Lentils are the key to a thrifty life !! And I'm not a vegetarian ! (Saving tips)

Member Name: sdean

Product:	Saving tips
Date:	23/01/09 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Paying off the bills, not going shopping as often, healthier bank balance

Disadvantages: Less going out and treats- for the moment

I am a convert to the thrifty life. I have had a wonderful 2008 and spent a fortune on a trip to Vegas watching my best friend get married. Once in a lifetime. Now I am £6k in debt on a 0% credit card you will be pleased to know (ends in August)- not all from Vegas- and have a £900 overdraft, which I have had since the lovely people of Barclays thought it would be a good idea when I was 19.

Anyway - I digress

So I decided in January to get these blasted bills paid off. Going through forums, moneysaving expert and tips from friends I have devised a way to pay this blasted thing off by August as that is when the 0% ends. I divided it up into how mny weeks i had until them and that was my target. Here's how I'm doing it, some tips won't be helpful for everyone, but as a person who works full time, likes nice things and is struggling, these small tips have helped so much!!

1. Food Shopping

A big expenditure in our house - 2 adults and I guess we used to do £40 a week on food - not loads, but it wasn't monitored and I was throwing things away which I hate doing. I also wanted to make it healthier, not calling for a Chinese if we were tired and had nothing in and also to do away with going to the supermarket every other day.

So I wrote a list of what I had in my house, fridge, freezer and cupboards devised a meal plan using recipe's from the net and ones in my head, all other ingredients and necessities I added to a list for a supermarket shop.

I check all the supermarkets on the net and the cheapest for me was Asda, so I ordered all my stuff and arranged delivery. Using BOGOF's, 2 for ...etc. I also 'downshifter' to their smart price value stuff -as I say you don't know until you try. So I like some stuff, hate others, all trial and error and mostly have found it to be good !!

2. Cooking

I bulk cooked. A weekend of hell in the kitchen and containers from the pound shop gave me meals upon meal upon meals. Brilliant. Also with stews, casseroles, spag bol, chilli, soup. I add red lentils - by far one of the easiest pulses to use, no soaking or hours of boiling required. When you spag bol is in simmering stage add a handful or two of red lentils and a cup of water and leave it for 20 mins or so, when you can't see the lentils anymore, that's when it's ready, or if it gets dry add more water. This tip had stretched a pack of mince for lots of meals. It's not a science, you can't taste them or see them, but it thickens soups, stews etc to make it go that little bit further.

So if I forget to defrost meat, I microwave a tub of chilli and boil some rice - genius ! Saves me hours, also thinking about what you will have for tea is a nightmare sometimes and you run out of ideas. My meal plan is on the inside of a cupboard door, and I tick as I go, if I don't fancy soup again this week I pick something further down. In theory I have enough dinners for 35 days. I just have to pick up milk and bread and fresh fruit and veg in the week. Otherwise I think £78 for over a month of dinners, toiletries, some cleaning stuff and loo roll is pretty good (excluding the above of course). Most are home cooked, healthy and there is a bag of chips in the freezer should I fancy a splurge!

3. Make sure all your bills are on Direct Debit

This is easy to do, it will save time, energy and also stop you from getting late payments. You will oftern get a bonus for switching this way in the form of £1 or £2 a month. If any of these companies offer e-bills, you may also get a saving on this as well.

4. Online Bank

If you are like me and living on your overdraft it is so easy to go over. I thought internet banking was crazy and annoying, now I'm hooked. This stops me going over my limit as I know what is in and out. I often would not look at my account for weeks because I was frightened to look. This keeps it all under control.

5. Get any over payments back.

I pay all my bills by DD (direct debit) now, with the gas, electricity and water this is a set amount each month and I get 'billed' every quarter. I discovered on my electricity bills I have been £70 in credit for the last year. I am due a bill in the next couple of weeks as soon as that is paid I will request anything over back. I have asked and they are happy to do that as soon as the bill has been produced. I also received £46 in a thank you from Atlantic Gas and Elec as I had been with them a year. Apparently it's a loyalty bonus of a month's DD and they give that every year! Bonus!!

6. Join earning sites on the internet.

So I have had a greasypalm account since almost day one. However it was only bits and pieces that I had been doing so never even reaching £25. I had a good look on the site and discovered I could get cashback of what I could wager on the betting sites. For example one site wanted me to subscribe, deposit £10, play the £10 and I would get £12.50 cashback - so I would get my £10 back, have a little wager and earn £2.50. Brill. In some cases I won on these sites, in most cases I lost (but I won from greasypalm). This is ok if you don't have a gambling habit and can just lose your tenner and move on. So I have accrued over £100. £65 I got a few weeks ago and some more to come in February. Also joining Dooyoo, not only to revive my writing skills and typing speed but to earn a few pence. Thank you for your help everyone !

7. My pot
My old pot - a small plant pot got too small for the buckets of change I would try to put in, so I have switched to a champagne bucket. Champagne taste and beer bottle pocket I'm afraid!! It's on top of the fridge freezer so I can't see in it and me and the other half have been chucking any change we get init. If we are generous a couple of pounds or just the coppers. I have been doing this a while and put £40 towards the credit card a couple of weeks ago (all from before Christmas) and we are starting again. If he stops nicking the change for his bus fare!!

8. Making sure the other half puts in.

My boyf has an unstable job in the building trade and is self employed (non skilled) so he would need his money whenever he had any. This had to change, as I could cover all bills and mortgage on my own (modest - shared ownership) he gave me money if I needed it. He is now faithfully giving me money every time he gets paid to the tune of half the bills which is going toward clearing the credit card. This is helping so much and I can clear £100 every week without trying. I think most relationships go 50/50, but as I could always cope we didn't need to penny pinch.

In conclusion I am happier than ever as these bills are getting cleared. I have found ways to get my money back from companies if they are holding on to it. Stretch my food further (and my time) and stop any potential arguments about money. According to my calculations and if the fella is in work till august It should all be paid, with a little belt tightening and no holiday this spring I should have it all done. So while I am losing weight, stopping smoking and belt tightening- this could be a really successful year!

Summary: How to pay off your bills in 9 months......