| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
_SMS_ 
Senior Member
Joined: 11 March 2009
Points: 2251
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Budgeting Ideas
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 4:12pm |
|
DP has just got a new job & he will be earning 50% less than he does now.
I will be applying for Accommodation supplement, and more family assistance.
But i need tips/ideas on how to reduce costs of day to day living.
Thanks
|
|
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
amme_eilyk
Senior Member
Joined: 30 September 2009
Location: Feilding
Points: 978
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 4:33pm |
|
basic energy saving stuff. its a pain but switching everything off at the wall when your not using it is worth it.
pre plan before you go grocery shop. rice, pasta are cheap and are great meal bases. Also you can bulk up your meals using them and you dont need as much meat. Markets for fresh veges are great.
I also recommend whenever you have free time avoiding going into town like the plague. You will save heaps as you wont see anything to tempt you.
|
|
pikelets
Senior Member
Joined: 08 April 2007
Location: Auckland
Points: 760
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 6:53pm |
|
not using a dryer, makes it hard in the winter but definately save money.
We now shop at PakNSave and Mad Butcher and Simply Fresh for fruit and veg - has made a HUGE difference to our grocery bill.
Plus we have started Xmas club at pak n save.
|
 3 Angels - Dec10 / Mar11 / Dec11
|
|
Flutterby
Senior Member
Joined: 18 March 2008
Location: West Auckland
Points: 2627
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 7:03pm |
|
I don't have many tips as I am terrible at budgeting.
The ones I do have are,
write a list before going to the supermarket and only get what is on it.
Don't go to the supermarket hungry.
I have been buying budget dishwashing liquid and doing half liquid half water in another bottle (hope that makes sense). It works just as well as sunlight liquid and lasts for so much longer.
Buy Budget items whenever possible.
|
|
|
|
blossombaby
Senior Member
Joined: 03 October 2009
Location: Windy Welly.
Points: 387
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 8:19pm |
|
me and dp are both spenders so its pretty hard not having one take control haha.
i find every week i work out what we will be geting on payday and work out what needs to be paid where etc eg rent, phone, food, savings etc.
and work out how much surplus we have to spend on wants not needs iykwim??
|
|
Babe
Senior Member
Joined: 21 May 2007
Location: New Zealand
Points: 2936
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 8:29pm |
|
Buy in bulk where-ever you can
Make your own cleaners
Make all the food you possibly can from scratch
Learn how to use lentils and beans
|
|
|
|
kiwi2
Senior Member
Joined: 29 July 2008
Points: 658
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 8:58pm |
|
I second the mad butcher and a vege shop. Not only are the veges fresher than the supermarket they are so cheap. I find if you can keep these two parts of the grocery bill down the rest is easy.
Another thing is to go back to dial up rather than broadband. (Did I just say that - sorry)
Cut out sky etc and check your mobile phone expenditure.
Walk the kids to kindy/school etc to save on gas.
Put a jersey on rather than the heater. If you are still cold then of course put the heater on. My DH heads straight to the heater whilst in a t shirt lol.
Cook for two nights at once. If making a shepards pie or a big mince dish then make enough for a second meal as it is generally cheaper to make more than a different dish.
You probably already do some of this or it doesn't apply I just thought I would throw it out there.
|
|
Blankney94
Senior Member
Joined: 19 May 2008
Location: Invercargill
Points: 955
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 10:20pm |
I'm with Babe - I make my own cleaners now (and my skin's stopped itching - yay!). I make my own dishwasher powder and washing machine detergent. I only buy Handy Andy and Spray n Wipe for those occasional hard to shift things, but other than that I bypass the cleaning isle at the supermarket. 
Also we get homekill beef and lamb. (Not sure if you eat meat?). This works out cheaper, but means outlaying money up front. So we also bypass the meat isle too.
I do my supermarket shopping only every fortnight. We top up milk and vege in between though. I do a fortnightly menu and work out what's already in my cupboard that I can use, and what extra things do I need? Before I did the menu system I had about 6 of everything in the cupboard, everything wasn't getting used, and it was all disorganised. Making liberal use of pasta and rice makes food go a long way! Also cook enough for one extra person and then you have leftovers to freeze etc.
Other money saving things - I went around all of our utilities and made sure I was getting the best deal. Cellphone contracts, electricity, home phone line, Sky, internet usage, credit card rates/charges, insurance. I cancelled the newspaper because we weren't even reading it. Have a look at all of these and check that you are on the best value plans.
All the best with your savings!
|
|
|
|
WestiesGirl
Senior Member
Joined: 11 October 2007
Location: Aotearoa - In the 'Sunny' S.I
Points: 4550
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 10:58pm |
Check out this website. Its based in Aus but still has great money saving ideas.
|
Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
|
|
tictacjunkie
Senior Member
Joined: 30 April 2010
Points: 2278
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 5:18am |
|
Another thing to try is to go grocery shopping every 8 days- one day later than the previous week, that way every 7 weeks you don't have groceries comin out of that weeks pay and can put it aside for something else. Hope that makes sense!
|
|
_H_
Senior Member
Joined: 28 September 2009
Points: 2340
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 9:34am |
|
ohhh tictacjunkie thats a smart idea!
when you look at the costs of utilities also look at their payment plans- our power company worked out how much power we used in a year and we then pay a set about each month. we still get the pay on time disount (cant remember what it is called) and it means in winter we dont have to pay more
also for bills that will be the same each month we pay by automatic payment and they all come out the same night our pays go in- means we never really get to the see the money but dont have to worry about bills being over due
|
|
caliandjack
Senior Member
Joined: 10 March 2007
Location: West Auckland
Points: 12487
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 11:36am |
I use pak n save shop n go, I write a list and set a budget for the weeks groceries - and stick to it - If I get to the end of my list and there's $$ in the budget then I'll add a luxury item - packet of biscuits etc - or use it towards petrol - I get 3c a litre off everytime I go to pak n save.
Learn to cook - being able to make meals from scratch saves $$ and makes the basics stretch further - I can whip up a pie or a pizza with minimal ingredients and at a moments notice.
Get your self a basic cook book - I used Edmonds or Alison Holsts - Dollars and sense cook book the recipes are all based around NZ ingredients and cheap and easy to come by.
In winter form a relationship with pumpkins they're plentiful and cheap and you can easily make a weeks worth of soup from 1. - this can be used for lunches and dinners.
|
  [/url] Angel June 2012
|
|
MamaT
Senior Member
Joined: 07 November 2008
Location: Nelson
Points: 3149
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 2:13pm |
|
Another thing that has helped us and almost halved our grocery bill is to have a meat free dinner every other day. We've gone from spending $120 a week on groceries to $70.
|
|
|
|
sweetpea
Senior Member
Joined: 14 July 2008
Location: Invercargill
Points: 1155
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 2:31pm |
|
Grow your own vege and or Fruit
Buy only what is in season its often cheapest.
Buy Pams, Budget or home brand staples
Buy meat from a butcher its cheaper
Check useage of internet maybe you can go to cheaper plan
|
|
|
|
_SMS_
Senior Member
Joined: 11 March 2009
Points: 2251
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 3:37pm |
Great ideas people 
I already do alot of those things.
I really dont want to cut down the internet lol
I like the idea of only having meat every 2nd night, that would cut down our grocery bill alot because i only buy good cuts of meat.
Doing groceries every 8 days also sounds good. I currently go every fortnight now, but i find when i need a top up of things the next week im spending alot on things just because they are on special.
|
|
|
|
Guests
Guest
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 4:24pm |
I second the turning everything off at the switch, we saved $60 last month just from doing that 
And not using any more lights than you have too, once the kids are in bed all the lights go off.
Like Babe said learn to use lentils and beans you can make mince go a looooong way with these.
I switched my phone to prepay and put the hard word on DH bill has gone from $90 to $30 per month ( including my topup)
Take advantage of free kids activities in your area, museum,library etc
See if you can borrow clothes for you kids. We have been lent loads and its been awesome.
If you can and have 2 cars maybe sell one. I don;t drive so we walk or use public transport, its not hat bad and will save you rego/warrant/repairs/ga etc.
|
|
mummy_becks
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Points: 14931
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 4:38pm |
Also look at the power company you are with. When we moved back to Palmy Nova Energy were just starting residential there and our power/gas bill has halved with them. Last months bill was only $90 and we run a bath almost every night and run the dryer often.
|
|
I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
|
|
KitKat
Senior Member
Joined: 22 August 2008
Points: 1048
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 15 June 2010 at 9:23am |
|
Did you know- cheaper cuts of meat are actually tastier.
Whack on a casserole in a slow cooker- which uses very little power, and the meat goes all tender and melty yummmmm. The bits that make the meat tough normally are actually really good for you- full of calcium...
If you get a stewing steak, esp the cuts with the ligaments and tough bits (yknow what I mean?)
Sounds gross to some... but seriously- cheaper cuts are tastier.
Aaaand- I have found markets to be good for some bargains. I agree that a lot of farmers markets now rake up the prices because its gourmet or novelty which sux... but some stalls sell cheap meat offcuts or have bargain bins (ussually early in the morning), bacon bits, and ends of sausages that look a bit funny... but cheap.
Kats Meat tips.... lol sorry
|
|
|
|
caliandjack
Senior Member
Joined: 10 March 2007
Location: West Auckland
Points: 12487
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 15 June 2010 at 9:55am |
With buying meat from butchers and vege from fruit shops, also need to factor in travel costs, as for us I have to drive across town to get to the Mad Butcher, specialist fruit and vege shops which means I don't end up saving in the long run.
Having a slow cooker and being able to use the cheaper cuts of meat - stewing steak, corned beef etc does save. Also the slow cooker uses a lot less power than your oven.
2nd the library I haven't bought books in over 3 years as I use the library instead, even for a little town our library is awesome. You can even get DVDs out for as little as $1.
|
[/url] Angel June 2012
|
|
sem
Senior Member
Joined: 20 November 2009
Location: Auckland
Points: 3907
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 15 June 2010 at 10:23am |
|
Buy what's in season and cheap!
Grow your own veggies.
Make food from scratch rather than buying packets, jars and sachets etc. It's amazing what you can cook with stuff that is just in the pantry.
|
Here we go again, another baby on it's way! 
|
|
Budgeting Ideas
