大象传媒

It's now very apparent there's a financial crisis, but how much is it really affecting us here in Wiltshire?

Among those who've been feeling the pinch is Chrissie O'Leary and her family from Swindon.

They are already living on such a tight budget that they've already had to miss a relative's funeral because the cost of fuel is too expensive.

Chrissie's having to work very hard to balance the household budget - and she's learnt several money-saving tips along the way!

We've asked her to share some of them with us:

Dolly washer balls

(http://www.lakeland.co.uk/dolly-washer-balls/F/C/washing-laundry/C/washing-laundry-washing-laundry-detergents/product/21371)
They reduce the amount of detergent used in your wash, and they also help to give a more thorough wash as they rub against the clothing in the wash cycle and help to get the clothes cleaner. We have gone from using one bottle of concentrated fabric detergent per week to using one a fortnight, and seen a dramatic difference in the quality of the wash.

Tumble drier balls

(http://www.jmldirect.com/Dryer-Balls-PD2350/)
These balls听 go in the tumble drier, and aerate the clothing so that it takes less time to dry. This can be a great money saver, particularly if you have a sensor in your tumble drier that makes it stop when the load is dry. As they have the nodules on, they also help to make your dried washing soft and in need of less ironing. They also negate the need for softener sheets etc, meaning less residue on your clothing, which can be great for those with sensitive skin.

Low energy bulbs for lighting etc

We use these in all lights except our touch lamps, the kitchen (although there are some available online at varying prices) and one specialist lamp that has a very particular bulb. Prices of these bulbs have really come down in recent times, and they start from about 拢1 in some supermarkets.

Turn off all appliances when not using them

It sounds silly, but leaving appliances on 鈥渟tandby鈥� still uses power, costing you money. TV鈥檚 are possibly the most used appliance with this feature.听
There are some appliances that cannot be turned off if you wish to keep time signals etc, but think about if you actually need it and also think about your usage of the product.

Do your research before you buy a product

If there is something particular you are after, do your research. There are lots of price comparison sites online to aid your research, for example Kelkoo.com.
Also consider if you need the item brand new or whether second hand items or old models of the same thing would fit the bill. For example, we bought a fridge freezer for 拢290 reduced from 拢430 because it was cosmetically damaged, and a washer/drier for 拢240 reduced from 拢480 for the same reason from an outlet store. These items are fully guaranteed, they are just not perfect cosmetically, dented etc. If you are not bothered about its appearance, as I wasn鈥檛, there are some real savings to be had.
In the same vein, there are a number of sites online that reduce previous models to sell them, when they are fully working and come with a full guarantee. We saved 拢100 on a dishwasher by using one such site. We also got car seats and a buggy at reduced price from Kiddicare.com as they were the previous seasons colours.

Auction sites

The most obvious choice for auctioning is eBay.co.uk, but there are a number of others out there too. As with any auction, be careful, it is mostly caveat emptor (buyer beware). Look carefully at sellers feedback, often the negative and neutral feedback gives you a much better idea of what a seller is like than positive feedback, as you can see how a seller has sorted out a problem. Inspect the photos of items carefully. Sometimes stock photos are used, so you cannot actually see the item you are bidding on. Beware also of the postage costs. Something may appear to be a bargain until you factor in the postage costs. As a rule of thumb, I tend to factor in the post cost first BEFORE entering a bid, and make the bid accordingly based on the total cost I am prepared to pay INCLUDING the postage cost. Sometimes, sellers use the postage costs in an effort to claw back the selling fees for ebay. While sellers can add an amount to cover costs of postage, parking, fuel etc, sometimes this can be excessive. The simple answer is that if you don鈥檛 agree with the postage charge, don鈥檛 bid.

Ebay can also be used as a tool to guage what to ask for a second hand item that you want to sell. Some items are very collectable/desirable and so using the 鈥渨atch鈥� facility on ebay can give you an idea of what other auctions for similar items to yours will end at.听

Grocery shopping

This is an area where it can seem you are saving money when in actual fact you may not be. Some offers may look fantastic on the surface, when in reality you may not be saving much at all. For example, if an item you want is on an offer of 2 for a particular price, think 2 things. No.1) do you actually need the second one, and No.2) is there much of a saving. Some offers only actually save minimal amounts (between 20 and 50 pence)听 so you may actually be spending money for the sake of it if you don鈥檛 need or won鈥檛 use the second one.

Make a list and stick to it. This can take a LOT of self control.听 Try to only use the aisles that you need, you will not put yourself in the way of temptation.听
Have an idea of the amount you can afford to spend, and aim to stick to it. Some people use a calculator, and only take cash into the supermarket as a way of sticking to their budgets. If it helps, make a spreadsheet on your computer of the items you buy regularly and how much they cost, so you can keep a record of the prices etc.
Some people go shopping late in the day in order to try and get the reduced 鈥渂argains鈥�. This may work well on items you can freeze etc but again, may not be so cost effective if you don鈥檛 end up using the item you bought reduced. You have to be realistic about what you buy.

Laundry issues

If you can, use the time saver/economy options on your washing machine. This will usually save water and electricity. Also consider using a lower temperature. Washing at 30 degrees still gives outstanding cleaning with a suitable detergent, but is cheaper to run as the machine doesn鈥檛 have to take the extra time to get to 40 degrees or higher. If your clothing isn鈥檛 too grubby, this can be a great way to save money and time.

Try other brands of detergent. A shop own brand may be just as effective as your usual brand, but may save money for you. In some cases, particularly where sensitive skin is concerned, you may need to try a few before you find the right combination of product that suits you and your pocket.

Drying is a big problem as we hit the winter months. Tumble driers can cost anything up to 拢4 per run in electricity. Using the drier balls mentioned can help to reduce this. Also think about if you actually need to use the drier or whether you can leave the laundry somewhere else to dry. At the moment we are still getting reasonably warm, sunny days, in which to dry the laundry outdoors, which will give the clothing a 鈥渇resh鈥� smell. Another option is a clothes horse/airer. We use one in the bath while we are not using the bath. This is then out of sight and out of mind, not bothering anyone during the day.

Mobile phones

Contracts vary widely, so shopping around is essential. Check the small print of any offers you see, and don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions. A common change to contracts is changing from a 12 month contract to an 18 month contract. Also, be realistic about your usage of your mobile phone. If you rarely use your mobile, will pay as you go be a more affordable way of funding your mobile.
Don鈥檛 trust the advertising either. Make sure you are happy with the terms before you agree to anything. Some mobile phones stores pay their staff a minimal wage plus commissions, so may not always be pushed into the right deal for you, more the right deal for them. Be sure of what you want, and be prepared to haggle to get what you want. For example, we have recently upgraded our phones with our provider, and managed to get some items bundled into the deal by haggling.
Sometimes, changing providers of mobile coverage may be in order. Check the terms of your contract, as if you see another provider offering a better deal, they may 鈥渂uy you out鈥� of your existing contract with another provider.

Internet/telephone services

Again, shop around. Also look at reviews online. Some companies offer a low rate in the first 3 months then the price increases, check the terms carefully before you agree. Also, check if the company involved has good technical support and customer service. This can be time consuming, but may well help if you come across a technical issue later on.

Energy suppliers

Look on an independent comparision site. There are plenty to choose from, and you may find you save a considerable amount of money. Those in rented accomodation please note, you may have to ask your rental agency or landlord for permission before you switch suppliers, so check your rental agreement first. Don鈥檛 be swayed by the special offers on sign up, check what the overall cost per quarter or year will be.

Lights etc in the home

If its not being used, turn it off! That鈥檚 valuable pennies you are wasting.

Use the libraries more

Libraries don鈥檛 just do books, they also rent out CDs, DVDs and are a great place to look for local news and functions. On the subject of DVDs etc, rent them cheaply from the library so as to decide if you want to buy the dvd, or indeed if you only want to watch it once, this is a much cheaper option than buying it. CD鈥檚 follow the same principle. If you鈥檝e borrowed a CD then decide its not really for you, you鈥檝e not spent 拢10-拢15 on a cd, you鈥檝e spent 拢1 on the loan.

Rental stores, blockbuster etc

Blockbuster rent out popular tv series on dvd for around 拢7 per week. It can be a great way to see the series without the expense of buying the discs. They often also sell previously used material, games and DVDs etc so you can get some great bargains if you are after something specific.听 You can also trade in games and DVDs at these places too.

Buying DVDs, books and CDs

Does it have to be brand new? Some websites offer a second hand or 'marketplace' service, were you can buy second hand items cheaply. Amazon.co.uk and Play.com are the main 2 sites I use. I sometimes buy very specific books, and buying them second hand can really save money. The last book I bought this way would have been 拢30 and I paid 拢6 plus postage for it. You can also get hard to find books this way, for example American books. The best place I鈥檝e found is Amazon.

Menu planning

Some people use this meticulously. There are a number of websites that can help you with this, and there are a number of magazines on the market to aid you. Menu planning should in tern help lower your food bills if you plan correctly. It can also be great for using if you are working full time and need to prepare meals in advance. A Slow cooker may also be a great investment for this, it can be cooking while you are out and about. Slow cooking also uses the cheaper cuts of meat and cooks them slowly to keep the flavour in. There are a number of great slow cooker cookery books available also.

Cleaning materials

Do you find yourself spending lots on cleaning products? There are books and websites out there telling you how to make your own cleaners from simple ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice etc. This can save money. Also, instead of using 鈥渢hrow away鈥� disposable items like kitchen roll, use re-usable cloths. Mircofibre cloths are an excellent tool for cleaning with,听 and can now be purchased really cheaply in supermarkets.

Think about where you shop

Budget supermarkets may surprise you. Yes, they offer budget prices, but in many cases the quality doesn鈥檛 suffer. Maybe its time to think about doing your weekly shop at one of these stores and comparing the difference in price? Or use the store for the cheaper items you enjoy, and stock up on them monthly if you can afford the money and space.

Tips from my favourite discussion board: (www.baby-greenhouse.co.uk)

I will stick to my party line of slow cookers :]

If you dont have one then I would recommend investing in one. They allow the cheapest cuts of meat to be used as they are cooked on such a low heat. For example a piece of brisket or pot roasting beef can cost half the price of a piece of top rump or silverside for sunday lunch and it tastes alot better. There are alot of recipes available, many on the internet and normal recipes can be adapted for use in a slow cooker. You can use it to make home made baked beans which when cooked with a cheap gammon or bacon joint make one of the nicest meals I have ever had and it is cheap and above all, healthy.

Take a look at what gadgets you have that you arent using. Dusting off the breadmaker could be a cheaper alternative to buying premium brand bread.

If you have things that you really wont use again then consider selling them and putting the money in an emergency fund for when the washing machine breaksdown or whatever.

Consider value products. Value range in fruit and vegetable is particularly good quality and excellently priced. But dont assume that all cheap food is a saving. Value mince in particular is a false economy as it is much more fatty than standard mince and it cooks down to such a small amount that you need to buy more.

Check that you are on the best tarrifs for your utilities, phone and internet providers. There are some very good deals if you are prepared to shop around.

Look at insurances for home and car. You could be paying over the odds, when a little bit of time spent on researching the available deals could net some good savings.

Join a web group such as the Martin Lewis money saving site. It shows the best deals available on loans, credit cards etc if you have debt that you want to reduce. He also has information on shopping deals, insurances, utilities etc. There is also a forum to get support from other people in the same situation.

Cook from scratch, buy cheaper cuts of meat, eat vegetarian, batch cook
Compare prices for everything you buy
Stop buying things you want but don't need
Buy second hand
Use Freecycle
Turn off lights in rooms you're not in
Turn down the heat and put on a jumper
Don't leave appliances on standby
Cancel Sky or take a cheaper package or switch to Freeview

use the internet for news
dont take your cards out with you
stick a huge sheet of paper on the the wall and write down EVERYTHING you spend for a month. do it every single day or time you come in it is a real eye opener. i hadnt realised how much i spent in coffee and now take a flask out in the car every morning!
negotiate no present deals with friends and families
cook everything from scratch and get a free freezer from freecycle to store it!
in london get an oyster card quick smart
make sure you use your free minutes and texts
switch your mobile provider to asda or tesco they re so much cheaper
make sure you use your deals like orange magic numbers
take all the crap out of your boot and take the roof box off
do a shopping list based on a meal plan and dont deviate in fact shop online much better!
get two bottles and every night put your 5 and 10ps in one and all your copper in another. at the end of the month we have a takeaway with it and the coppers go into the machine at the supermarket when its full for a treat of some sort.
keep all your crusts in a bag in the freezer then make bread pudding
similar with left over veg and rice for a huge stew or soup.
on sundays i cook for the whole week and freeze it then when im knackered its already done!

Wear a jumper...... normally I would probably have had the heating on late September, but I am determined this year to last as long as I can, and do you know what? I am actually enjoying the chilly mornings, it kind of feels real...

Shop at local greengrocer and butcher where you have to walk to the car carrying bags rather than being able to rely on a trolley in the supermarket carpark... makes you really think what you buy as you have to carry it all :-]

Batch cook and freeze when you have the oven on

Collect wood when out for a walk for the open fire rather than buying it in loads

Get chickens!!

Another vote for slow cookers and being able to buy cheaper cuts of meat

Work from home as much as possible (if possible) to avoid using fuel in the car, and also coffee is cheaper made at home rather than buying at work, and saves on dry-cleaning work clothes also

Get an electricity monitor that clips by fuse box and tells you real-time how much you are using, and how much it's costing...a real eye-opener!

We are doing the following:

going out less; having friends over rather than going out for dinner; driving less wherever possible; eating more veggie food; swapping kids clothes with friends, rather than just buying new; shopping around for supermarket bargains; when going out to buy milk from tesco, just take themoney for the milk to avoid temptation!

I think the 2 main area which will save you the most money for minimal effort are...
1) change your grocery shopping habits
2) cut down on energy costs

I have started shopping for meat at the butcher, I am saving loads! Also, go to all the supermarkets , not just one. I get different offers from all of them, which is good. DH also uses a scooter for work now, not the car which is saving lots in petrol!

ask to be issued with new pin numbers for all but your main debit card, then don't learn the numbers!

works for me - I can still use the credit card online but I can't just think in the supermarket 'oh I'll shove it all on the credit card' because I don't have the pin, the money has to be in the bank for me to be able to spend it :-)