Comments on: Saving Money http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:00:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Brogan... http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-/#comment-656 Chris Brogan... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-656 <p>Thanks very much. This is truly such a mouthful. You certainly never skimp on the content. : )</p> <p>(You're just doing this cuz I told Lifehacker you were a pen god!)</p> <p>--Chris...</p> Thanks very much. This is truly such a mouthful. You certainly never skimp on the content. : )

(You’re just doing this cuz I told Lifehacker you were a pen god!)

–Chris…

]]> By: Pedro http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-/#comment-659 Pedro Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-659 <p>In Portugal, my grandmother said "penny by penny, a million is reached". Nice post ;-)</p> In Portugal, my grandmother said “penny by penny, a million is reached”. Nice post ;-)

]]> By: pigpogm http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-/#comment-660 pigpogm Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-660 <p>Well, that and the Lifehack.org post - I figured we owe you one ;) The Lifehacker comment has brought us a fair few visits - I found it because it was showing up in our referrers - and Lifehack.org has been sending us lots of new people as usual. Thanks again, Chris.</p> Well, that and the Lifehack.org post – I figured we owe you one ;) The Lifehacker comment has brought us a fair few visits – I found it because it was showing up in our referrers – and Lifehack.org has been sending us lots of new people as usual. Thanks again, Chris.

]]> By: Anonymous http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-1/#comment-688 Anonymous Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-688 <p>Categories and spreadsheets and software and forms and tracking your spending and tips on how to save money on and on and on and on and on. No wonder so few people make budgets. It's all too too much for me, and, I suspect, for most people. The savings rate in the United States is zero or negative so the various savings schemes aren't working. Buying generic peas instead of Del Monte does not result in savings.</p> <p>The Real World Way for Real People To Save Money:</p> <ol> <li>Arrange to hae money deducted from your pay BEFORE you get it.</li> <li>Increase the amount deducted as you get used to living on less or if you get a raise.</li> </ol> Categories and spreadsheets and software and forms and tracking your spending and tips on how to save money on and on and on and on and on. No wonder so few people make budgets. It’s all too too much for me, and, I suspect, for most people. The savings rate in the United States is zero or negative so the various savings schemes aren’t working. Buying generic peas instead of Del Monte does not result in savings.

The Real World Way for Real People To Save Money:

  1. Arrange to hae money deducted from your pay BEFORE you get it.
  2. Increase the amount deducted as you get used to living on less or if you get a raise.
]]> By: Teri Pittman http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-/#comment-694 Teri Pittman Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-694 <p>Buy bulk and initiate a food storage program. Yes, I'm serious. Way back in the old days, hippies knew they wouldn't starve if they had a 25 pound sack of brown rice. It's a good idea today. Buy grains and beans in large quantities and learn how to store them. Double up on canned goods purchased. Having several months worth of food can come in very handy when you lose your job or need to seriously cut expenses.</p> Buy bulk and initiate a food storage program. Yes, I’m serious. Way back in the old days, hippies knew they wouldn’t starve if they had a 25 pound sack of brown rice. It’s a good idea today. Buy grains and beans in large quantities and learn how to store them. Double up on canned goods purchased. Having several months worth of food can come in very handy when you lose your job or need to seriously cut expenses.

]]> By: Andy http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-1/#comment-892 Andy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-892 <p>I was on a course recently and we were asked to think more laterally about a problem.</p> <p>The story was (and I'm assured that it is a true story) that the most famous of washing up liquid manufacturers in the UK wanted to sell more. How did they do it.</p> <p>Most people on the course went for advertising or pckaging redesign, whereas I just suggested that they watered it down.</p> <p>We were all wrong as it turned out that they just put a bigger hole in the pouring spout.</p> <p>I shall have to start watering mine down!</p> <p>I have switched to using eco-balls in my washing machine in an attempt to save some money and the planet. They cost 30UKP and last for 750 washes. I have never actually sat down and worked out how much 750 washes using washing liquid would cost, but if it turns out that I am paying more in the long term then I was more interested in saving the planet!</p> I was on a course recently and we were asked to think more laterally about a problem.

The story was (and I’m assured that it is a true story) that the most famous of washing up liquid manufacturers in the UK wanted to sell more. How did they do it.

Most people on the course went for advertising or pckaging redesign, whereas I just suggested that they watered it down.

We were all wrong as it turned out that they just put a bigger hole in the pouring spout.

I shall have to start watering mine down!

I have switched to using eco-balls in my washing machine in an attempt to save some money and the planet. They cost 30UKP and last for 750 washes. I have never actually sat down and worked out how much 750 washes using washing liquid would cost, but if it turns out that I am paying more in the long term then I was more interested in saving the planet!

]]> By: pigpogm http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-/#comment-1033 pigpogm Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1033 <p>Good ideas, Teri. We bought two 10kg bags of rice quite some time back (buy-one-get-one-free), but we only really started using them at a decent rate when we used the last of our wedding vouchers on a rice cooker. Chuck two scoops of rice in, pour on water to the "2" mark, close the lid, and press the button. Less than 15 minutes later, perfect rice.</p> Good ideas, Teri. We bought two 10kg bags of rice quite some time back (buy-one-get-one-free), but we only really started using them at a decent rate when we used the last of our wedding vouchers on a rice cooker. Chuck two scoops of rice in, pour on water to the “2″ mark, close the lid, and press the button. Less than 15 minutes later, perfect rice.

]]> By: Janet http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-/#comment-1112 Janet Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1112 <p>We have "A penny saved is a penny earned" as well as 'the dollars take care of themselves' version. I'm sure we imported both from the British Isles though I wouldn't be surprised if Ben Franklin took credit for at least one of them.</p> We have “A penny saved is a penny earned” as well as ‘the dollars take care of themselves’ version. I’m sure we imported both from the British Isles though I wouldn’t be surprised if Ben Franklin took credit for at least one of them.

]]> By: blue http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 blue Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1260 <p>an avid saver now...i had been an avid spender...and paid the consequences, but now, free of debt, I am realising the value of money...real, paper stuff, that makes a crinkly noise when you spend it, that hurts when you spend it...and suddenly...I'm not so keen to spend it...I value it, and spend it only on things of the utmost personal value and benefit, and use a lot of the tricks and tips above...but best of all, we have found new ways to save in our household...</p> <p>after five days out on Dartmoor, enjoying the wilderness, the freedom, the time to talk, sitting around a fire, we realised that we watch too much TV, that we spend too much on TV, that we could save a fortune if we just got shot of the darned thing. SO, since our return...no tv. No DVDs. Yes, iTunes radio. No SKy box, no Sky bill [saving £21 per month, going towards a future trip to Japan], no DVD, TV and Sky box sucking up electricity, at all hours of the day, whether on or off. SO we can sell the DVD recorder [a flashy one], put that in the travel kitty, the TV goes in the attic, as we get that with our rented house, and look forward to reduced electricity bills. Cool...now we sit and read, chat by the fire, have done so for over 16 days now, and haven't missed it once. Next is a rationalising of our broadband contract...not so easy...2 Macs, maybe cut them down to one, get a new broadband contract, saving broadband fees, electricity, getting cash for the Mac...I can almost smell the Japanese air, it's getting closer all the time...</p> <p>oh, and I sell every single book I buy and choose not to keep, on Amazon. Been at it for four years, it buys art materials, and logs for the fire in winter, not a lot, but those pennies and pounds really do help...</p> <p>great post Michael...</p> an avid saver now…i had been an avid spender…and paid the consequences, but now, free of debt, I am realising the value of money…real, paper stuff, that makes a crinkly noise when you spend it, that hurts when you spend it…and suddenly…I’m not so keen to spend it…I value it, and spend it only on things of the utmost personal value and benefit, and use a lot of the tricks and tips above…but best of all, we have found new ways to save in our household…

after five days out on Dartmoor, enjoying the wilderness, the freedom, the time to talk, sitting around a fire, we realised that we watch too much TV, that we spend too much on TV, that we could save a fortune if we just got shot of the darned thing. SO, since our return…no tv. No DVDs. Yes, iTunes radio. No SKy box, no Sky bill [saving £21 per month, going towards a future trip to Japan], no DVD, TV and Sky box sucking up electricity, at all hours of the day, whether on or off. SO we can sell the DVD recorder [a flashy one], put that in the travel kitty, the TV goes in the attic, as we get that with our rented house, and look forward to reduced electricity bills. Cool…now we sit and read, chat by the fire, have done so for over 16 days now, and haven’t missed it once. Next is a rationalising of our broadband contract…not so easy…2 Macs, maybe cut them down to one, get a new broadband contract, saving broadband fees, electricity, getting cash for the Mac…I can almost smell the Japanese air, it’s getting closer all the time…

oh, and I sell every single book I buy and choose not to keep, on Amazon. Been at it for four years, it buys art materials, and logs for the fire in winter, not a lot, but those pennies and pounds really do help…

great post Michael…

]]> By: Andy http://pigpog.com/2007/05/04/saving-money/comment-page-1/#comment-1392 Andy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1392 <p>I change everything every day and as I have an office job my clothes don't tend to get that dirty. Although I exercise I don't tend to sweat much so the stuff doesn't have a hard task.</p> <p>I have to say that the eco-balls have always wored fine. They don't make the washing smell as nice, but the fabric conditioner takes care of that anyway. I have been advised that they are not as good on whites so I use washing powder (liquid) on them.</p> <p>As I usually leave the car at home and shop using a rucksack not having to lug washing powder up the 240 foot hilltop on which my house stands is a wonderful thing and I am sure that my back is thanking me for it!</p> I change everything every day and as I have an office job my clothes don’t tend to get that dirty. Although I exercise I don’t tend to sweat much so the stuff doesn’t have a hard task.

I have to say that the eco-balls have always wored fine. They don’t make the washing smell as nice, but the fabric conditioner takes care of that anyway. I have been advised that they are not as good on whites so I use washing powder (liquid) on them.

As I usually leave the car at home and shop using a rucksack not having to lug washing powder up the 240 foot hilltop on which my house stands is a wonderful thing and I am sure that my back is thanking me for it!

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