Old skool money-saving tips

Sometimes the old ones are the best - so here's a lighthearted look at some traditional yet timely money-saving tips.

OK folks, I’ll admit it: I’m too young to remember. 

But I’m told that, way back when, people lived within their means and debt was considered dangerous. People made the most of what they had, and made cut backs when times got tough.

These days however, more of us borrow to spend - and plenty of people feel that this twenty-first century thinking is what caused the credit crunch.

Thoroughly modern me

Whether or not you agree with opinions like these, there’s always something to be said for learning from the past.

I consider myself a thoroughly modern miss -- but when it comes to saving money, I’ll admit that old-school ideas are often among the best.

Some of them might seem simple, and several have become clichés. But these money saving tips have survived because they’re relevant, and they work!

Here, I put a new spin on five of my favourites.

1.  Waste not, want not

With high energy bills likely to hit many of us this winter, cutting down the amount we use is a straightforward way to save money.

When old-style bulbs go in lamps and lights, why not replace them with energy-saving ones? They last longer, are better for the environment and (you guessed it!) use less energy.

Simple measures such as turning down your thermostat by a degree or two, switching off radiators in rooms that aren’t often used, moving anything that obstructs your radiators and putting an insulating jacket on your boiler can also save you money.

And when it comes to food, we Brits are a nation of wasters: according to Love Food Hate Waste, 8.3 million tonnes of food is chucked out every year -- “most of which could have been eaten if we had planned, stored and managed it better”. The website is packed full of tips for avoiding waste and therefore saving money.

It also features a selection of useful ‘rescue recipes’, which will help you find ways to use up foods that are perilously close to perishing.

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2. Make do and mend

While some businesses have suffered on the back of the credit crunch, it seems the economic downturn has had a positive impact on cobblers. They report that, thanks to plunging consumer confidence and the tightening up of lending, more people are choosing to repair (rather than replace) damaged shoes.

So mending seems to be back in fashion -- but what about making do?

If your wardrobe’s full of things you’re sick of, now may not be a great time to splurge on new stuff -- no matter how tempting the shops may seem!

However, clothes swapping parties can be great fun -- one person’s trash is often someone else’s treasure. If you’d rather swap in cyber space, websites such as Big Wardrobe and Swop2Shop are worth checking out.

3. Remember, time is money

From nappies and facial cleansing wipes to cameras and razors, many of the things we buy are designed to be binned after one use (or very few).

Obviously the rise of disposable goods is connected to the frantic pace of modern life. But it concerns environmentalists, and -- from a money-saving perspective -- the convenience some items offer can be costly.

According to the website UK Parents Lounge, for example, choosing re-usable nappies instead of disposables will mean making more time and effort -- but it could save a family £600 per baby.

Likewise, rechargeable batteries cost more upfront than disposables (and users face the bother of recharging them) but they ultimately provide better value for money.

4. Get your house in order

When I first moved away from home, one new expense I faced seemed particularly shocking: household cleaning products!

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Branded bottles of all-singing, all-dancing stuff cost a small fortune -- but do we need them all?

According to household website Cleaning Expert, old-fashioned, natural cleaning remedies can be just as effective as posh chemical products. Armed with bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar, lemon juice and a decent dose of elbow grease, you should be able to clean glass, carpets and even your tiles and toilet.

Alternatively, you could try using a single product to multi-task. Washing up liquid is perfect for cleaning bath tubs, as it lifts away grime and bath oil residue.

If you’re struggling to shift dried on grease from a roasting tin, try pouring on a little biological washing powder and some boiling hot water -- this should help to lift it.

5. Don’t let money burn a hole in your pocket

This is one I’ve always struggled with, but restraining yourself from impulse purchasing is vital if you’re trying to save money.

I’m a big believer in tactical online shopping, because using shopbots and cashback websites will often mean you get a far better deal on the web than on the high street.

Of course, the key word here is tactical -- planning and researching a purchase before you make it should ensure you save money, but casually clicking an online ‘buy now’ button is as bad as impulse buying in a shop.

Also, it’s worth remembering that the time it takes to find the cheapest price on an item might give you pause to think about whether you really want it -- and sad to say, not buying stuff is the simplest money saving tip of all!

If you have any old-school pearls of wisdom, why not post them in the comments space below?

This is a classic article that has recently been updated.

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