2015 is our year of saving, so I'm brainstorming ways in which we can save. We're currently in our own home and have a 10 month old son. So far, these are some of my money saving methods:
Review the mortgage, our biggest expense! Talking with the broker about getting 4.35% with an offset account.
Stocked up on rainchecks for nappies and baby wipes when they were more than half price. It's saving us hundreds over the year.
Making my own baby foods.
Borrowing books from the library instead of buying.
Reviewing health/car/home insurance.
Reviewing electricity/gas provider.
Cancelled gym membership and using workout DVDs at home.
Reducing food wastage by planning meals for the week (and using the WOW/Coles weekly specials to plan).
If we have time, walking to destinations instead of driving.
This year, we're only doing camping holidays (already have all the gear) instead of international.
Anyone care to share techniques they use when saving money?? I'd love to hear more tips!
-I make dog food instead of buying it. Any vegetables that are getting old I freeze instead of toss, then when I have enough I blend them up and add a couple of eggs, natural yoghurt, oats, scraps of old bread, etc. Add that to whatever meat I get them at the butcher. Costs more than cheap dry/tin food, but since raw/fresh food is the way I want to go, this is cheaper than buying BARF patties.
-I use ING orange everyday. I often offer to do the coffee or lunch run and keep the cash people give me and pay with my card instead for the cash back.
-I always take lunch from home even if it ends up being something a bit weird because I'm out of bread or salad ingredients.
Will edit and add more