Introduction
Globally, we're moving into rough economic times. Personally, my hard times started several years ago when I got too careless with the credit cards - a mistake I'll be paying for for the next few years.
The 80s and 90s were characterised by easy credit encouraging people to spend money they didn't have on luxuries. The days of easy credit had to come to an end sooner or later, and now anyone with any sense is learning that being tight-fisted is a positive virtue.
Since my personal credit crunch has already come, I've already learned frugal habits of living, and I'm learning new tricks all the time. On this site - which I expect to update fairly often - I plan to pass on what advice I can on the subject. I'm writing from the perspective of a single male living in Britain, so some of my advice may not be appropriate for people living in different situations, but I think most of it will be.
The 80s and 90s were characterised by easy credit encouraging people to spend money they didn't have on luxuries. The days of easy credit had to come to an end sooner or later, and now anyone with any sense is learning that being tight-fisted is a positive virtue.
Since my personal credit crunch has already come, I've already learned frugal habits of living, and I'm learning new tricks all the time. On this site - which I expect to update fairly often - I plan to pass on what advice I can on the subject. I'm writing from the perspective of a single male living in Britain, so some of my advice may not be appropriate for people living in different situations, but I think most of it will be.
The Skinflint at Home: Saving money on gas and electricity
Saving money on utilities couldn't be easier!
It makes me laugh when I see people writing in to the letters pages of the papers or Ceefax, complaining about the rising cost of gas and electricity. For less time and energy than it takes to write those letters, they could change suppliers and get themselves on a lower rate, with a one year (or maybe more) fixed price contract. It's dead easy since the energy market was partially de-regulated years ago - I used to sell electricity contracts over the phone to business customers and it was a constant source of frustration to me that so many people think it's difficult to change suppliers when in reality there's hardly more to it than saying "yes". Since the internet's become popular, it's even easier - there are plenty of price comparison sites which will automatically find you the best deals in your area - all you have to do then is decide which one you want and you can be signed up in five minutes. The only down side is that it takes a month to changeover to your new supplier (this is a requirement of the legislation), but the company you're changing to do all the necessary work - you don't even need to tell your old supplier that you're changing away from them!
A few weeks ago, when British Gas put up my electricity prices, I decided to get myself on a contract with a new supplier on a lower tariff. I used an online price comparison site called EnergyLinx to change my electricity supplier from British Gas to Scottish Power. I couldn't have been easier - it took about five minutes to select the best deal available and sign up, and the transfer has gone through smoothly - estimated annual saving: £80. When my gas contract runs out, I'll do the same thing (you can change suppliers before your contract runs out, but you get penalty charges, so it's not normally worth it). (Tip: A lot of companies offer a "dual fuel" discount, usually about 5%, if you get both your gas and leccy from them - worth bearing in mind.)
As I said, I used EnergyLinx for that particular change of supplier, but there are plenty of other price comparison sites, including:
USwitch
LowerMyBills
and
UKPower
I don't recommend any particular one, but I do strongly recommend that you shop around and get yourself on the best fixed price contract that you can - the general trend in utility prices is upwards, and that's not going to change in the near future. It's so easy to change suppliers and save money in the process that there's no sensible reason not to.
Of course the other way to save money on gas and electricity is to find ways to use less of it in the first place.
The central heating's a good place to start - make sure that the timer's adjusted so that the heat isn't on all day while you're out (there's no point heating an empty house).
Then there's the lights. If you're not going to be using a room for a bit, switch the light off. Example: I have my computer in the spare room - I used to have the bad habit of leaving the light on in my living room while I went on the internet. These days I make sure I switch the light off (it's said that the Queen is so tight-fisted that she goes from room to room in Buckingham Palace switching off the lights in empty rooms). Speaking of which, my living room is only small (it's a small house) but for some reason when the place was built they put two light fittings in - I took the bulb out of one fitting and put a low wattage bulb in the other. I've also started using low energy bulbs - this is a particularly good saver, because I often get free bulbs, either from British Gas or other sources (for example, one of the local councils round my way was giving away low energy bulbs in supermarkets a while ago). That's simple to do, but it makes a difference.
Try and think of other things you can do to save energy. Like TV sets - a lot of people just put them on standby when they stop watching the telly, but the set will still consume 90% of the electricity that it does when it's fully switched on, so it's better to switch it off. And try and make sure your house is as well-insulated as possible (within your budget). If you can't afford triple-glazing, new loft insulation etc, at least think about heavy curtains, draft excluders and suchlike. If you live somewhere that's prone to cold winters, I'm sure you'll understand the benefits!
A few weeks ago, when British Gas put up my electricity prices, I decided to get myself on a contract with a new supplier on a lower tariff. I used an online price comparison site called EnergyLinx to change my electricity supplier from British Gas to Scottish Power. I couldn't have been easier - it took about five minutes to select the best deal available and sign up, and the transfer has gone through smoothly - estimated annual saving: £80. When my gas contract runs out, I'll do the same thing (you can change suppliers before your contract runs out, but you get penalty charges, so it's not normally worth it). (Tip: A lot of companies offer a "dual fuel" discount, usually about 5%, if you get both your gas and leccy from them - worth bearing in mind.)
As I said, I used EnergyLinx for that particular change of supplier, but there are plenty of other price comparison sites, including:
USwitch
LowerMyBills
and
UKPower
I don't recommend any particular one, but I do strongly recommend that you shop around and get yourself on the best fixed price contract that you can - the general trend in utility prices is upwards, and that's not going to change in the near future. It's so easy to change suppliers and save money in the process that there's no sensible reason not to.
Of course the other way to save money on gas and electricity is to find ways to use less of it in the first place.
The central heating's a good place to start - make sure that the timer's adjusted so that the heat isn't on all day while you're out (there's no point heating an empty house).
Then there's the lights. If you're not going to be using a room for a bit, switch the light off. Example: I have my computer in the spare room - I used to have the bad habit of leaving the light on in my living room while I went on the internet. These days I make sure I switch the light off (it's said that the Queen is so tight-fisted that she goes from room to room in Buckingham Palace switching off the lights in empty rooms). Speaking of which, my living room is only small (it's a small house) but for some reason when the place was built they put two light fittings in - I took the bulb out of one fitting and put a low wattage bulb in the other. I've also started using low energy bulbs - this is a particularly good saver, because I often get free bulbs, either from British Gas or other sources (for example, one of the local councils round my way was giving away low energy bulbs in supermarkets a while ago). That's simple to do, but it makes a difference.
Try and think of other things you can do to save energy. Like TV sets - a lot of people just put them on standby when they stop watching the telly, but the set will still consume 90% of the electricity that it does when it's fully switched on, so it's better to switch it off. And try and make sure your house is as well-insulated as possible (within your budget). If you can't afford triple-glazing, new loft insulation etc, at least think about heavy curtains, draft excluders and suchlike. If you live somewhere that's prone to cold winters, I'm sure you'll understand the benefits!
The Skinflint goes Shopping: Saving money on your daily bread (and other stuff)
You can save a lot of money on your regular groceries if you keep your eyes open. Supermarkets always seem to be doing discounted deals - two for the price of one etc. So stock up when you see something you want at a discounted rate. Talking of supermarkets, a lot of supermarket own brand stuff is just as good as the name brands these days, but a lot cheaper, so don't be afraid to give the own brand stuff a try - for me these days, "Beanz meanz Tescos"! Don't just shop in one place - I frequent three different supermarkets on a fairly regular basis, and they tend to offer good deals on different products. Also it's a good idea to get supermarket loyalty cards - I've got a Tesco Clubcard. This has two advantages, first of all every time I go shopping I get credited with Clubcard points, which I can save up and spend on different things (or pay into my Airmiles account to save up for that trip to Australia I want to take in a few years, when I've settled my debts). They also sometimes send out discount vouchers on various products to all Clubcard holders, so it's worth having. In the case of discount vouchers that are for products you don't actually want, you can always pass them on to friends and family. I've even seen vouchers advertised on Ebay, although I can't imagine getting much for them. Morrisons petrol stations also have a loyalty card scheme - every time you buy petrol, they credit your account with some points, and when you've accumulated enough points, they give you a £5 discount voucher to spend in the supermarket. Better than a kick in the teeth. Morrisons are one of the cheaper suppliers of petrol at the moment, so I certainly don't mind buying petrol from them (I also go to the Tescos petrol stations for the Clubcard points, so I win either way).
It's not just groceries that you can save money on, but fun stuff too. There are always bargains to be had. For example, I like to read and watch films, so I often buy books, videos and DVDs - but I hardly ever buy them new these days. Instead, I haunt the local charity shops. I've bought some real bargains in the last few months - they tend to sell videos for 50p each these days, and DVDs aren't that much more expensive (usually a pound or two). Have you seen those DVDs that are given away with newspapers? Charity shops tend to sell them for about 20p each, cheaper than the price of the papers they originally came with. A lot of people also like to browse for clothes in charity shops. I don't do this myself, because the odds are against finding anything that's both my size and that suits me, but you may feel differently.
Markets can also be good places to pick up bargains - just because something is second-hand, doesn't mean it's not worth having.
Then there's Ebay of course, I've picked up some interesting stuff quite cheaply there - just be careful not to get into a bidding war, and decide in advance how much you're willing to pay.
It's not just groceries that you can save money on, but fun stuff too. There are always bargains to be had. For example, I like to read and watch films, so I often buy books, videos and DVDs - but I hardly ever buy them new these days. Instead, I haunt the local charity shops. I've bought some real bargains in the last few months - they tend to sell videos for 50p each these days, and DVDs aren't that much more expensive (usually a pound or two). Have you seen those DVDs that are given away with newspapers? Charity shops tend to sell them for about 20p each, cheaper than the price of the papers they originally came with. A lot of people also like to browse for clothes in charity shops. I don't do this myself, because the odds are against finding anything that's both my size and that suits me, but you may feel differently.
Markets can also be good places to pick up bargains - just because something is second-hand, doesn't mean it's not worth having.
Then there's Ebay of course, I've picked up some interesting stuff quite cheaply there - just be careful not to get into a bidding war, and decide in advance how much you're willing to pay.
The Skinflint on Wheels: Saving money on your car
Cars are money pits. You need to keep them maintained and fueled. The best way to save money when it comes to your car is to sell it and either walk to work, take the bus or get a bike.
For a lot of people (myself included) this isn't a sensible option though. For myself, I do a lot of temporary work, and I have to be available right away to travel anywhere in a 20 mile radius of where I live. Public transport isn't going to cut it and a bike is no good for long distances. So I have to keep my car running. Therefore I've learned to keep it running as cheaply as possible. Here are a few tips I've picked up on being a skinflint motorist.
Check your oil and water every month and top up as necessary, to keep the engine running as well as possible.
Also check your tyre pressure every month. Check your car's manual and keep your tyres pressurised to the maximum recommended. This will improve your car's mileage. Don't over-inflate your tyres though, this will shorten their life, causing you to spend more money on new tyres, plus you don't want to risk a blow out on the motorway, do you?
Replace the air filter in your engine once a year. This is a really simple job that anyone should be able to do. If you look at your engine, the filter should be in a round, flat compartment that will open up if you undo a couple of screws and/or latches. The air filter is a circular thing made of paper with a rubber seal - I bought a replacement for less than £10 recently. These things get clogged up after a while and the engine doesn't burn petrol as efficiently, so it's definitely worth your while replacing it annually.
If you're in a situation where the car is likely to be stationary for a few minutes (picking up friends or waiting at a level crossing etc) you might as well switch the engine off - it's easy to forget, but there's no point it burning up petrol if it's not going anywhere, is there?
Be as gentle as possible when accelerating the car - don't be one of those boy racers that everyone laughs at. If you accelerate as gently as possible to the desired speed, not only will the petrol be burned more efficiently, but it will decrease wear and tear on parts and tyres.
Drive in the highest gear possible without stalling your car - for instance, I routinely shift into fifth gear when I drive at 30mph and above. This will keep the engine turning at the lowest possible RPM (therefore burning the least amount of petrol), plus it reduces wear and tear on the engine.
Try and fuel up in cold weather if possible. This is because when the weather's cold, the petrol in the pump contracts slightly, so you'll get a bit more petrol for the same price.
Another thing about fueling up. Have you ever noticed that petrol pumps have different settings when you squeeze the nozzle? If you just give it a slight squeeze, the petrol will pump more slowly - this will create less splashing as it enters your tank, and therefore it will evaporate less in the process, so you're not paying for fumes. So it's a good idea to pump as slowly as possible (within reason, as long as people aren't queuing behind you of course).
If you've got the money handy, try to keep your tank topped up. Don't let it fall to less than half full, because the more air there is in the tank, the more petrol will evaporate. Keep your tank as full as possible.
Shop around for petrol. It's surprising how much the price can vary, especially when there's a price war on. Supermarket petrol stations tend to be a bit cheaper than the others for some reason, but not always.
Speaking of supermarket petrol stations, they usually don't charge for air when you're inflating your tyres, whereas the regular petrol stations tend to these days. So go to places like Tescos, Asda and Morrisons for preference.
All of the above is simple to do, but if you get into these simple good habits, you can easily save hundreds of pounds/dollars/whatever per year, so it's well worth it.
Also remember to shop around when it comes time to renew your car insurance. I used to just let my insurance company renew it every year, and every year the price went up a bit. I just put this down to inflation, but then I found out that my bank does a service where they shop around for the best deal, so I tried them and got a similar level of cover slightly cheaper. Since then, I've fallen out with my bank, so last time I renewed my insurance, I shopped around online and got a much better deal myself. There are loads of price comparison sites on the net that'll help you find a decent car insurance quote. Here's a random list drawn from a quick internet search:
E4S.co.uk
The AA
Confused.com
QuoteDetective.com
These sites aren't listed in any particular order of preference.
Talking of insurance, if you're male, you might want to consider adding a female onto your insurance as a second driver. I'll tell you why. A few years ago I was going out with a lady who I shall refer to here as Miss X. Miss X had a provisional driving licence, but she'd never found a professional instructor who she felt comfortable with. She asked me to give her driving lessons, which I was happy to do. I phoned up my insurance company and asked how much extra I would be paying each month if I added her to my insurance. Imagine my surprise when they told me that it would actually be cheaper! It seems that insurance companies like it when there's a girlie on the insurance policy, for some reason I've never fathomed. Since then, every time I've changed insurance companies, I've asked for quotes with me as the sole driver and with Miss X as the second driver. Every time it's been cheaper to include her, so I have (with her permission). So if you know a lady who's agreeable to being included on your car insurance, it's well worth considering.
Incidentally, one thing not to cut out is breakdown cover. I've had at least a basic level of breakdown cover ever since I've been driving, and I've been glad of it on several occasions, considering the clunkers I drive. There are several different companies that provide cover, including the RAC, AA, Greenflag etc, and you may very well be able to get cover at a discounted rate through your insurance company or bank, so don't forget to ask about that.
Finally, parking. If you live in a big city (like me), you'll probably find that parking in the centre of town is really expensive. Have a look round for cheaper car parks on the outskirts. When I go into town, I usually park at a car park that's only about a mile's walk from the centre of town, but only charges £1 a day. If I parked somewhere more central, I could easily pay £5-£10, depending on how long I'm staying for - and what's a mile's walk when you're young, fit and healthy?
For a lot of people (myself included) this isn't a sensible option though. For myself, I do a lot of temporary work, and I have to be available right away to travel anywhere in a 20 mile radius of where I live. Public transport isn't going to cut it and a bike is no good for long distances. So I have to keep my car running. Therefore I've learned to keep it running as cheaply as possible. Here are a few tips I've picked up on being a skinflint motorist.
Check your oil and water every month and top up as necessary, to keep the engine running as well as possible.
Also check your tyre pressure every month. Check your car's manual and keep your tyres pressurised to the maximum recommended. This will improve your car's mileage. Don't over-inflate your tyres though, this will shorten their life, causing you to spend more money on new tyres, plus you don't want to risk a blow out on the motorway, do you?
Replace the air filter in your engine once a year. This is a really simple job that anyone should be able to do. If you look at your engine, the filter should be in a round, flat compartment that will open up if you undo a couple of screws and/or latches. The air filter is a circular thing made of paper with a rubber seal - I bought a replacement for less than £10 recently. These things get clogged up after a while and the engine doesn't burn petrol as efficiently, so it's definitely worth your while replacing it annually.
If you're in a situation where the car is likely to be stationary for a few minutes (picking up friends or waiting at a level crossing etc) you might as well switch the engine off - it's easy to forget, but there's no point it burning up petrol if it's not going anywhere, is there?
Be as gentle as possible when accelerating the car - don't be one of those boy racers that everyone laughs at. If you accelerate as gently as possible to the desired speed, not only will the petrol be burned more efficiently, but it will decrease wear and tear on parts and tyres.
Drive in the highest gear possible without stalling your car - for instance, I routinely shift into fifth gear when I drive at 30mph and above. This will keep the engine turning at the lowest possible RPM (therefore burning the least amount of petrol), plus it reduces wear and tear on the engine.
Try and fuel up in cold weather if possible. This is because when the weather's cold, the petrol in the pump contracts slightly, so you'll get a bit more petrol for the same price.
Another thing about fueling up. Have you ever noticed that petrol pumps have different settings when you squeeze the nozzle? If you just give it a slight squeeze, the petrol will pump more slowly - this will create less splashing as it enters your tank, and therefore it will evaporate less in the process, so you're not paying for fumes. So it's a good idea to pump as slowly as possible (within reason, as long as people aren't queuing behind you of course).
If you've got the money handy, try to keep your tank topped up. Don't let it fall to less than half full, because the more air there is in the tank, the more petrol will evaporate. Keep your tank as full as possible.
Shop around for petrol. It's surprising how much the price can vary, especially when there's a price war on. Supermarket petrol stations tend to be a bit cheaper than the others for some reason, but not always.
Speaking of supermarket petrol stations, they usually don't charge for air when you're inflating your tyres, whereas the regular petrol stations tend to these days. So go to places like Tescos, Asda and Morrisons for preference.
All of the above is simple to do, but if you get into these simple good habits, you can easily save hundreds of pounds/dollars/whatever per year, so it's well worth it.
Also remember to shop around when it comes time to renew your car insurance. I used to just let my insurance company renew it every year, and every year the price went up a bit. I just put this down to inflation, but then I found out that my bank does a service where they shop around for the best deal, so I tried them and got a similar level of cover slightly cheaper. Since then, I've fallen out with my bank, so last time I renewed my insurance, I shopped around online and got a much better deal myself. There are loads of price comparison sites on the net that'll help you find a decent car insurance quote. Here's a random list drawn from a quick internet search:
E4S.co.uk
The AA
Confused.com
QuoteDetective.com
These sites aren't listed in any particular order of preference.
Talking of insurance, if you're male, you might want to consider adding a female onto your insurance as a second driver. I'll tell you why. A few years ago I was going out with a lady who I shall refer to here as Miss X. Miss X had a provisional driving licence, but she'd never found a professional instructor who she felt comfortable with. She asked me to give her driving lessons, which I was happy to do. I phoned up my insurance company and asked how much extra I would be paying each month if I added her to my insurance. Imagine my surprise when they told me that it would actually be cheaper! It seems that insurance companies like it when there's a girlie on the insurance policy, for some reason I've never fathomed. Since then, every time I've changed insurance companies, I've asked for quotes with me as the sole driver and with Miss X as the second driver. Every time it's been cheaper to include her, so I have (with her permission). So if you know a lady who's agreeable to being included on your car insurance, it's well worth considering.
Incidentally, one thing not to cut out is breakdown cover. I've had at least a basic level of breakdown cover ever since I've been driving, and I've been glad of it on several occasions, considering the clunkers I drive. There are several different companies that provide cover, including the RAC, AA, Greenflag etc, and you may very well be able to get cover at a discounted rate through your insurance company or bank, so don't forget to ask about that.
Finally, parking. If you live in a big city (like me), you'll probably find that parking in the centre of town is really expensive. Have a look round for cheaper car parks on the outskirts. When I go into town, I usually park at a car park that's only about a mile's walk from the centre of town, but only charges £1 a day. If I parked somewhere more central, I could easily pay £5-£10, depending on how long I'm staying for - and what's a mile's walk when you're young, fit and healthy?
Useful resources
There's plenty of information on the internet about how to save money and cope with financial problems, you just need to know where to look. Here are a couple which I've found useful:
The Motley Fool is a very well known website that has a lot of information about dealing with debt issues (as well as investment advice etc) including claiming back unfair bank charges. It's a huge site with a very active forum. It's main downside is that it's sometimes hard to find what you're looking for, but the chances are that the information you need will be in there somewhere.
Another site, which I personally find easier to navigate, is MoneyMagpie.com, which mostly deals in advice on frugal living, where to find freebies, dealing with debt and low income etc. I found out about it from a daytime TV programme during a period of unemployment. It's maybe not as big and comprehensive as the Motley Fool, but it is very clear and to the point. I've certainly found it very helpful.
It was from that website that I found out about a forum that has become one of my favourite sites on the internet - namely MyLot. MyLot is a social networking site with a difference - they pay you to take part in discussions! Not very much, maybe a cent or two per post, but it's surprising how quickly that can add up - I've been paid about $12 by them so far, and I expect to earn at least as much again in the next few weeks. That's OK for taking part in an activity I enjoy anyway. People discuss all kinds of things on MyLot, from sports to politics, but the reason I mention it here is that it's also a good source of advice on frugal living. So you can get paid while learning to save money - a double win! I suggest you give it a try, you won't regret it.
Are you a frugal living fan?
Then join other frugal living fans on myLot! Whether you're looking for a friendly conversation or a heated debate, you can find it on myLot.
Finally, you may be interested in having a look at another Squidoo lens I have, on the subject of making money on the internet. The name of the site is Getting Rich Slow, and it covers various different ways of making money on the internet without needing to invest any money. It's frequently updated as I try new things. I'm not making big bread yet, but I am earning enough online to have a realistic hope of clearing my debts in a reasonable timeframe.
The Motley Fool is a very well known website that has a lot of information about dealing with debt issues (as well as investment advice etc) including claiming back unfair bank charges. It's a huge site with a very active forum. It's main downside is that it's sometimes hard to find what you're looking for, but the chances are that the information you need will be in there somewhere.
Another site, which I personally find easier to navigate, is MoneyMagpie.com, which mostly deals in advice on frugal living, where to find freebies, dealing with debt and low income etc. I found out about it from a daytime TV programme during a period of unemployment. It's maybe not as big and comprehensive as the Motley Fool, but it is very clear and to the point. I've certainly found it very helpful.
It was from that website that I found out about a forum that has become one of my favourite sites on the internet - namely MyLot. MyLot is a social networking site with a difference - they pay you to take part in discussions! Not very much, maybe a cent or two per post, but it's surprising how quickly that can add up - I've been paid about $12 by them so far, and I expect to earn at least as much again in the next few weeks. That's OK for taking part in an activity I enjoy anyway. People discuss all kinds of things on MyLot, from sports to politics, but the reason I mention it here is that it's also a good source of advice on frugal living. So you can get paid while learning to save money - a double win! I suggest you give it a try, you won't regret it.
Are you a frugal living fan?
Then join other frugal living fans on myLot! Whether you're looking for a friendly conversation or a heated debate, you can find it on myLot.
Finally, you may be interested in having a look at another Squidoo lens I have, on the subject of making money on the internet. The name of the site is Getting Rich Slow, and it covers various different ways of making money on the internet without needing to invest any money. It's frequently updated as I try new things. I'm not making big bread yet, but I am earning enough online to have a realistic hope of clearing my debts in a reasonable timeframe.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Jim Cramer's Getting Back to Even
Amazon Price: $15.21 (as of 12/10/2009) 
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
Amazon Price: $14.61 (as of 12/10/2009)
The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World
Amazon Price: $9.36 (as of 12/10/2009)
Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/10/2009)
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/10/2009)
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by Citizen_Stuart
I'm just a fairly average working poor guy. I go from one poorly-paid job to another and I'm heavily in debt, so I've had to learn how to live as che... (more)
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