Somehow (very tightly) we manage 2 mortgages, 2 cars and a baby on a minimum wage, and my parttime wage. So here are some of my tips to add, I am always interested in finding more ways too!
I have a spreadsheet of all of my expenses to keep an eye on where money goes
I have a bill calender (printed from excel) all bills are put straight on the calender when they come in.
I never pay full retail price! Know your prices and only I shop sales, and online for the best deals.
I have looked at (almost) all of our bills to find better deals / rates.. have a few more to go on this one!
I dont go to the hairdresser much anymore, and honestly my hair has never been better. All of my colour has grown out and my hair is now long and very healthy. I only get the occassional trim maybe 2 a year.
We have an awesome veggie garden and try to menu plan around seasonal produce and also what we have in the pantry (same principal as the $21 dollar challenge on simple savings)
I make what I can and support handmade markets / sellers.
Op shops - not as great as they used to be.. but sometimes you can still pick up a bargain
Only wash in cold water and we dont own a dryer (and I never have)
I take my own cup for takeaway coffee (my one splurge these days) that way I save 50cents everytime
I use vinegar and bicarb for most of the cleaning
I use cloth nappies, but I buy them on special or second hand. I havent paid more than about $18 for every nappy I have.
I still buy quality, for example I buy an expensive bra as I have found its best to buy one good one that 5 c%^p ones and end up spending more. But saying that I know how much they are and I buy them at end of season when they getting rid of the seasons colours and they are half price..
DF and I limit prepacked food and also try and make what we can from scratch
hmmmm thats all I can think of at the moment
Last edited by mummato1; January 12th, 2011 at 10:20 AM.
: added a few more
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