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Frugal tips
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By *stella OP Woman
over a year ago
London |
If you were giving some of your best money-managing tips for frugal living, be they economy meal ideas or ideas for cheap entertainment, or strategies for saving - what would you recommend?
I warn you I shall likely be adding recommendations to the ideas info provided to clients at work. So thank you.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Going to watch TV shows being recorded as part of the audience is normally free.
Always get loyalty cards from shops.
Batch cook meals
Iv have many more but I'm hungover right now, will add more when I'm feeling human again.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Batch cook meals and freeze them
Review utilities/insurances every year
Look at cashback sites
Share netflix etc with family to split cost
Clearout old clothes, CDs etc... Basically if not used in last year and unlikely to use in next year then get rid
Take advantage of employer saving schemes (sharesaves etc) if they are available |
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By *eliWoman
over a year ago
. |
Switching bank accounts, checking if you can switch gas and elec providers. Using cashback services. Company schemes for shares. Dried pulses for bulking out meals (lentils/chickpeas). MSE do a wallet workout which is really fantastic and I've gently nudged friends in that direction. Purchase cheap travel insurance (a day) for 2 for 1 tickets. Reduced food times in supermarkets; learn them, be brave and go.
Oh I have no spend days. If I go without buying a coffee etc that goes towards the mortgage. You can get bank accounts that siphon off spare change (so like the 21p from £10) and puts it in a saving account. Markets are good for fruit bowls - lots of fruit for a £1. |
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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago
South Wales |
Have a jar for loose change and hopefully at the end of the year you can take to one of them machines in Supermarkets and get a few notes in return. I’ve had as much as £30, comes in handy at Christmas or as an emergency shop fund when times are hard. |
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I keep my debit and credit cards away from my purse. Gives me those extra few seconds to think 'do I really need this'.
Also started to write H -v- P on my finger to remind me. Pleasure = instant but unsustainable, happiness = work hard towards happiness. Kinda works |
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Check out the Whoops bargains. Often it’s cheaper because the box is a bit dented.
Stick to the list when you do your big shop but have a spare £5 for anything you can’t resist. If it’s more than £5 and not on the list you don’t need it.
Always shop around. Utilise comparison websites. Definitely use a cashback site to log in to ebay and shopping websites. That extra 2 minutes can be quite lucrative. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Have a jar for loose change and hopefully at the end of the year you can take to one of them machines in Supermarkets and get a few notes in return. I’ve had as much as £30, comes in handy at Christmas or as an emergency shop fund when times are hard."
Those machines charge and take between 8 and 12%
Some bank branches have machines that you tip your coins in and it all goes directly to your account. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Use your phone calendar for renewal dates for insurances or for end of contracts (such as broadband or utilities) so as you can shop around in plenty of time. Companies rely on inertia and not switching to get more money.
Talk to creditors and work out a plan with them.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Have different bank accounts for different things. - A food shopping account, a spending/ lunches/ clothes account, a bills account.
Keep all receipts and update the balance for each account in a notebook every day. |
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Budget and split up your bank account.
When you get money coming in, separate off money that is already committed in utility bills, loan repayments etc. and have direct debits come out of that account.
Then only spend what's left. Watch that figure go down so you don't give yourself a false impression of what you've actually got.
Anything you have left over by next pay day, move into savings.
Having full visibility really concentrates the mind.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Have different bank accounts for different things. - A food shopping account, a spending/ lunches/ clothes account, a bills account.
Keep all receipts and update the balance for each account in a notebook every day. "
Cap (Christians against poverty)
Run a free budgeting course and they recommend just this.
Its been a game changer for me.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If anyone has a disability and has a blue badge or freedom pass then a lot of places including cinemas have carers go free. Lots of places in London offer this but isn't aways stated on websites so always worth asking. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Switch to Aldi/Lidl instead of the usual big supermarkets.
Motorists find a reliable local garage and avoid main dealers like the plague
eBay/Facebook market place are great for finding anything |
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Avoid just browsing when food shopping, but just what you need with a list.
I normally get the meats that are 3 for £10 and that decides our meals as normally can be split in to two so 6 meals for £10. Frozen veg is just as good as fresh and you get more for your money. As is frozen fruit great for smoothies rather than spending a fortune on fresh fruit
Always check the price per unit, what you think is a good deal just because it’s on offer is not necessarily the case |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Ive never smoked nor got d*unk, limit myself to only a couple if I'm out.
I do remember working out what I've saved over the years compared to a heavy smoker friend (sadly no longer here as a consequence too), a small mortgage.
Have a shopping list, it save multiple trips and reduces compulsive buys.
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By *anky_PankyWoman
over a year ago
Filthy Fuckeryville |
"Check out the Whoops bargains. Often it’s cheaper because the box is a bit dented.
Stick to the list when you do your big shop but have a spare £5 for anything you can’t resist. If it’s more than £5 and not on the list you don’t need it. "
To stop me buying those extra bits I have started to utilise Asda Click n Collect. Its free and stops me picking up crap I just don't need. Only issue is I can't pick my own meat which I'm fussy about  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Avoid just browsing when food shopping, but just what you need with a list.
I normally get the meats that are 3 for £10 and that decides our meals as normally can be split in to two so 6 meals for £10. Frozen veg is just as good as fresh and you get more for your money. As is frozen fruit great for smoothies rather than spending a fortune on fresh fruit
Always check the price per unit, what you think is a good deal just because it’s on offer is not necessarily the case "
I buy my chicken from the chicken factory, usually 1/3 of the super market prices and then freeze it |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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you always pay more interest on loans/credit cards etc than you can get from saving. So first step in a savings plan should be to reduce credit as mush as possible. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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A credit union is a great way to save and orten loans are based on savings and very low interest compared to most high st lenders.
Do your weekly shop online and get it delivered or click/collect, it stops you picking up things you dont need. It also helps if you are on a diet |
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"Buy clothes from charity shops. You can get a lot of really decent stuff for a fraction of the original price, and you prevent stuff from going to landfill. "
You can even sometimes find brand new stuff still with tags on. |
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"Get a slo cooker
I have one but only used it once. I need recipes haha"
Brown some chunks of meat in a frying pan. Chop up some veg or add pulses and stir them in. Add a tin of soup or chopped tomatoes. Heat till liquid bubbles. Pour into slow cooker. Simple ! |
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Even if its only 10p put something in a savings jar every week
Always take lunch to work
Check local FE colleges for cut price hair and beauty treatments by students.
If you eat salad leaves and rocket etc grow in pots on the window sill.
If you're able to consider taking on a second job temporarily to get you through a tough patch
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At the start of the year Sainsbury were giving £12 off a £50 shop vouchers when you spent over £10. If you see an offer like that and have the money it's worth using them to stock up on things like cat food and washing powder. We used them, chose the cheapest delivery slot and spent £50 exactly. The delivery guy said he'd just delivered £50 worth of coffee to a house so we weren't the only ones |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Join in on the Fab Forums
Whole evenings and weekends just disappear without the need to spend a penny
If you're feeling flush one month, buy a membership |
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rice, tinned veg, pasta, is always cheap. if you are a meat eater then going to a market and buying chicken thighs and drum sticks is a good idea you can get a weeks worth for about 4 to 5 pounds. I always ask for £4.50's worth so I get change. it's always cheaper than the supermarkets 
p.s I like the word frugal |
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"If you shop on line and at checkout it has a space for discount code, do a quick Google search and you can normally find one. "
trouble is coffee is over priced anyway so even with the voucher you're just getting what the coffee should cost anyway the store is still making a hefty profit that's why they give them vouchers out to millions of people |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Don’t do an online grocery shop after a bottle (or two) of wine......I was as shocked as the delivery driver by the amount of crisps & alcohol I had delivered at 9am one Sunday morning  |
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Don’t do anything until you have an excel budget sheet you have to have an idea what is coming in and out of course you don’t have to be absolute.
2 have a bank account for bills like phone electric water generally direct debit bills which you add money to monthly no more or less etc.
3. have an account for your monthly shopping and necessity again add money to monthly no more or less.
4. have a savings account of some sort add a certain amount monthly.
5. See it as paying yourself with the division of money.
6. Bonus play money account/miscellaneous [ain’t got that at the moment].
7. Have a plan to get out of the need to be very tight with cash. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Do a few car boots to get rid of your unwanted items and also ask friends and family if they have any stuff. You would be surprised on how much you would make |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Before buying something, pick it up with one hand and imagine a wad of cash in the other, which one looks more appealing.
Never go shopping on an empty stomach.
Try and pay by cash when shopping and Create a shopping list before leaving.
Set a maximum time limit for a shop.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When buying food, look at price per kilo. For example, Cathedral City is on offer frequently but is still twice the price of shops own brand."
Holy fuck. I have been telling people this for years. This is the first time I have heard someone mention this.
This is the one |
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"Have a jar for loose change and hopefully at the end of the year you can take to one of them machines in Supermarkets and get a few notes in return. I’ve had as much as £30, comes in handy at Christmas or as an emergency shop fund when times are hard.
Those machines charge and take between 8 and 12%
Some bank branches have machines that you tip your coins in and it all goes directly to your account. "
use the change you saed in the self service machines in the supermarket.. there's no charge for changing up |
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By *stella OP Woman
over a year ago
London |
"When buying food, look at price per kilo. For example, Cathedral City is on offer frequently but is still twice the price of shops own brand.
Holy fuck. I have been telling people this for years. This is the first time I have heard someone mention this.
This is the one "
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Try to have at least 2 or 3 no spend days in the week.
Plan your meals for the week and then write up your shopping list.
eBay old clothes and shoes, I’ve made £100’s over the years by doing so.
Keep an eye on sites like groupon/wowcher for bulk buy offers on everyday essentials like toilet paper/cleaning products etc.
Have a pot for all your spare change. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When buying food, look at price per kilo. For example, Cathedral City is on offer frequently but is still twice the price of shops own brand.
Holy fuck. I have been telling people this for years. This is the first time I have heard someone mention this.
This is the one "
Or if stuck on brands then check the per item or weight price across offers. Sometimes better buying individuals on offer vs multipack, or smaller bottles of ketchup etc are better value than big bottles |
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Eyeballing voucher, coupon can be tedious if you budget properly very likely you will not need to be eyeballing coupons, doesn't mean don't use or collect. I budget to the extent I have my daily food cost which I try not to go over and sometimes you will be exact or under. Those times under that day you can treat yourself with addition ribs and a nice meal. |
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"When buying food, look at price per kilo. For example, Cathedral City is on offer frequently but is still twice the price of shops own brand.
Holy fuck. I have been telling people this for years. This is the first time I have heard someone mention this.
This is the one
Or if stuck on brands then check the per item or weight price across offers. Sometimes better buying individuals on offer vs multipack, or smaller bottles of ketchup etc are better value than big bottles"
This is so true |
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Never, ever use a dealership garage. They'll tell you that the car warranty is void unless you use them. It's bollox. Good mechanics can register with the manufacturers , will cost less and your warranty is safe.
Just ask if they're registered on the scheme when booking. |
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Do a car boot. Clear out all the junk from your garage or the loft and sell it. Summer is best for this.
Whatever is left you can still get rid of. If its CDs, DVDs, video games, books then you can sell it on Music Magpie or similar website. You can also sell on Facebook, Shpock and Gumtree without paying any fees. I’ve made hundreds (maybe more) just getting rid of shite I don’t need. |
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By *i1971Man
over a year ago
Cornwall |
"When buying food, look at price per kilo. For example, Cathedral City is on offer frequently but is still twice the price of shops own brand.
Holy fuck. I have been telling people this for years. This is the first time I have heard someone mention this.
This is the one "
I agree with this totally. BUT, some supermarkets have come away from £x per kilo/100 to unweighted packs of items ie 6 apples (substitute other fruit/veg). In the past I've taken a pre packed bag to the scales just to check out the pricing.
If you have a shop selling past "best before" dated goods, they're sometimes worth a look for things like sauce/crisps/some cook in sauces etc. It can work out so much cheaper but as always, it's only a bargain if you'd normally have bought the full price items. |
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"Do a car boot. Clear out all the junk from your garage or the loft and sell it. Summer is best for this.
Whatever is left you can still get rid of. If its CDs, DVDs, video games, books then you can sell it on Music Magpie or similar website. You can also sell on Facebook, Shpock and Gumtree without paying any fees. I’ve made hundreds (maybe more) just getting rid of shite I don’t need."
I used to do a car boot sale to get spending money for the kids when they were little during the holidays. |
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Local market if you have one for fruit and veg. If you live in a big multicultural city the veg market is usually much better priced than your local supermarket.
You dont have to be veggie to limit the number of days a week you have meat.
Invest in a decent, simple cookbook (the ones with five ingredients or less are less daunting if you're a beginner)
Take your own lunch to work (but try not to eat it on the bus on the way in like I tend to!) |
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"Do a car boot. Clear out all the junk from your garage or the loft and sell it. Summer is best for this.
Whatever is left you can still get rid of. If its CDs, DVDs, video games, books then you can sell it on Music Magpie or similar website. You can also sell on Facebook, Shpock and Gumtree without paying any fees. I’ve made hundreds (maybe more) just getting rid of shite I don’t need.
I used to do a car boot sale to get spending money for the kids when they were little during the holidays."
They can be quite fun as well as a boost to the finances x |
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"Do a car boot. Clear out all the junk from your garage or the loft and sell it. Summer is best for this.
Whatever is left you can still get rid of. If its CDs, DVDs, video games, books then you can sell it on Music Magpie or similar website. You can also sell on Facebook, Shpock and Gumtree without paying any fees. I’ve made hundreds (maybe more) just getting rid of shite I don’t need.
I used to do a car boot sale to get spending money for the kids when they were little during the holidays.
They can be quite fun as well as a boost to the finances x"
They can I used to go with a friend and sometimes my mum |
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If using a major supermarket do a free click & collect order to prevent buying unneeded crap.
Don’t shop when hungry or tired
Slow cooker meals - cook & freeze.
If oven is on then batch cook as cheaper for energy.
Have a separate bills account so you know they will always be covered.
Re-negotiate all bills with providers & don’t be afraid to say you’ll leave them if you don’t get a better deal
If you pay for prescriptions & need more than 1 item at a time look to see if a pre-paid card is better (£10.40 per month by DD)
Use cash back sites
Save all small change in a cheap money box that you have to smash to open
Cut out all unnecessary spending - I see people with financial difficulties that have magazine or charity subscriptions
I could go on & on about this as it’s my job |
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Nothing like buying a £1 item in home and bargains and selling it online for £6 
