- resolve to question each bill as it comes in for a year: research cheaper alternatives and switch if there is one.
- on a regular basis, go through your statements and check for any direct debits you may have forgotten about. Cancel them if you no longer want the product/service.
- re-think mobile phone usage, pay TV, etc. Look for a better deal or cancel if there's a free alternative or it's not adding that much value to your life. Get rid of your landline if you're not using it much. Switch mobile to pre-paid. (me: that)
- examine your mobile data usage to see if you can get a better deal or resolve to cut back.
- question deals offered by companies to try and stop you from switching. Sometimes they're still more expensive than the alternative.
- cancel ongoing warranties, product support etc for gadgets you no longer use.
- plan meals. write a list for shopping. pay with cash so you don't go over your limit.
- look in the fridge and cupboard before you go shopping so you know what you already have. Use leftovers to make new meals.
- keep all fruits and vegetables in the fridge (except bananas and potatoes). Buy produce in bulk sometimes, process it and freeze it.
- shop at the cheaper supermarkets and buy generic brands if they're cheaper. (apparently Aldi's face cream is quite good.)
- buy food on sale and fresh produce in season. When buying basics (e.g. TP), wait until you're going to the shop that you know has the lowest price.
- use the slow cooker every week. Cook roasts in there as they stay moist and don't shrink.
- if you don't like strong tea, use the teabag twice, or use it to make 2 cups if there are two people. Only put as much water as you need in the kettle to save energy.
- Always bring lunch from home.
- scrape every last bit out of bottles and jars. (me: I cut hand cream tubes in half and scrape the cream out. Keep them in a ziplock bag to stop them from drying out.)
- bake simpler things with ingredients that are cheaper and readily available, e.g. lemon cakes in lemon season.
- cook in batches to save on electricity and food. e.g. bake 2 cakes and freeze one. Or if baking lasagna, etc, put 1 or 2 cakes in the oven, too. It saves time as well as energy.
- buy snacks such as nuts and dried fruits in bulk, then portion them out into re-useable containers or ziplock bags.
- buy long-lasting foods in the sales, e.g. pudding and brandy sauce in the post-Christmas sales.
- try generic brand foods even if you're not sure about them: they might be as good as the brand ones.
- re-use containers such as aluminium foil trays to make quiche, lasagna, etc. Re-use bread bags and the plastic bags from cereal boxes.
- make sure the house is well insulated. Switch to low energy lights. Use the cold or warm cycle for the washing machine. Dry clothes etc outside where possible.
- Re-think regular paid activities such as dancing lessons. How much value are they adding to your life? Is there a free alternative?
- don't shop just for the sake of it. If you want to help charity shops, donate to them instead of buying things from them.
- have a compost bin. Don't buy new plants. (me: try taking cuttings instead.)
- buy household consumables such as handwash in bulk. Consider substitutes such as using bubble bath as handwash if bubblebath is cheaper or you have extra.
- if bubblebath, etc has a wide neck, decant it into a squirty bottle so you can better control how much you use. For liquid handwash, wrap a rubber band around the plunger halfway down. This stops the plunger from being pressed all the way so you use less each time.
- put your soap on top of a sponge between uses so it dries out properly and lasts longer.
- decorate your house with flowers from your garden instead of buying them. Buy plants that will be productive such as flowers, fruits or berries.
- when tools and gadgets break, try to fix them instead of buying a new one.
- don't buy new clothes unless you really need them. Mend clothes if they have small tears, etc. Keep your mending materials organised so you know what you have and can find it easily.
- consider switching to a cheaper hairdresser. Say no to a blowdry if it costs extra. Dye your hair at home.
- don't buy any new hobby materials if you already have them in your stash. Try to use up scraps where you can.
- cut back on other hobbies / pasttimes, e.g. buy a lottery ticket once a fortnight instead of once a week.
- decide if you want a few smaller holidays / daytrips OR one big holiday each year.
- consider changing bank accounts if you can get a better deal / higher interest rate on savings.
- aim to pay off your mortgage and any loans as early as possible. (me: true. Even if you have to pay an exit fee, you probably would have paid more in interest later on.)
oct 30 2017 ∞
oct 30 2017 +