Frugal friends

[Adam Davies]

Hi all
I want to develop my social meetings[frugal friends meetings] so that we not only discuss debt isses but ways to save money whilst in an IVA or bankruptcy.
We have had threads before on this subject but would like your ideas in one place.
My own experience was to buy clothes on ebay,I used to look for the new ones,unused,and would be able to buy designer shirts and suits at knock down prices.I always used to bid right at the end and only on items that I knew would fit[not coats etc].
Prior to my debt problems I would have scoffed at such an idea but having done it I reckon that I saved hundreds of pounds and no one at work was the wiser!
Regards


Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[poppy84]

My main money saving tip,which i see has got round the site was the post office savings stamps for car tax!Im glad every one things this is a good idea!
I tend to do my shopping at two suppermarkets,& have noticed i do spend less1I go to morrisons for bogof (as quite often the items on offer i use),i then go down the road to asda & get other bits.
Ive noticed pork loin & braising steak is much cheaper at morrisons,costing as little as £1.50 & chicken breast & mince meat at asda.i then go to jack fultons for freezer bits.
I shop at wilkos or savers for shampoo,bleach etc,as they often have bogof on in there also.
For xmas i tend to get saving stamps & every time i go shopping or to petrol station (morrisons i get £2 worth towards my xmas shop,some reason the xmas food shop costs more!!(ive £40 already)
I save with park for vouchers also,which can be spent in most shops eg argos,mothercare etc.Helps toward the kids presents.
Every one prob knows about the boots gift idea,buy 2 get one free!
When my sons grow out of their old clothes,i sell them on ebay,& what every i make goes toward new ones for them.
I think thats about all of my penny pinching ways lol.
As ive mentioned on another thread the asda calafornian rose wine is nice &only £2.89 a bottle,tesco do a similar one!

[Maz]

I must admit i am not the must frugal person especially when it comes down to clothes. But now with the IVA i am deperately trying to be! Prior to my IVA days I spent lots on lovely designer outfits (my downfall) but now because i dont have the money or the 'lovely shiney plastic' credit card to splurge on, I have started to appreciate what i've got. One idea is to change the buttons on a jacket or dress or shirt and the difference that makes - it looks new again.

The other issue is - which is not easy is to buy the right foods and eat healthy food on a budget. I am finding this difficult so now i got to ASDA instead of Sainsburys and it's cheaper. If anyone has any great info on bargains in Supermarkets i would be glad to hear from them.

[Maz]

I forgot to mention that in ASDA household goods are defenitely the cheapest i've come across. Example their washing up liquid is only 13p! plus other stuff i have noticed compared to Tesco or Sainsburys and that's just one example.

[Skippy]

I collect Sainsburys savings stamps (Tesco do them as well) - every time I do a shop and I get pound coins in the change I use them to buy stamps. I've found I don't miss the change that way. I've now got about £70 of stamps, which I'm trying to keep until Christmas, but we'll see!

I buy most of my clothes at Matalan, Asda, Tesco or Sainsburys (they are the best quality and not too expensive), but I have also found that Next have a basics range which is quite good for work.

Like Poppy I'm collecting the Post Office stamps for my car tax, although I've only got a tenner so far!

One thing I will say is that buying some things cheap doesn't always save money (although obviously a lot do!). I buy my shampoo, shower gel and body lotion from Lush (I've got sensitive skin and I also know it's not tested on animals) and a bottle lasts for months. I have bought cheaper ones but I seem to use more - they also do 3 different sizes so it depends how much money I've got as to what size I buy! I also feel I'm getting a little treat as well!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Maz]

Everyone talks about these saving stamps, what are they? How do they work? I am interested to get these especially if it means cheaper car tax.

[tracy.h]

I have a bucket in my spare room and every bit of change goes in there for xmas last year we had £72 that was a great help,also i get my card charged in asda even if its just a couple of pounds it soon adds up.
Because im a reader i get my books from car boot sales,then when i have so many i take them to a little second hand book shop and get a few pounds for them.

[Skippy]

The Post Office stamps can be used to buy car tax, pay bills and buy anything in a Post Office. They cost £5 each and you get a little card to keep them on.

Have a look at http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/j ... d=19400174 - I think there could be some moonlighting going on - the pig looks a tad familiar...

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Maz]

Thank you Skippy, got stuck into watching East Enders at the moment but i am going to look into this. I dont think i will have enough stamps by the end of Novemer though when my tax is due but for the next 6 months i will save them.

[Skippy]

My tax isn't due until next June, so I'm hoping to have about £100 towards it which, if the thieving government doesn't put the tax up, will almost be enough!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[scaredkez]

one of my money saving tips is the shell card, when you buy petrol/ diesel it allocates you points which you can choose to have as vouchers or air miles, i have chosen argos vouchers, so we always tend to fill up at shell now, i must admit tho, as hubby a lorry driver it means we are a little bit more advanced as he always uses the card when he has to fill his lorry up, which means lots of points for us.

i find also i am now buying lots of frozen stuff and filling my freezers from cool trader, farm foods and iceland when the offers are on, we also have a meat factory near us which is open to the public, although lots of it is in bulk i do save loads of money, i am going to try out some of the farm shops locally as i have been recommended to do so by other parents at the footie matches they say they are much cheaper, again you have to buy in bulk to make it work but as we get paid monthly it will work better for us.
home bargains, BM and wilkies are all great for household goods , shampoo, soaps and loo rolls etc, so much cheaper than asda and the other big supermarkets, especially for the named brands.

like skippy most of our clothes have been coming from asda and for the kids all sports as so much cheaper, 12 months ago i wouldn't believe i would be shopping for bargains, but i am so enjoying doing it, it gives you such a good feeling when you have a bargain.
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[scaredkez]

skip they have just put the tax up on my car, it is now 212 for 12 months or 112 for 6 due the end of this month, dread to think what the other car will be.
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Skippy]

I wouldn't mind so much if the roads were any good!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[poppy84]

morrisons miles is a good one.every time you fill up there,you get points,& when you get to 500 you get £5 to spend in store!not a lot but its better than nothing!

[Maz]

I'm in shock!! the last time i paid for 6 months i am sure it was only £86. That's one hell of an increase!!