Web hosts advice on how to live cheaply

8:36am Thursday 1st May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Everyone is looking for ways to survive the soaring costs of food, fuel and home. Basically, the cost of living seems to silently slithering up and up, while (for many) disposable' income is disappearing. But, how can we make the best of a bad situation? How can we live more cheaply? Help is at hand.

This may not be the most exciting topic - but VideoJug, http://www.videojug.com/tag/live-well-for-less, has tackled it in an exciting format - video! Eat Well for Less is the most watched video in their Money and Wealth section. The first tip was shop local rather than supermarkets and make a list. Avoid the multi-buy items. The film is only two minutes long - but holds a vast amount of great ideas. It also covers energy-saving tips. Just beware the advertising videos vs information sharing videos.

You can't talk about savings without using the word frugal and at http://www.frugal.org.uk you can get some good old, down-to-earth advice. Gardening for exercise - not something new but making headlines - has been a stable in the outdoor diet for centuries. Frugual's free food section lists growing your own and picking wild food as two great solutions. Why not start a cooperative garden, where you can grow in bulk and share. Back to basics.

There's nothing like first-hand advice from author Jane Furnival who, when eight months pregnant, found herself out of pocket when a big client went bust. According to Jane, http://www.jane-furnival.co.uk/, she practises what she preaches - giving tried and tested advice. She recommends not confusing money-saving' with buying the cheapest', keeping in mind buying items that last longer. Jane also recommends taking someone shopping with you who hates it, so you go faster!

The government's healthy living site, http://www.healthyliving.gov.uk/, has a number of good tips and the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Budgeting section is a little gold mine. There's some good advice on how to buy healthy foods cheaply. And, don't forget sites like www.mysupermarket.co.uk for helpful price comparisons.

If you have a business, and the word recession' is on your mind, this might be the time for cutting costs. Startups, http://www.startups.co.uk, is a website for new businesses with plenty of tips. But for something more current, put surviving a recession' in any search engine and see what comes up. The Guardian business article recommended a simple recipe for survival - including spending less on what you buy already, and stop buying stuff'.

Recognised by other websites, thisismoney.co.uk/ has some ideas worth exploring in /50 ways and /moneysaving. Sell things on eBay. Beware (avoid) the extended warranty payment protection racket'. Avoid the three-for-two' deal and do your sums when shopping. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. And trade down your car. Share the drive. Take public transport. All worth a thought.

If you are going to take a holiday, but want to do it more cheaply, consider finding a location that isn't on the top destinations list - like Bulgaria - booking online and early. And don't forget PetrolPrices.com - the comparison, searchable petrol price website. All ways to save on that much-needed holiday to get you away from the stress of daily living.

Broadband, internet access, telephones (mobile and landline) and digital TV are some of the top tech purchases for households. You may need a spreadsheet but it is worth comparing and looking for savings. The field is fluid, the picture constantly changing but price comparison sites are a good place to start. Also, phone your current supplier and negotiate, find out what they have on offer and what they are willing to offer to keep you'.

If you have any tips on how to live cheaply let us know - post a comment on this column.