Recession Beaters

[sushimo]

Any bright ideas on how to save those pennies?
Spotted an incredible bargain somewhere?
Anything you think will help cut costs - post here.

Thread is 'Stickied' while active

[sushimo]

Shopping vouchers - can be worth quite a lot if you do have to buy, especially online. I always run a check before buying anything, often it may just be free delivery - but it all helps.

This guy is brilliant at checking and informing on just about anything that can cut your costs.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/discount-voucher-codes

[cathy]

If there's an offer of buy one get one free I go for it .... but only if it's something I really like and know I will use.

[puffin]

If I see a BOGOF and it's likely I only need the one If my daughter and I both use it I get it and we split the cost.
The same with bulk buys. We both keep a list of what the other uses and when we see an offer we take advantage. We shop on different days so it's very unlikely we will get the same offer on the same day.
A quick check along with the routine phone call keeps us up to date with our shopping.

[lala]

Buy quality rather than rubbish.. It saves a lot in the long run. Mrs la finds this concept very hard to come to terms with.

[puffin]

Definitely agree with any none consumables...some consumables too.

The best tip is to make a shopping list and keep to it. Don't buy stuff you don't need.

[lawrence]

This is exactly the kind of rubbish that makes recessions occur. Spend as you usually spend , do what you usually do , it is all psychological and the reduction in economic activity is what causes these things . If you lose your job or face a reduction in your income then concern yourselves with this stuff otherwise carry on as always. Thats my advice anyways. Plenty of time to cut back when and if it becomes necessary.

[Scooby Do]

A packet of lettuce seed will cost about £1, It will keep you in lettuce for the season.

Thats what I call a bargain.

[yord]

the only possible reason for buying or even stealing a lettuce is to see how long it can survive lurking in the back of your fridge

[yord]

3 weeks ? Ive had lettuces in mine for years. Its almost becoming a collection

[Deleted]

Lawrence is spot on.

[puffin]

If you are on a fixed income then spending carefully and making the best of your money IS the way you normally spend!

[cathy]

Lawrence said ....


This is exactly the kind of rubbish that makes recessions occur. Spend as you usually spend , do what you usually do , it is all psychological and the reduction in economic activity is what causes these things . If you lose your job or face a reduction in your income then concern yourselves with this stuff otherwise carry on as always. Thats my advice anyways. Plenty of time to cut back when and if it becomes necessary.

I think Sushi started this thread for anyone who maybe feeling the pinch ... perhaps because they've lost their job, or are working less hours, or have recently retired ... but there could be a multitude of other reasons why someone may want to make a few savings.

So I don't agree, this isn't rubbish .... it's never wrong in good times or bad to economise.

[Woolf]

One trick I got from the Money Saving Expert site.

Downgrade what you buy by one level.
Finest, Expensive Brands
Normal Brands
Shops own brand
Shops own budget brand

For most items you will not notice the difference in the product but it does make a difference at the till.

Sainsbury 1% Milk, 4pints, £1
Tastes the same as Semi-skimmed.

[mistressdao]

I am on a fixed income and have to spend carefully.

I pay 68p for a a litre bottle of sterilised skimmed milk and whilst 4pints for £1.00 may seem cheaper but being fresh milk it would be off before it could be used up as I only use ¼ pint per day in making my porridge.

A lot of offers in supermarkets are on good you really don't need to buy. I know they do do offers on basic stuff like fruit veg more often thses days but we really don't booze,fizzy drinks, crisps and the like

[Deleted]

OK it's not rubbish to budget.
What I mean is that the recession can be self- perpetuated by everyone touting it and that includes the press to some extent.
My neighbour said she was thinking about buying a new sofa, but was worried that the company might go bust, but then said that if no-one buys anything then companies will go bust.
That's the crux of it in my view.
I am on a fixed income and have to budget in any ways.
The way I do it is half altruistic and half selfishly.
I patronrise a wide range of shops to help keep the whole shabang moving and also to keep them fleet of foot.
Ultimately if you worry too much about the recession it will turn into a depression and we will all lose our jobs and incomes.

[sushimo]

It's rubbish to budget??!!!!

What the %^$£!!

It's what everyone should be doing anyway as a matter of course - no wonder we have the greedy throw away world that exists now. Like people getting into a car do drive 1 mile to the supermarket for 1 pint of milk - how much does that milk cost you adding on 2 miles of petrol? I never cease to be amazed at how much waste there is now - it's small wonder that Tesco has recorded the highest ever profits of £3 billion!! Bet most of that ended up in someones bin tbh.

[kubik8]

"This is exactly the kind of rubbish that makes recessions occur. Spend as you usually spend , do what you usually do , it is all psychological and the reduction in economic activity is what causes these things "

Don't agree with this at all. I suspect most of the posters here don't have a huge amount of disposable income, and probably almost all income is spent anyway, so how is this kind of cutting back contributing to recession? This recession is caused by ridiculously freely available credit, and I imagine a lot of people are budgeting so they don't need more credit, or are trying to pay off the credit they have. The first is plain common sense, and the second means the money is pumped back into the economy anyway.


My own tip. Look through all you own and see what you really don't use or care for any anymore, then flog the stuff on eBay (or wherever). It's amazing the tat people will pay for. I've just made a few hundred quid flogging old DVDs and some unneeded electronic stuff. Some of my DVDs sold for more than I paid for them new!

So now I have some funds in a Paypal account and if I want to treat myself, I just use that and don't touch the regular income.

[sushimo]

Budget hotel chain Travelodge is running a new £9 room sale, starting 6:00am on Thursday 23 April 2009. Yet you need to be quick, as availability always disappears fast.

There are 50,000 rooms on offer for just £9 and another 100,000 rooms for £19. The deal’s valid for stays between 27 August and 30 November 2009. Over 360 of Travelodge’s UK hotels are taking part, and the usual price is £29 to £59, so this is a terrific deal.

What you need to do

The £9 rooms will be available at 6:00am sharp on 23 April. Use Travelodge's room search to find dates. Be aware, these rooms must be paid for in advance, are non-refundable and you must book at least 21 days before arrival.

What are Travelodge rooms like?

Travelodges are clean, functional and do the job. It's run this offer several times, and there are lots of happy reviews from MoneySavers. Yet there are some concerns it has a deliberate 'overbooking' policy, though most people don't report problems.

Read people's fave Travelodge getaway locations, whether town or country, in the Great Best Travelodge Hotels Hunt discussion.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/travelodge-discounts#travelodge

[omnipleasant]

I doubt this will help many people on here, where 40 grand is generally considered a "middle income", but....

Make sure you are getting all the help and benefits you can.

www.entitledto.co.uk/