IDIOTS guide to making/saving/spending $$$$

[mal]

Abba once sang MONEY MONEY MONEY makes a rich man poor.
I love that lyric
SOME
Rich people live like Paupers
SOME
Poor people live like Kings

How do we
MAKE $$$$
SPEND $$$
SAVE $$$$

I have countless posts to contibute
Heres one of my favourites.

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Mate does his shopping and racks up a bill of $100+ at Supermarkets
He gets the check out staff to stop at $30 and gets 2 seperate reciepts
He receives 2 Petrol vouchers that save 4c a litre [ I think its 4c I never bother]
On every 50 litre petrol purchase he saves $2-00
Multiply that by 50 weeks = $100 per year
He usually fills up about 1 and a half times a week and uses the 2nd voucher
He is $150 better off per year
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UNITAB + me

____________________________________________________________________

If you have a UNITAB account you get reward points by placing phone bets on a
computerised voice MAiL instead of an operator
I invest about $200 on the Trots 3 days a week on Unitab on those calls
I get a rebate of about 70c per $100 invested
I make $1-40 commission 3 times a week = $4-20 per week
I bet about 50 weeks
I obtain $210 rebates per year
For those with Phone accounts its called Telebet on 131932
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Whats your story ?
Include discount retailers
Scams
How to save on house expenses
Even how people get ripped off
Whatever makes people $$$$$$$

[smac]

I too have many thoughts in this area...

One of the best I use is we go shopping every 8 days, instead of every 7. We budget shopping money weekly, so every 7 weeks we have a spare lot of shopping money.

[bulldogproud]

When buying whitegoods, televisions etc. look for ones that have a small scratch or dent on them (preferably on the back). You can save over one hundred dollars by doing this as most stores will discount the item.
When purchasing a 'new' vehicle, purchase a demonstrator vehicle instead. It may have a few km on the clock but the reduced price is more than worth it.
Take water bottles to the gym rather than purchase them there. I know this is a bleeding obvious point. However, I used to buy a bottle for each aquaerobics session I did - costing about $6 a week.
Cheers

[mal]

BP good logic on the H20
WATER
A very good way for wealth and health
Buy a steel flask that sells for about $15 /$20 in retail stores.
Great investment
I fill mine up with Ice and water in the mornings and carry it with me
It stays cold all day [even in the car in hot weather it stays cool/cold all day]
I used to spend about $200-$300 a year on soft drinks/fruit juices/bottled water in retail stores.

COFFEE/TEA
The same flask keeps teas/coffees warm all day as well.
Coffee drinkers who spend about $200-$500 a year buying coffee would save plenty ?

[Pup]

When buying whitegoods, televisions etc. look for ones that have a small scratch or dent on them (preferably on the back). You can save over one hundred dollars by doing this as most stores will discount the item.
When purchasing a 'new' vehicle, purchase a demonstrator vehicle instead. It may have a few km on the clock but the reduced price is more than worth it.
Take water bottles to the gym rather than purchase them there. I know this is a bleeding obvious point. However, I used to buy a bottle for each aquaerobics session I did - costing about $6 a week.
Cheers

Spot on with the water BP, I previously worked in a gym/leisure centre and the amount of people that buy water instead of bringing it is amazing, personally in my fridge i have about 10 bottles of water and always take one instead of buying just like you mentioned.

[Wedgie]

Easy. Just do the opposite of what I do. Im shocking with money but when you can save money but it takes time to do it I dont bother as IMHO the money saved isnt as valuable as my time.

I do have a good one though. Remortgage your loan if youre with CPS Community. Im saving heaps.

And if you spend money like I do put in the maximum super as you cant get to it easier. Even better if your employer matches your contributions dollar for dollar.

[Punk Rooster]

I used to buy soft-drink.
I cut it out due to $'s & the obscene amount of Sugar/Carbohydrates in it.
I swithched to Soda Water & cordial.
I cut that out to further save $'s & Calories (Sugar/Carbohdrates).
I now drink water-
$0 cost & 0 Sugars/Carb's.

I also take a protein supplement- I used to buy these at the gym for $4, now I make them at home myself.

[heater31]

Give up alcohol save upwards of $150 + a week

[Mic]

Don't go on holidays.

[Pag]

Give up alcohol save upwards of $150 + a week

Or.... just drink an extra 6-pack before you go out, save paying for the extra few $7 or $8 drinks... Saves about $20 per week...

[Psyber]

Don't spend - Invest!

[JAS]

These won't save thousands but will make a difference.

When doing your grocery shopping (or when the missus does it) always make a list of what you need and try to stick to it.

Try not to be a food snob unless you need to ie dinner party etc. You can save a lot by using a shops own brand product especially if you just going to chuck it in with a load of other stuff.

This can also apply to 'over the counter' medicines such as ibuprofen. Shop own brands are often at least a third of the price of the fancy brand names.

Never, ever shop for food with an empty stomach, you will buy more.

If you see stuff on offer ie buy one get one free etc and you know for certain you will use it...stock up but bear in mind 'use by dates'.

Make your own 'ready meals'. If your making a stew, curry, chilli etc make double and put the excess portions in the freezer. Usually much cheaper, tastier and healthier than store bought.

Regards
JAS

[bulldogproud]

I definitely concur with JAS re generic brands. Each year I run 'taste tests' on cola drinks and potato chips with my classes. Many cannot tell the difference, even preferring the generic brand. The difference is even harder to tell with products such as baked beans, spaghetti etc.
Another suggestion would be to buy an 'Entertainment Book' which not only raises funds for charity but also allows you to dine out for discounted prices.
Cheers

[Punk Rooster]

I refuse to buy "Coles" products, as I will not be a party to their intended "monopoly" tactics- ie introducing cheaper "Coles brand", running a local company out of business, then jacking up the price once the market is cornered.
Look at the "majors"- Coles-Myer (buying liquor outlets/Pokie Parlours masquerading as pubs etc) for starters.
Anybody remeber Halls?
They've been swallowed up by bigger companies.

There a lot of "little guys who've been swallowed up by the big boys- more notorious on the junk-food range (chocolate bars & soft-drinks).
So what you say?
In the end we will shop at 1 supermarket chain, choose our soft drinks from 1 supplier etc.

Support the "little" companies!

[JAS]

Punky...maybe I'm just lucky but I've lived in a large costal village for 17yrs with a Co-Op supermarket that has been here a lot longer than I have but we still have 2 butchers, fishmonger, grocer, bakery, chemists and several other little family run shops and retailers. As far as I'm aware the supermarket hasn't put anyone out of business in fact the only ones that I can remeber closing down were due to retirement and bereavment.

Also our local town has 2 large 24hour supermarkets and 2 smaller supermarkets as well as a good mixture of high street and family run businesses and again they seem to survive well enough. Maybe a big part of the problem is also with the consumers abandoning the little guys.

Regards
JAS

[Sojourner]

1, Bring sandwiches for work, buy your Cokes at the Supermarket not out of the Coke Machine!

2, Bulk Purchase things like Washing Powder at Big W, 20kg Bio-Zet is a bargain there and the Square Buckets are handy for the shed!

3, When you see something on special that you normally buy at Foodland, stock up! If its on a genuine special no less than four of each item!

4, Do your maths and check the price of the largest jar, often the largest jar of Vegemite is the cheapest one!

5, Call in at "Rite Price" Supermarket (M/Vale, Kilburn, Elizabth) and see what you can supplement your shopping with, its quite usual to get Balfours Bread and Pauls Milk for half the retail price there, still in code of course!

6, Use stores loyalty cards - Stratco and Home Hardware have you fill out a form, then you are mailed out a discount card which can give you quite a good price - Stratco keep a range of Car Accessories now, so with my Stratco Card it is cheaper to buy engine oil for the car there than at Sprint!

7, Do yourself a favor and join the "Simple Savings" Website! The Website is absolute Gold for savings advice and through it I managed to save a deposit for a house on an ordinary wage by using the various tips that they suggest! - Could not more highly reccomend it!
http://www.simplesavings.com.au

[TroyGFC]

* never go shopping on empty stomach as always buy crap ,same as when drunk.
* instead of going to a coffee shop for a coffee/tea go to pokie bar and get it for free, better still grab a hand full of biscuits for later.
*keep bottled water bottles and fill up with tap water and place in fridge.
*change all light globes to flouros, turn tv, stereos,etc off at power point- standby uses alot of power.
*wear extra jumper/layer of clothing during winter so no need to turn on heater.
*buy a steam mop to save on using chemicals or mix a little white vinager with water as a powerful detergent- vinager is lifes little miracle.
*keep tyres pumped up to save on petrol cost.
*read someone else's paper or just walk into newsagent and read it there. Or via adelaidenow website.

[heater31]

Punky...maybe I'm just lucky but I've lived in a large costal village for 17yrs with a Co-Op supermarket that has been here a lot longer than I have but we still have 2 butchers, fishmonger, grocer, bakery, chemists and several other little family run shops and retailers. As far as I'm aware the supermarket hasn't put anyone out of business in fact the only ones that I can remeber closing down were due to retirement and bereavment.

Also our local town has 2 large 24hour supermarkets and 2 smaller supermarkets as well as a good mixture of high street and family run businesses and again they seem to survive well enough. Maybe a big part of the problem is also with the consumers abandoning the little guys.

Regards
JAS

JAS that might be the case where you are but here in Australia the big two in Woolworths & Coles have every finger in every greasy pie they can, this includes swamping the little bloke. One of the Current Affair shows (can't remember which one) subsidised a small operator fruit & veg shop with an in season fruit. The conglomerate went to any length to be the cheapest including selling at a loss whist the little bloke was still breaking even with the help of the network producers

[TroyGFC]

Punky...maybe I'm just lucky but I've lived in a large costal village for 17yrs with a Co-Op supermarket that has been here a lot longer than I have but we still have 2 butchers, fishmonger, grocer, bakery, chemists and several other little family run shops and retailers. As far as I'm aware the supermarket hasn't put anyone out of business in fact the only ones that I can remeber closing down were due to retirement and bereavment.

Also our local town has 2 large 24hour supermarkets and 2 smaller supermarkets as well as a good mixture of high street and family run businesses and again they seem to survive well enough. Maybe a big part of the problem is also with the consumers abandoning the little guys.

Regards
JAS

JAS that might be the case where you are but here in Australia the big two in Woolworths & Coles have every finger in every greasy pie they can, this includes swamping the little bloke. One of the Current Affair shows (can't remember which one) subsidised a small operator fruit & veg shop with an in season fruit. The conglomerate went to any length to be the cheapest including selling at a loss whist the little bloke was still breaking even with the help of the network producers

Not that it saves any money actually cost more,but I have boycotted the monopoly and only use Foodland as much as possible even though Coles is just down road.

[spell_check]

I think the term for Woolworths and Coles is a duopoly. The bigger Foodland stores are generally cheaper anyway. Woolworths and Coles appear to work on the same profit margin.