How to Spend Less Without Being Miserable

Description

There are times when you know you just need to cut down a bit, reduce your outgoings, keep a bit of a rein on the amount you spend. Yet for most of us, that makes us feel downright depressed even before we start. But reducing your spending doesn’t mean taking the fun out of life. Oh no. If you’re clever about it, life can be just as good – it just costs you less. This is the book to show you how, in Richard Templar’s inimitable blend of originality, wisdom, practicality and funny straight talking.

With the current world financial situation, things are going to be tight for a while for many of us – even if they weren’t already – and we’ll need to find ways to make sure the money we have goes further.

How to Spend Less… without being miserable is full of techniques and strategies for cutting down on expenditure. As you’d expect with Templar, there’ll be loads of common sense with a quirky take and plenty of fun.

Contents

Introduction

1. You have to want to do it
2. Get your kicks somewhere else
3. Know your budget
4. Remember the glass is half full
5. Save time
6. Get organised
7. See it as a challenge
8. Make bargain-hunting a hobby
9. Know when a bargain is not a bargain
10. Hoard your savings
11. Try an alternative savings scheme
12. Look for cheap thrills
13. Give yourself a cooling off period
14. Imagine yourself without it
15. Put it away before you get it
16. Ringfence funds
17. Use big money
18. Say never never to the never never
19. Think green
20. Sell things
21. Be a barterer
22. Get online
23. Don’t window shop
24. Carry cash
25. Don’t play with pretend money
26. Freeze your assets
27. Do your weekly shop online
28. Never shop for food on an empty stomach
29. Shop in a hurry
30. Cut out coupons
31. Milk your loyalty
32. Make the most of supermarkets
33. Shop for quality, not quantity
34. Shop for quality, not for price
35. Calculate the price per wear
36. Decide what it’s worth
37. Be mail order savvy
38. Check out the benefit of brands
39. Ask yourself if you need it
40. Always try to buy in bulk
41. Try smaller companies for size
42. Get into the haggling habit
43. Never pay the asking price
44. Buy with selling in mind
45. Net yourself a bargain
46. Shop twice
47. Join mailing lists
48. Buy at auction
49. Get competitive
50. Know when to sell… and when to buy
51. Support your local farmer
52. Stick to tap water
53. Change your habits
54. Buy less food
55. Buy cheaper food
56. Be a sneaky cheapskate
57. Cook for yourself
58. Use your leftovers
59. Use your freezer
60. Cook less food
61. Eat on the cheap
62. Become a vegetarian
63. Grow your own
64. Free food
65. Stay in
66. Go out later
67. Hold a swap shop
68. Bargain competition
69. Set up a babysitting circle
70. Meet for lunch
71. Share and share alike
72. Swap your house
73. Book late
74. Holiday at home
75. Work to live
76. Avoid currency traps
77. Get the kids involved
78. Think hard about insurance
79. Check your statement
80. Look for the best deals
81. Switch off
82. Don’t heat what you don’t use
83. Turn it down
84. Save water
85. Save petrol
86. Practise phone economics
87. Do your own
88. DIY
89. Make presents
90. Get the kids to make presents
91. Agree a budget
92. Have a family draw
93. Use cheap wrapping paper
94. Trim your Christmas
95. Shop in the January sales
96. Try a student
97. Recycle your kids’ clothes
98. Get hitched on a budget
99. Have a budget baby
100. Don’t give up

Reviews

"Richard Templar writes with wit and wisdom to encourage us to think and behave differently and develop the mindset that frugal is fun."

Choice Magazine, July 2009