How to save money

Home Be a tight arse and be proud

Yes, this is the place where we get in touch with our inner miser and celebrate getting something for nothing or at least on the cheap. The thing about all the suggestions below is that they save you money with little effort from you. You won't be deprived or suddenly spending hours doing stuff just to save a few dollars.

If you have any suggestions then send me an email. But in the meantime read on and marvel at the effort people put in just to avoid paying full price.

Save your power	Turn of appliances at the power point. Many of them have clocks you don't need or even use. Often when you 'turn them off' (particularly if you do this with a remote) you are putting them on stand by. This means they are still using power and they are costing you money while you are out or sleeping. You can reduce your power bill by up to 20% by turning things off at the power point. Only have lights on that you need. Use a clothes line to dry your clothes as much as possible. The clothes dryer should be the last resort. When using your oven put as much into it as you can. For example why not make a loaf of bread at the same time as you are roasting your veggies? If you are going away for a week or so turn off your power at the switch board.
Reduce the amount of petrol you use	Keep your tires pumped up. This decreases the friction on the road and saves petrol Remove the roof racks when you are not using them. Again this reduces air friction and drag. Driving at a maximum of 90kms instead of 110kms saves petrol. I have been doing this and I have noticed a 20% increase in fuel efficiency. Get rid of the gas guzzler. Organise a car pool. If you can walk or ride a bike.
Save money in the supermarket	Don't go supermarket shopping when you are hungry. This stops you buying snacks and other crap food. Don't take the kids. Little kids chuck tantrums and generally embarrass you but they demand to have lollies etc. They can also grab snack foods and put them in the trolley. If you can buy in bulk or buy the generic brand. Always look for stuff on special.
Grow your own veggies	If you don't know how ask your parents or grandparents (if they don't know they will probably know someone who does). Organic gardens use no or very little chemicals and fertilisers. This type of garden also uses all your food waste. It's not just the money saving on food. Organic veggies taste great and are better for your health which may save you a lot in health bills down the track.
Leave the credit card at home	This is a great idea if you are 'just looking' and will help to stop the impulse buying.
Never pay full price for anything	Always ask for a discount. There is a lot of competition in retail these days so try to take advantage. The phrase 'but is that really your best price' should fall off the tongue without you thinking about it! Keep an eye out for real sales. End of financial year is often a very good time to look for significant discounts. Buying the latest thing when it is just released (especially for technology and movies) almost always guarantees you pay the maximum price. Computer games always come down in price 6 months after they have been released. Don't pay for books, they are free from the library and you can access the library catalogue from home. You can also ask the library to buy a book you like that they don't currently have. Do your research before you buy. Paying for something that doesn't work or isn't right for you is a very expensive way to operate. Thanks to the Internet it is very easy to read reviews on almost all household items.
Try a bit of Barter	Getting what you want by offering your skills or swapping stuff you no longer want or use will save money.
Repair not rubbish	Before throwing something away see if it can be repaired. This is especially true for clothes and footwear.