Save yourself a bit of cash! (Thrifty Tips...)

Name: SusanLesley

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	Thrifty Tips...
Date:	14/05/08 (180 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You don't really notice you're doing it

Disadvantages: Don't be silly

At the moment we have two mortgages as we have bought our cottage without having been able to sell our house so money is a bit tight to say the least.

I have always been taught to be careful with money so I thought I would share a few of my ideas with you and, of course, earn a bit more money! LOL!

Seriously though some of these will be so obvious that you all do them anyway but maybe there will be one or two in there that are useful to you.

ENERGY SAVING

One of the main ways of saving money in the house is to save energy and here are a few ways to do just that without really noticing any difference to your lifestyle.

Just boil the amount of water you need in your kettle, don't boil a kettle full for one cup of tea.

Use the microwave instead of the cooker when it's appropriate.

Only use the washing machine when you have a full load unless you have a special setting on the machine to do smaller loads using the correct amount of water and detergent.

Have thermostats fitted to your radiators, that way you can have cool temperatures in rooms not in constant use.

Turn the heating off or down when you can. You don't need the heating on if your keeping warm doing the housework for example. Consider putting on a jumper rather than turning up the heating.

We can go one step further now. We have had a multi fuel burner put in our cottage so we light that for a couple of hours at night when it goes cool, so we don't need to put the heating on. We go for walks along the beach and collect driftwood and we collect pine cones and odd pieces of wood from the ground when we walk in the woods.

We you need to change your household boiler or heating fit a combi boiler. That way you will only ever heat the water that you are going to use rather than heating a tankful every time you might need hot water.

Use energy saving lightbulbs wherever possible.

Don't leave the TV, video or computer on standby.

Use a slow cooker. It only takes the same energy as a lightbulb and the slow cooking method means you can buy cheaper cuts of meat and they will taste delicious.

Put aluminium foil behind your radiators to reflect the heat back into the room.

Line your curtains and close them when it gets dark to keep the heat in the room.

Make sure your loft is well insulated.

Have cavity wall insulation put in the space between your outside walls, unless your walls are solid stone like ours! LOL!

It is amazing just how much difference a bit of thought can make to your energy bills. I use almost all of the ideas that I have just mentioned and don't notice any lowering of my standard of living just a lowering of my energy bills!

INSURANCE

Review your household insurance regularly to make sure that it is up to date and covers any new purchases you have made. This is especially relevant today with all the new technology - computers, cameras, video recorders etc.

MAKING MONEY

I also have a few ideas relating to the house in general which will actually generate new income rather than just reducing your outgoings.

Recycle your aluminium drinks cans and aluminium foil. Recycling firms make weekly collections from pre arranged sites where you exchange your cans for cash. Sadly they don't come to Wales so this one isn't any good to me any more.

If you've got some bits and pieces to get rid of consider taking part in a car boot sale. The tables are usually £6 a time and what you might think of as junk might be what someone else has been looking everywhere for. If you do one of the indoor sales you don't even need to have a car. Pack your small light items into a few strong carrier bags and go on the bus! Be prepared to haggle over prices and be careful not to sell anything valuable for next to nothing.

Sell your unwanted items on EBay.

Most supermarkets have a board for anyone one to advertise items for sale. These are usually free of charge and can be very lucrative. A word of advice - don't put your house number on the card, you don't want to advertise to any would be burglars exactly where the items are.

Most local newspapers offer free advertisements if the items you're selling are less than £100. The best thing to do about a contact is to just put your telephone number.

Use your artistic talents to make things either to sell or to give as presents.

Well, I hope that I have given you some ideas on how to save and/or make a bit of cash. I can guarantee that the tips I have given all work!

Summary: It's easy not to waste money