Saving Money - Ideas?

Please note this sub-forum does not provide professional finance advice. You should seek advice from a licensed financial advisor.

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 100 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification.

If investing please consider our affiliate link for new accounts: Sharesies.

Forums › Finance and wealth management › Saving Money - Ideas?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1043 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 289

#928750 7-Nov-2013 13:07

Turn the computers off if you are not using them.

If your computer's power management is not working, take the time to configure it correctly. Desktops as well as laptops can by put into standby or hibernate when not being used and it can save a lot of power.

BinaryLimited

796 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#928751 7-Nov-2013 13:08

Byrned: Don't cancel your insurances! I see so many people doing this as the the first thing, especially their income cover, and then something happens and they're off work sick for an extended period of time, get made redundant etc. Then they're in a world of hurt!

Shop around definitely, but don't cancel. And make sure you compare the policies! Cheapest isn't always best.

totally agree on that!

Binary Limited - Safe. Secure. Simple. ™
www.binarylimited.co.nz

k1wi

484 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 111

#928753 7-Nov-2013 13:17

A couple of questions:

Do you own your own home or do you rent?
Are you cutting expenses because you have low funds? Or, do you have money to 'invest' in efficiencies and have other reasons for wanting to save money?

(Neither of these are loaded questions, they just have implications for how you can save money.)

BinaryLimited

796 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#928755 7-Nov-2013 13:20

k1wi: A couple of questions:

Do you own your own home or do you rent?
Are you cutting expenses because you have low funds? Or, do you have money to 'invest' in efficiencies and have other reasons for wanting to save money?

(Neither of these are loaded questions, they just have implications for how you can save money.)

We currently only own 2 homes. 1 is being rented out and managed by a property management company. They only charge 7% and would pay them more if i could as they are really great!

I have low funds and money is being wasted. Also looking to invest in another property very soon as the property market is great for the time being due to first home buyers being out of the market ..the 20% deposit thing.

Binary Limited - Safe. Secure. Simple. ™
www.binarylimited.co.nz

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 286
Inactive user

#928776 7-Nov-2013 13:41

BinaryLimited: Also looking to invest in another property very soon as the property market is great for the time being due to first home buyers being out of the market ..the 20% deposit thing.

LOL love this quote.
Proof that the whole 20% thing is not really working and just keeping first time buyers out of the market.

Good on you for capitalizing on it. I'm doing the same

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9334 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6203

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#928791 7-Nov-2013 13:53

Klipspringer:
jonb:

Marry someone with good teeth so you don't have to pay for orthodontists for your children.

Don't go on holiday.

You are joking right?

Better still - marry an orthodontist.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 286
Inactive user

#928793 7-Nov-2013 13:55

eracode:
Klipspringer:
jonb:

Marry someone with good teeth so you don't have to pay for orthodontists for your children.

Don't go on holiday.

You are joking right?

Better still - marry an orthodontist.

Or dont have kids
kids are expensive anyway

BinaryLimited

796 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#928799 7-Nov-2013 14:13

Klipspringer:
BinaryLimited: Also looking to invest in another property very soon as the property market is great for the time being due to first home buyers being out of the market ..the 20% deposit thing.

LOL love this quote.
Proof that the whole 20% thing is not really working and just keeping first time buyers out of the market.

Good on you for capitalizing on it. I'm doing the same

Makes auctions a dream to goto now! In the beginning of the year it was madness at auction :) also makes the rental market great too :)

Binary Limited - Safe. Secure. Simple. ™
www.binarylimited.co.nz

MikeB4

MikeB4
18776 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12767

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#928815 7-Nov-2013 14:50

Klipspringer:
eracode:
Klipspringer:
jonb:

Marry someone with good teeth so you don't have to pay for orthodontists for your children.

Don't go on holiday.

You are joking right?

Better still - marry an orthodontist.

Or dont have kids
kids are expensive anyway

ain't that the truth, and the expense never goes away :P

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MikeB4

MikeB4
18776 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12767

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#928817 7-Nov-2013 14:58

The biggest savings I ever made was when I was diagnosed with the condition I have, I stopped drinking and smoking and this has saved me thousands of dollars. Now I am not suggesting you get sick but if you drink and smoke there is huge scope for saving
by giving those up.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 133

#928819 7-Nov-2013 15:00

I'm surprised no one brought up the "separating your 2 ply toilet roll" suggestion yet

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

k1wi

484 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 111

#928821 7-Nov-2013 15:02

khull: I'm surprised no one brought up the "separating your 2 ply toilet roll" suggestion yet

Probably because you just go through twice as much single ply.. ;)

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 154

Trusted

#928834 7-Nov-2013 15:11

You prob already are but write down everything you spend on a weekly / monthly / fortnightly basis. You can't save what you don't know what you are spending on.

Some of the banks offer online speading / budgeting tools, I use a spreadsheet which keeps a track of things by month and does a decent job in anycase.

SepticSceptic

2263 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 779

Trusted

#928841 7-Nov-2013 15:20

I'm a big fan of Binn Inn for many staples, including herbs n spices, dried fruit, dried beans, etc. Not so much better value for things like cat n dog biscuits, or cleaning products, as those tend to be comparable with the home branded super market prices.

Learn to bake - cookies and cakes. Choc cookies are so easy !

Do shop for specials, and load up your pantry and freezer. If my shopping receipt doesn't have at least 75-80% of them at special or promotion prices, I get a bit annoyed at myself.

Late nite shopping can bring up real cheap discounts - bacon that sells for $6 for 250gm, down to $2 odd.

Ditto with butchers and greengrocers - buy bulk - spuds - $7-$8 per 10kg !
Buy Mad Butcher meat only on special - fill your freezer, and only buy premium mince - that other cheaper stuff tastes awful, and you have to render most of it away.

Use a slow cooker or pressure cooker for the tougher cuts.

Turn your hot water thermostat down to the minimum required - 65 deg, I think. Any lower you get the risk of algae growth. Try turning the hot water off in the morning, turn on at night before bed.

Keep a couple of chooks - great for eating the green wastes, and get eggs. Lotsa eggs at the moment.

Do you need a landline ? Can you go naked broadband ?

Shower with your spouse :-)

Don't keep expensive pets - ie dog

Discourage leechers - usually family members that raid your fridge and pantry ,,

Buy high-fat food - this is probably controversial, but high fat foods will leave you feeling full longer, unlike low fat / high sugar products.

Take on a boarder ?

jpoc

1043 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 289

#928877 7-Nov-2013 16:06

khull: I'm surprised no one brought up the "separating your 2 ply toilet roll" suggestion yet

I buy three ply paper only and I only buy it when it is on special in Countdown. Special is about half price so that is the same as separating 2 ply!

Once, Countdown Newmarket had the loo rolls, Tabasco Habanero sauce and fresh Habanero Chillies all on special.

I arrived at the checkout with 5 18 roll packs of loo roll, six bottles of sauce and ten packs of chillies.

The checkout operator looked at this and commented:

"Wow, you must really like spicy food."

"Yes," I replied, "That's why I need all the toilet paper!"

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5