own wine and beer

grow your own herbs - not much space needed and much cheaper than buying packs of fresh herbs in the supermarket

expat - i'm assuming you have loads of candles instead of lights on?

e&h - yes they're fab arn't they the stamps - even got DB doing it! - he seemed amazed when i reeled off a load of money saving tips to him!!!

also he was amazed by buying own brands he says he's saved about £45.00. i'm not sure he's ready for value stuff yet thou!

i have, Spandex , and this is cold, dark placeu p here. even now the nights are drawing in.

i've always been a candle freak. i remember one time, whilst living in Denver, there was a blackout, so i lit all the candles in my living room. there were 41!

IKEA is quite far from us, so we go once a year.

next week is our big trip!

we do savings stamps for our car tax. it doesn't cost any less, but it spreads the cost around so that you don't find yourself hit with a big bill at car tax time.

READ your bank statements! they can reveal ways in which you might be frittering money away needlessly.

buy kids clothes one size bigger than they need so they last twice as long
Use bibs or napkins round necks while eating, it really cuts down on washing.
Only wash clothes when they need it rather than after every wear, the clothes last longer and it's better for the environment too. It is also less work.

i dilute washing powder with washing soda crystals. a couple of scoops of soda crystals cuts back on the amount of powder we use and boosts stain removal.

forgo the fabric softener, too.

I know the Sunday Times won't use this idea but stop buying papers and magazines. You will be surprised how much you can save. We are saving £10 a week on this alone.

Plan your meals and write a shopping list. Then you will not be tempted by all the crap at the supermarket.

If you are cold put a jumper on. Save the heating for when it is freezing.

Cancel Sky and stick to Freeview.

If Xmas is going to be a struggle then tell all the adults you would normally buy for that you are skint this year and that you cannot get them a pressie. They will understand. You could always make them certificates offering to babysit for them or mow their lawn.

Try not to use the tumble dryer.

Keep a money diary. You will be surprised what you waste money on. Normally the guilty culprit is all those coffees at Costas.

I would second the grow your own herbs and veg
Menu plan
Use a slow cooker
Bulk buy and share with family or friends
Hold a swap clothes event with freinds or family (IOt shoes I am getting old when I managed to swop some stuff with my mum)
Blankets on beds - inc the childrens.
Lovley throws, again even for the children they love snuggling up on them
Aldi and Lidl
Make christmas presents
Check all insurance policies and utilities
No takeways
Use student nights for haircuts
contact the local colledge regarding beauty treatments.
Buy eggs and potatoes from the farmer
make your own bread - get all those hardlu used machines out of the loft
buy own brands

Cappucino - I do have a milk frother! And I buy the Starbucks vanilla syrup as well

I agree about he coffee actually - Costa Coffee is nicer

LOL @ spending more in timpsons than shoe shops! NOT ME! I LOVE new shoes!