Post by Chips on Jul 18, 2008 17:39:51 GMT 9.5
30 bizarre ways to beat the credit crunch crisis
By Richard Smith And Robert Stansfield 18/07/2008
Swap gin for vodka, chop stalks off veg before you get to the checkout and disguise cheap cereal in a fancy box.
Bizarre? Maybe, but they are some of the latest moneysaving tips to help you beat the credit crunch.
Or how about this beauty from driving guru Tim Shallcross, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists? He reckons drivers can save 40p a day - by reversing into parking spaces.
Tim explains: "Beginning a trip by reversing out of a parking space burns up more fuel because a cold engine uses more petrol than a hot one.
"When a driver parks he probably has to do a few manoeuvres.
"It's much better to do that with a warm engine using thimblefuls of fuel rather than a cold engine using bucketloads."
Here are 30 more wacky, wonderful ways to save cash...
CAR
1 Let the fuel guzzlers speed past you on the motorway while you stick rigidly to speed limits - it can mean a saving of up to £12 on a 300-mile round trip by driving at 70 mph instead of 80 mph.
2 Keep your tyres pumped up - correct pressures keep wear down and fuel economy up.
3 Remove roof racks and carriers when not in use - they increase drag and lower fuel economy.
4 Keep car windows open a little so you don't have to use air con which eats up fuel.
5 Plan your route, taking the most direct one, and go at off-peak times to avoid jams.
FOOD & DRINK
6 Cut left-over lemon or lime into little chunks, pop in an ice cube tray and fill with water. Next time you want lemon or lime in a gin and tonic it's handy - and saves buying a fresh lemon or lime for one drink.
7 When fruit goes limp or is past its best, use it to make smoothies.
8 Buy bargain wines and spirits and empty them into decanters. It'll fool experts and save you pounds. Do a similar trick with bottled water. Refill them from the tap. No one can really tell the difference.
9 Brew-your-own kits don't blow up in the airing cupboard any more - make your own beer and lager for as little as 15p a pint.
10 Swap gin for vodka - it's one of the few alcoholic drinks that is getting cheaper.
WORK
11 Bring in a thermos of your own tea or coffee. Posh coffees can be £2 a pop - you'll soon see a saving.
12 Spend your lunch break browsing the net for bargains online. It's free and you won't be tempted by leaving the office.
13 Ask your boss for a flexible starting time so you can get a cheaper bus or train ticket.
14 Buy a cheap, plain work outfit which you can easily update to go out at night or wear in different ways every day.
15 Posh sandwich shops make a killing. Make your own sarnies, and you'll save around £15 a week.
HOME
16 If you have an electric oven, turn it off for the last five minutes of cooking. It takes so long to cool down your food won't suffer and you'll save electricity.
17 Squeeze a loo roll into an oval shape. It doesn't roll out so easily and kids won't use yards at a time.
18 Use the net bags which fruit or veg come in to scrub pots rather than buy scouring pads.
19 Use a thermos to store hot coffee and save electricity by not constantly boiling the kettle.
20 If you live in a terraced house, turn off the heat and use the warmth from your neighbours' houses.
SHOPPING
21 Pick the stalks off fruit and veg before getting to the checkout to save cash on their weight.
22 Weigh pre-bagged veg - you'll look weird but some bags can weigh extra.
23 Shop 40 minutes before the supermarket closes. Many things will be reduced and - because you'll have to rush around getting the basics - you'll have no time to browse and make impulse buys.
24 Buy supermarket own-brand cereal and secretly use it to fill posher brand-name boxes - no one will know the difference.
25 Learn to haggle when buying big purchases. Website www.jalebi.co.uk has hot tips for winning discounts.
KIDS
26 Give kids an ice-cream cone not a bowl - you'll use less ice-cream.
27 Let kids make ice lollies by filling icecube trays with dilute squash and using cocktail sticks for lolly sticks.
28 Mix up flour and water and let children make models from the dough. Dye with a few drops of food colouring and who needs Play-Doh?
29 Play bargain hunt. The child who finds the cheapest beans, fish fingers or crisps wins. The thrill will also distract them from not having the top brands.
30 If you're feeling mean, tell your kids that when the ice-cream van plays a tune it means it's run out...
By Richard Smith And Robert Stansfield 18/07/2008
Swap gin for vodka, chop stalks off veg before you get to the checkout and disguise cheap cereal in a fancy box.
Bizarre? Maybe, but they are some of the latest moneysaving tips to help you beat the credit crunch.
Or how about this beauty from driving guru Tim Shallcross, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists? He reckons drivers can save 40p a day - by reversing into parking spaces.
Tim explains: "Beginning a trip by reversing out of a parking space burns up more fuel because a cold engine uses more petrol than a hot one.
"When a driver parks he probably has to do a few manoeuvres.
"It's much better to do that with a warm engine using thimblefuls of fuel rather than a cold engine using bucketloads."
Here are 30 more wacky, wonderful ways to save cash...
CAR
1 Let the fuel guzzlers speed past you on the motorway while you stick rigidly to speed limits - it can mean a saving of up to £12 on a 300-mile round trip by driving at 70 mph instead of 80 mph.
2 Keep your tyres pumped up - correct pressures keep wear down and fuel economy up.
3 Remove roof racks and carriers when not in use - they increase drag and lower fuel economy.
4 Keep car windows open a little so you don't have to use air con which eats up fuel.
5 Plan your route, taking the most direct one, and go at off-peak times to avoid jams.
FOOD & DRINK
6 Cut left-over lemon or lime into little chunks, pop in an ice cube tray and fill with water. Next time you want lemon or lime in a gin and tonic it's handy - and saves buying a fresh lemon or lime for one drink.
7 When fruit goes limp or is past its best, use it to make smoothies.
8 Buy bargain wines and spirits and empty them into decanters. It'll fool experts and save you pounds. Do a similar trick with bottled water. Refill them from the tap. No one can really tell the difference.
9 Brew-your-own kits don't blow up in the airing cupboard any more - make your own beer and lager for as little as 15p a pint.
10 Swap gin for vodka - it's one of the few alcoholic drinks that is getting cheaper.
WORK
11 Bring in a thermos of your own tea or coffee. Posh coffees can be £2 a pop - you'll soon see a saving.
12 Spend your lunch break browsing the net for bargains online. It's free and you won't be tempted by leaving the office.
13 Ask your boss for a flexible starting time so you can get a cheaper bus or train ticket.
14 Buy a cheap, plain work outfit which you can easily update to go out at night or wear in different ways every day.
15 Posh sandwich shops make a killing. Make your own sarnies, and you'll save around £15 a week.
HOME
16 If you have an electric oven, turn it off for the last five minutes of cooking. It takes so long to cool down your food won't suffer and you'll save electricity.
17 Squeeze a loo roll into an oval shape. It doesn't roll out so easily and kids won't use yards at a time.
18 Use the net bags which fruit or veg come in to scrub pots rather than buy scouring pads.
19 Use a thermos to store hot coffee and save electricity by not constantly boiling the kettle.
20 If you live in a terraced house, turn off the heat and use the warmth from your neighbours' houses.
SHOPPING
21 Pick the stalks off fruit and veg before getting to the checkout to save cash on their weight.
22 Weigh pre-bagged veg - you'll look weird but some bags can weigh extra.
23 Shop 40 minutes before the supermarket closes. Many things will be reduced and - because you'll have to rush around getting the basics - you'll have no time to browse and make impulse buys.
24 Buy supermarket own-brand cereal and secretly use it to fill posher brand-name boxes - no one will know the difference.
25 Learn to haggle when buying big purchases. Website www.jalebi.co.uk has hot tips for winning discounts.
KIDS
26 Give kids an ice-cream cone not a bowl - you'll use less ice-cream.
27 Let kids make ice lollies by filling icecube trays with dilute squash and using cocktail sticks for lolly sticks.
28 Mix up flour and water and let children make models from the dough. Dye with a few drops of food colouring and who needs Play-Doh?
29 Play bargain hunt. The child who finds the cheapest beans, fish fingers or crisps wins. The thrill will also distract them from not having the top brands.
30 If you're feeling mean, tell your kids that when the ice-cream van plays a tune it means it's run out...