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SAVING MONEY IN THE HOME

The are a wide range of ways you can save in the home, and many of these are covered by specific subject areas on the LEFT MENU and may be touched on briefly here.

Food

• waste good food by cooking too much, some folk will not eat "left overs", make them, or cook less.
• use in date - a lot of food is thrown out due to the fact you forgot to use it whilst in date, check weekly the fridge, freezer, tins and packets in cupboards too.
• bake fresh - cooking your own cakes and pies can be cheaper and tastes a lot better to. Cook in quantity otherwise electricity and ingredients can be dearer than shop bought (but not as tasty)
• buy in bulk and take up specials like "buy 1 get 1 free". Alternate between stores as some are cheaper always on certain goods. Avoid the ONE STOP shop, which although saves time can be costly for some items. Stock up with bargains say monthly.
• order what you need and restrict impulse buys especially expensive luxuries.

Clothes

• the clothes we and the family wear fall into 3 main categories
  • rough, about the house wear, which needs to be casual and comfortable but are prone to dirt and damage, here you can source such items from thrift or charity shops on hand me downs and trades from friends or family.
  • smart wear - say for work in the office, maybe a uniform which, often your employer may provide say specialist work wear and uniforms. Cleaning of these can be a tax claim and worth a few hundred a year - check with your tax office for a claim form and details.
  • best wear - for weddings and other family events, and special night outs, not much scope for saving here, but look around for VALUE, you can still look great on a budget. More choice for great designer clothes for women on auction sites like EBay - it is possible to get a great dress for a wedding (as a guest) for less than £10.

Furniture

• Every homes needs it, and there are several routes to consider when getting it
  • buy new - if this is your preferred route check around suppliers and online, often there are special deal inc interest free finance, take time to compare value.
  • buy used from a second hand retailer or charity shop, although choice may be limited you can often get good quality and "character" you will not normally see in other shops and save a bundle.
  • older relatives, friends, relatives moving house, often a free or cheap source of furniture that may not fit in or suit their future needs. Make sure you make people aware of your needs so they can "offer", it surprising what people have hoarded up.
  • presents - get several people to club together to buy you an otherwise expensive item for one to give - ideal for weddings or setting up home together.

Home Improvements

• major work needs to be done by professionals but costs can vary so get at least 3 quotes and ask for neighbours and friends in the area to recommend contractors.
• check out references of proposed contractors before ordering. Keep copies of all quotes and agreements to avoid expensive disputes later as "extras" can add 10-20% to the initial quote unless you are canny with the agreed deal.
• if a member of the family is disabled you may be able to save tax (VAT in UK) on the work, check with your local tax office and the contractor.
• paying in cash often gets a better deal with smaller contractors who also do not meet thresholds for tax registration (VAT in UK) but do get a receipt.
• never order from callers to your door offering home improvement or repair work at special prices. You make the decision as to whom to contact and whom to order from.

DIY

• you can save a bundle by doing many jobs yourself rather than calling in someone, one great way is a trade off - if you are good at decorating agree to do the local electricians room in return for some electrical work on your house - maybe you know someone or a local group, see www.diyonline.org
• ask for referrals to DIY tradesmen and get a reference or two from people you have not used before.
• contact trade associations to get referred to local contactors.
• use DIY stores for sources of DIY information and books from the local library on "how to".
• leave plumbing and electrical stuff to professionals and stick to decorating, minor repairs, shelving, cupboards etc.

Needs V Wants

• we all "want" a lot of things to make our home better and more attractive, to show off to our friends and relatives.
• "wants" can be costly and get in the way of getting what we "need", so it's vital to prioritize the needs and put those desirable "wants" well down the list, and only "treat yourself" when you have earned it by clearing the "needs" list first.

Please feel free to Contact Us with questions or to give us information to add to our knowledge base.