How do you save money?

[Jade7]

Please give me your best movey saving ideas!!

We are really struggling at the moment and I don't like the stress! Any tips??

[my3]

well... i use cloth nappies so that helps. My biggest expense is groceries!!!!! So im starting to do a fortnight meal planner and will be doing online shopping so i dont get any "impulse" buys, that way im buying only what i need...hopefully...lol

[Default]

Probably a little early after your LOs birth, but a menstrual cup saves $$$$$$

I try to go to the supermarket just once a week and with a list. Without and more often gets very expensive.

Do you have a farmers market near you? There are heaps of bargains there.

It can be a pain when shopping with the children, but if I am going to buy something that is not absolutely essential, I don't buy it on the spot but go to have a think about it before deciding to make the purchase.

Look at your utilities to see if there is money that can be saved there. Switch everything off at the wall and use energy efficient lights.

[JoJo'sCircus]

This is one that I share with people that seems to work for most. I've worked out roughly how much each of my bills cost by the fortnight and break it down so rather than getting a gas bill every 4 months, or a power bill every 3 months, or a phone bill every month, I've worked it out and use Direct Debit having all those come out of my bank account on a Wednesday. I've got them offset, so that with the house and car I've got around the same amount each week coming out via direct debit. I'm paid weekly so this works better for my situation.

Also, a menu plan including all meals and snacks is done up and a grocery list made from that. There are usually extras thrown in there like baked beans and 2 minute noodles for those times when I get home after work, and after being out at an activity DD is doing for the afternoon, and just don't feel like doing anything.

Have a vege patch, a couple of fruit trees, and being vegetarian are major money-savers.

Each week after the Direct Debits come out, the grocery shopping is done, fuel put in the car, and an extra $40 left in my purse for anything that pops up like something happening at DD's school, or medication, or head lice like we had last week because with kids there always seems to be something going on, I put whatever is left into a high-interest savings account that is only used for holidays and bigger fun things like that. It's amazing how much you save over the course of 12 months if you do that and don't touch the money. Sometimes there's $5 left, sometimes $50, and sometimes none depending on what's on that week. Last week I had to consider yesterday's car service which cost a fortune so had to save for a couple of weeks for that and couldn't put money away but now I can do that again.

When DD was a baby, I used cloth nappies, dressed her in hand-me-downs, breastfed her and made her food from scratch so she didn't really cost all that much. Most of her nappies were given to me by her god-mother too so I didn't have to pay for them. I also lived in share accommodation until she was 1.5 years old, and have lived on my own with her since then but had to get a job

[learnermum]

I get an email from Saving Money in Australia: Cheap goods, bargains and budgets - Simple Savings
you can pay to join 'the vault' but I just get the newsletter, they give you lots of money saving ideas!

I have started using an internet phone company engin there are others but you buy a box then all your calls go through the internet, it's saved me loads.

Also just shared half a cow with friends from a local butcher and got loads different cuts of meat 26kg for $4.99 kg and it will last a LONG time!

A big one for me is just not having cash on me! If there's money in my purse I'll buy things i don't need and usually things that will put on the weight I'm trying to lose!!

good luck

[starbuckozzie]

Lots of good suggestions above. Here is what I do (some are still on the waiting list though!)

Don't go shopping (except for food). If you do really need something buy as good quality as you can afford so that it will last and you won't have to replace it soon.
Walk or cycle instead of driving.
Don't throw any food away unless you really have to. Freeze the ends of bread and make them into breadcrumbs and make sausages out of them with eggs and cheese (you can also hide vegies in there). Save all the ends of vegetables in a container and make stock.
Cloth nappies are a HUGE money saver, as is breastfeeding of course, except for the larger food bill!
Pay your credit card off in full every month.
Make your own laundry powder and cleaning products.
Go shampoo and conditioner free.
Don't buy anything disposable, e.g. paper plates, paper towels, glad wrap. I haven't given toilet paper up yet but am thinking about ways around it!
Save jars and use them as storage containers.
Make large meals and freeze the left-overs.
Use a slow cooker instead of turning the oven on.
Go vegetarian and eat lots of lentils and rice.
Buy things like apples in bulk and do some bottling/canning. Make your own jam.
Don't buy alcohol.
Grow your own vegetables.
Get quotes for things like car and home insurance, Internet connections, etc. EVERY year.

[lcorteen]

Hi Jade

Yes, lots of great suggestions, many of which we do and I find save me loads.

The weekly transfer of money into a savings account (pay yourself first, like in 'the richest man in babylon') has always worked really well for us and it's such a stress reliever having some emergency money in the bank. I use internet accounts which have no fees and a higher rate of interest as I can have as many as I like for different things.

Also, so reduce spending:

repair clothing
make homemade gifts
make your own whenever possible (cleaning products saves heaps!)
put a no junkmail sign on the letterbox so you're not tempted to buy 'stuff' you don't need
get stuff off freecycle
scour the verge when bulk waste/junk collection is happening
propagate your own fruit trees from friends/neighbours/your own plants - Figs and berries are easy

Good luck

xx

[lcorteen]

oh, and buy in bulk, as in from a store that has bulk drygoods where you can weigh and pay - saves on packaging and also saves me loads of money. They sometimes have bulk liquid foods that you can pour into a jar or bottle which is also cheaper (oil, fruit syrup, tamari etc.)

[Jade7]

Thanks so much everyone! They are great tips! I did our budget last night so I know exactly what is coming in and going out and now just have to get on top of a few other things and I think we'll be ok.

Thanks again!!

[tigersmum]

It is good to have a budget. We track every single cent that we spend, and I mean every single cent is written down and what it was spent on.That way we know exactly how much cash we have and how much is in the bank at any time. When you look back it is easy to see where you can cut spending. Magazines are a downfall for me, I love them so now I never enter a newsagent and I borrow them from the library or pick up older copies from the op shop.
The op shop is a budgeter's best friend, just make sure you really need what you are buying.
If you can't buy in bulk as a PP suggested buy generic brands for things like flours,and dairy as that can save lots.
Everyone else has made fantastic suggestions, just a few at a time will start you on the track to saving.
It is fun too trying to find ways to save and cut back, if you come up with some new ideas let us know.