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This is a question Money-saving tips

I'm broke, you're broke, we're all broke. Even the smug guy on the balcony with the croissant hasn't got two AmEx gold cards to rub together these days. Tell everybody your schemes to save cash.

(, Thu 10 Nov 2011, 18:09)
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I have a few
With the state of the economy as it is, I’ve started doing quite a few bits to save money. Some seem a bit silly, some just common sense, others seem almost as if you’re ripping someone off:

Bubble Glazing. My bathroom, like most, has frosted glass. It’s also single glazed, which makes it bloody freezing in winter. I solved this by buying a roll of bubble wrap, wetting the window, and sticking the bubble wrap to it, bubble side against the window. The moisture holds it in place, it doesn’t affect the light, and the room is noticeably warmer.

Trade-in Bargains. Handy for the gamers. A few weeks ago, Tesco were offering £28 trade in on Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Gamestation were selling it for £18. I bought 5 copies, and took them straight to Tesco. Result: £140 in gift cards. Only redeemable in Tesco, but it’s paid for my groceries for the last month.

Check Your Receipts. It’s already been said, but make sure you know what you’re being charged. Tesco offer Double The Difference if they overcharge you. If it’s a half price offer and it doesn’t show at the till, it ends up costing you nothing, so stock up then visit customer services.

Downshift Your Shopping. Next time you go shopping, drop a brand level. If you usually buy Heinz beans, buy own brand. If you usually get own brand, get value. Just give it a try. I’ve done this over the last few months, and now a lot of the stuff I buy is value, from buying only premium brands a few months ago. It’s made a staggering difference to my shopping bill (Bread – 55p instead of £1.40, custard – 28p instead of 85p etc). If you still like your brand names:

Discount Runs: Every month, I do a round of the 4 main supermarkets around me, and I only buy things that are on offer. Once that’s done, I redo my shopping list, and only then do I pick up what I still need at full price. A lot of the time, I’ll have made enough substitutions that I don’t need to worry about doing a full price shop.

Pub Quiz Night: If there’s a few of you with half a brain between you, it’s worth doing. Most of the time, the prize is at least 8 pints. That’s 2 pints each for a team of four. If the quiz is free entry, it’s rude not to have a go.

I have various other money saving means, which encounter varying degrees of resistance, but all totally legal, and frankly, I have no idea how I managed without doing half the stuff I do now.
(, Mon 14 Nov 2011, 15:46, 6 replies)
Your bubbleglazing sounds like a recipe for mould/mildew
Try clingfilm, double-sided tape and a hairdryer. Instructions online no doubt.
(, Mon 14 Nov 2011, 15:59, closed)
not sure how that would help
since it's the air pockets that provide insulation - cling film wouldn't provide anything extra. Mould isn't a massive issue, since you'd see it through the cling film, and can just peel, clean and refit as needed.
(, Mon 14 Nov 2011, 16:06, closed)
Plus, if you're bored when you're having a shit, you can pop the bubbles.

(, Mon 14 Nov 2011, 16:12, closed)
Jesus
You don't put the clingfilm directly onto the windowpane you mong

*facepalms*

www.tipking.co.uk/tip/3566.html
(, Mon 14 Nov 2011, 20:53, closed)
aah
That makes far more sense.
(, Tue 15 Nov 2011, 8:41, closed)
The pub quiz prize at my local is £250
How the bloody hell they manage this I have no idea, but it guarantees a huge turnout of people with far more trivial knowledge than me.

Unfortunately my mates and I are as stupid as each other so we have never won as much as a wooden spoon.
(, Mon 14 Nov 2011, 18:15, closed)

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