The money saving thread

[Modette]

I thought it might be good to start a thread where we can share ideas about how we saved money or got good deals.

I posted this on another thread so apologies to those who have already read it:

I had some old trees in my back garden and I wanted to get rid of them but didnt have the money to get someone in. So I posted pictures of them on Gumtree and offered them free to the person who wanted to come and cut them down. Two days later a guy came, cut them down into logs for his wood burner and took them away. I passed the info onto neighbourhood watch and he has now been back to cut trees down for the neighbours. Everyone was happy and no cash was spent.

Does anyone have any money saving ideas?

 

[Eklipze3k]

Only caveat to add to that suggestion Fiona, if the person cutting down the tree is an amateur and it ends up falling in such a way that it damages your property you'll have no legal recourse, so sometimes it pays to get the pros in if there is any chance of that happening. Good tip though

 

[Modette]

Yes of course, the trees were at the end of the garden, old fruit trees that were not that tall and I had already cut off most of the branches. It wouldnt have been an option for some monster tree that could fall on the house or injure the man cutting it down

 

[Shadeyman]

My daughter has a great tip for saving her money.

"Spend dads money instead"

 

[Modette]

My daughter has a great tip for saving her money.

"Spend dads money instead"

Yes my 19 year old son follows that rule too. When I put money in his bank account it shows as 'Bank of Fiona'.

 

[Eklipze3k]

I'm only sticking up for the woodsmen as it's what my brother does for a living

That's him at the back, 'working' out in Austria

 

[Modette]

Im not trying to do anyone out of a job, if this guy hadnt cut the trees down they would still be there!

I have considered other ideas for making or saving money, there is a show on TV but some of the things they suggest are questionable.

On one they suggested letting out loft space to people who would otherwise be paying for self storage. The first thing that came into my head was what they might be storing up there in MY house. They could bring anything from cockroaches to drugs and weapons and how would I ever prove that they were not mine?

So it would only work for trusted friends to help them save some cash.

Another one was letting out the parking space, I have room for 5 cars and only have two. Also two cars can be secured in the back garden but what if there was a storm and something hit someone elses car? We had a strong wind a few months ago and it blew over my sons free standing basketball net, if it had gone in the opposite direction if would have landed on his Stilo, so again, it would only be something I would do as a favour to a friend and not to actually rent out the space.

Then there is the garden share scheme, I was listed on there for a while but only got responses from people who wanted to come at weekends which is when WE are most likely to the use the garden so I removed the listing.

 

[ChrisUK]

I'm desperate to rent a garage near where I live it's impossible!

 

[AndyRKett]

Always make sure your tires are inflated properly and drive everywhere in 5th (top) gear, will make a big impact on your fuel economy.

And when getting quotes for car insurance always make sure you get your annual mileage accurate.

 

[Modette]

Always make sure your tires are inflated properly and drive everywhere in 5th (top) gear, will make a big impact on your fuel economy.

And when getting quotes for car insurance always make sure you get your annual mileage accurate.

Also in the case of younger drivers add a few additional drivers, my son added me, his dad and his grandmother and it came down a little more with each of them.

 

[Shadeyman]

My mom spends hours reading stuff on this site, all to do with saving money.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com

 

[Andy Monty]

A clean car uses less fuel

 

[AgnessGP]

Also in the case of younger drivers add a few additional drivers, my son added me, his dad and his grandmother and it came down a little more with each of them.

I rang over 15 insurance companies back in april, every single one told me "this will not change anything as we only take into account the main driver/policy holder/youngest driver".

Money saving tip - any change you have, put it in a pot, rather than buying food or something. I find by the end of the week, I can just pull out the pot if i fancy a few pints

 

[Modette]

I rang over 15 insurance companies back in april, every single one told me "this will not change anything as we only take into account the main driver/policy holder/youngest driver".

Money saving tip - any change you have, put it in a pot, rather than buying food or something. I find by the end of the week, I can just pull out the pot if i fancy a few pints

Thats weird because my son ( who is 19) does quotes online and he did one for just himself and got a stupid quote, then went back and added me and it came down by £600, so I suggested adding his Dad and it came down by £150 more, I think adding Gran only reduced it by another £50 but it was a huge difference in total from insuring just him.

Older son who is 25 found that the difference between having me and his dad versus having only him on the policy was £700. That was with Admiral.

 

[AgnessGP]

Adding people on (including people that are much more experienced) only puts it up for me

Is he stating he will be the main driver?

Another money saving tip - if your budget is £40 to spend on yourself in one month, then take out £10 each week so you can see exactly how much you have to spend. In theory, people are much less likely to part with physical cash as they are 'money in the bank' which is why this sometimes works.

 

[Modette]

Adding people on (including people that are much more experienced) only puts it up for me

Is he stating he will be the main driver?

Another money saving tip - if your budget is £40 to spend on yourself in one month, then take out £10 each week so you can see exactly how much you have to spend. In theory, people are much less likely to part with physical cash as they are 'money in the bank' which is why this sometimes works.

I totally agree with that! MUCH easier to whip that card out and pay than to hand over cash!

They both list themselves as main drivers - my eldest son wouldnt be able to run a car at all if he couldnt add us to his insurance.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Can I add you to my insurance?

 

[AgnessGP]

I totally agree with that! MUCH easier to whip that card out and pay than to hand over cash!

They both list themselves as main drivers - my eldest son wouldnt be able to run a car at all if he couldnt add us to his insurance.

Yeah I weren't disagreeing, it's just how my insurance has been

The one benefit of getting older though

 

[Modette]

Can I add you to my insurance?

Sure, what car have you got and when are you going to lend it to me? Will you include a full tank?

 

[JustAndy]

Sure, what car have you got and when are you going to lend it to me? Will you include a full tank?

His pajero and you probably wouldnt get to the end of your street on a full tank anyway