Lots of good tips already. My advice about grocery shopping is to carry a list of what you frequently buy - 20 to 30 items - and write down how much they cost in each store. By writing down, I know that dm has cheaper cereal than basic, but Aldi’s organic apple juice is cheaper than dm (only special offer though), that Edeka has cheaper bananas than basic this week, but basic has cheaper eggs than Edeka, etc.
Then, at home, you can go to work with calculator to figure out whether 150 g of Cheese at 2.99 are better than 230 g of Cheese at 3.33 (or whatever). Unless you are so good at math you can do it in your head at the store?
Update each time you are in the store!
Agree with the “Think before you buy whether you need it” mindset - it’s not a bargain if the 600 blazer is reduced by half if your budget is only 100 for a blazer, or if you already have two blazers and can afford one only in 6 months.
For that matter, make a budget! All fixed expenses like rent and water and traffic, and a guesstimate of how much each month for food, clothing etc. Then break it down per day and watch that you don’t spend more than the allocated 5 $ (or whatever) on all food.
Agree, too, with the quality thing: it’s worth saving up to buy quality that lasts (and can be repaired) than buy cheap and have to replace every six month. (Sam Vimes explains this as his “theory of boots” in one of the Discworld books). Obviously, this varies on the item we are talking about - a quality electric appliance is different than a store brand for hand cream. Add to that reading consumer reports to find out how the objective quality of cheap brands tested. Very often, they are as good or better than the expensive brand. (Typical example: ALDIs olive oil is the cheapest and best in tests).
In addition to thrift shops and ebay, you could look at lending org.s in your area. We started one several years ago, but it died off due to lack of interest. The reasoning was: why spend hundreds of Euros to buy a machine that you use only 10% of the time and is standing around the rest of the time unused, taking up space in your basement? Instead, a group of citizens post what they have to offer, and you just rent the machine from a citzen.
Again, this depends on what kind of machine. And DIY markets often offer to rent the big machines, so you can use that.
Agree with hobbyies: look at what you can do differently and still enjoy. Reading - use library, paperbookswap and bookcrossing, or buy used and sell again.
Excursions: packing a lunch and cycling in the city park can be as much fun as driving a car to a remote location.
Over here, the state owned museums are open free on each Sunday, so you can save admission. (Don’t know if they have that).
We have here LETS, that is, exchange rings. You post what you can do - touch-type, bake a cake, teach French - and the other person pays you in talents. Then you can use the talents to buy other services - take Mandarin lessons, get a babysitter. No money necessary.
If you have time*, get active in a church or other charity group. It helps against the feeling of being excluded because of poor and lets you feel worthwhile because you are doing sth. useful. So if you save money on food, you can still help ghetto children with homework, or accompany Spanish speakers to offical agencies to interpret, or go shopping for old people, or whatever.
- a lot of people who are poor have less time because their wage is low.
Carpooling or public transport are cheaper than own cars.
Re: Coupons: remember that you look first at the original price. I get a lot of coupons for drug store stuff that I never use, because getting 50 cents of Ariel detergent is more expensive than the other brand I buy. So coupons and cards should always come in last in the consideration process.
Check consumer reports for what models tested best in their category, and then look for a special sale in your store, even if you have to wait a few months.
