TOP TEN TIPS FOR FRUGAL STUDENTS AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB (General Comments)

Member Name: binnie

Product:	General Comments
Date:	02/05/03 (341 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: MADE ME APPRECIATE MONEY??

Disadvantages: I'M OWING A FORTUNE NOW TO THE BANK MANAGER

I thought I would write about my days on the dole and the days when I work, this might help students and to realise it's not just them who's poor. It's only done light heartedly so no offence.
Here are my Top Ten Frugal Tips.

1*
Stay in bed most of the day so I didn't have to put the gas fire on. I lived for a while in a tiny bedsit in Manchester and prefered to go out drinking, so I could save the money for beer.
The gas was by meter and so was the electric, I would sometimes have to call the meter man out as coins would get stuck, then the poor man would take pity on me and slide back a few pound coins into the meter giving me a few days electric and gas for nothing.


2*
I used to drink a bottle of Concorde before I went out through a straw, it only cost about £1.25, so it was cheap enough to drink and get sloshed before I went out to the Nightclub. I went out about 10.0clock just before the entrance fees went up to full price, then fluttered my eyelashes at every male going for them to buy me a drink. I even got to know the bouncers, who felt sorry for me not being able to afford to get home, so they often used to club together and get me enough cash for a taxi ride home.

3*
As other people have wrote, using wrapping paper twice. I always feel it's a shame to throw such nice paper away, so I try not to rip it when opening a present, then I can re-cycle it for whoever's Birthday it is next. Once I accidentally used Xmas paper for someones Birthday, oops.

4*
I would always buy unbranded food, for instance Kwiksaves own, it was all I could afford and paying more than 35p for a loaf of bread was a sin. I just couldn't bring myself to do it, nowadays I buy Warbartons as I've realised it lasts longer. I used to live off Beans on Toast and Soup, that's proably how I kept slim, now I'm just a fat pig.

5*
The odd ocassion, I have nicked loo paper from publ

ic toilets or places where I've worked. That was really being desperate, it seems such a waste shoving it down the loo afterwards, it's a pity you can't recycle it. It's so expensive for what it is, but even though I used to buy the cheapest back then,and now I buy good stuff, it doesn'tt stop my fingernails from being pushed through. I might as well have used an old rag.

6*
Go to your parents for a slap up meal. My mum made me Roast Beef and all the trimmings, then Meringue to follow. I felt as though I was full for a week. She always gave me things to go back to my flat with, like £20, toiletries and sometimes a new top. Aren't parents wonderful. Nowadays I try and buy my parents the odd treat.

7*
Become an Avon rep. I have been one for over 25 years, and I buy mostly samples instead of the full sized product. Some of the time Avon send you free samples to try, so that could be a nice perfume or foundation. Once they sent me 10 nail varnishes by accident and didnt charge me, I sold them for a £1.00 each, which gave me £10 to go out with. I wouldn't do it now of course.

8*
I used to use cheap washing up liquid for multi purposes. The obvious one is to wash up with, I always thought of buying cheap stuff to save the pennies when in fact it ran out quicker with having to use more.When I was really skint I used to wash my hair in it. I'm sure I remember my mum washing my hair with it when I was a kid. I've even used it to handwash tights and underwear when I've no washing podwer.

9*
Go round with the Avon book of course to a womans house with loads of kids, then comment on how she manages to find time to do her ironing and cleaning with all those kids around.You never know she might just ask you to do her ironing and cleaning for a nice crispy £20 note, I did that and gained myself a nice little earner.

10*
I shopped at charity shops for a while and got myself
some
nice outfits. They only cost me a few quid, but I looked the bees knees, ehem.
If you are the daring type, send off to the catalogue for that expensive dress, sellotape the tag down somewhere, wear it then return it saying it didn't fit. Not that I dare do that.

A BONUS ONE

Borrow the latest Cd's off your friends and tape them, at least you haven't got the expense of buying them.


Well there were my Top Ten Penny Pinching ways, now here are the complete opposites to what I do nowadays.
This is when you have a job, but still not well paid.

1*
I don't have a meter for the gas and elctric now and just pay direct debit. We leave the two computers on almost all day, sometimes leave the TV on standby which uses up more elctric than one thinks. I get up much earlier and use more electric and gas. I even turn the central heating up full blast even in summer (only joking). We go round the house turning all the lights on and forgetting to turn them off, get the kettle and toaster going, then blowing a fuse.

2*
At one time I wouldn't pay £1.60 for a bottle of Woodpecker Cider in a pub, afterall it was only like half a cider. I would only have it on draught. Now I buy those alcopops at £3.00-£3.50 a bottle, but then one might last me an hour or so.
On my holidays I'm always the dear night out and have Pina Coladas.

3*
Even though I still reycle some wrapping paper, i've recently splashed out and bought some of that lovely metallic paper for Birthdays etc. I've even been known to throw some unripped stuff away. What is the world coming to.

4*
Now I really do waste food. I buy Warbartons Bread and teacakes, I forget them after a day or so and end up buying butties at work. hence having to then throw the expensive warburtons away. I do buy shops own brands sometimes, but seem to spend between £80 a fortnight on shopping plus extra trips every fe
w days, and years ago it was £6/£7 for the week. How times have changed.

5*
The last year or so I've been splashing out on thicker toilet p
aper, sometimes the quilted stuff, at least my fingernails didn't poke through.
I've been known to take a few lengths out with me, just in case there's none in the pub, things have changed when I used to nick it off them.

6*
Now we eat out quite often, but only because we hate cooking, I've even taken my parents out and my hubbies mum too. They think I've won the lottery. Lately I've even been known to buy a few rounds of drinks.

7*
I seem to be addicted to buying the latest Avon goodie. Doesn't matter if I've already got half a dozen bottles of the same foundation, but it will come in handy one day won't it? Then I've got into the habbit if a customer spends a lot, then I give them a free gift, in fact all my workmates have been treated recently and they don't always the Avon to start with.

8*
Well blow me down with a feather, I even buy fairy Liquid now. My husband nagged me into this saying the cheap stuff is rubbish. I now agree with him and buy this all the time. I don't wash my tights in it anymore, I use washing powder instead.

9*
Now I clean myself, but only if someone is coming, ha ha. I also get the neighbours young lad mowing our garden for a Fiver, wouldn't have done that years ago.
I use the tumble dryer everytime I've washed, then fold the clothes whilst warm, then no ironing for me, yipee.

10*
Clothes are a sore subject. My body has seen several sizes over the years, and I've had to buy clothes ranging from Size 10 right up to a Size 20, well the top was tight fitting and looked rubbish in a Size 14.
I buy several pairs of trousers hoping to slim into them, then i don't bother and buy the next size up. I now have three pairs of identical trousers in three
different sizes. I've tried to be strict lately and buy off Ebay, I've had some right bargains for a few quid. i've even sold some of mine, but neve
r gained their full value.


How did I change my life round from Penny Pincher to Flash Harry, easy, I just ran up my two Credit Card bills to £6,0000, then got a loan for £6,000, then sold all my unworn clothes and made a bit off Ebay.

WARNING, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE PURSE STRINGS, BUT HEALTHY FOR THE BANK MANAGER.
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