I Found Cheapskates and Haven't Looked Back!
We have mortgage debts in two countries (UK and Australia) as we still can't sell our flat in London because of the Global Financial Crisis - so I really needed some HELP with juggling what little money we have! Asset rich and cash poor is how the financial advisors categorise us !
I stumbled across the Cheapskates Club website a year or so ago and signed up to the free newsletters and then I finally bit the bullet and upgraded to a Platinum membership last year and I haven't looked back since.
We are a family of four (with a three year old and a 2 month old) living on my husband's one income which is very challenging in this day and age when the prices of everything seem to go up and up! So far since signing up I have really gotten our finances in order and feel like there may just be a light at the end of the tunnel.
The main things I have done that are helping:
• Bills folder
• Set up a Payment Push to try and pay down our highest interest debts first.
• Overpayments on our mortgages in UK and Oz ($100's in interest over the term of the loans)
• Insurance reductions (a few phone calls = savings $150 + per year)
• Low interest credit cards (I have been an interest rate tart for years !! think they are onto me now though!)
• Paying our rates/electricity/water bills off weekly via BPAY at $25 per week (no more bill shock !)
• Phone: Cancelled our Telstra home phone and we now only use our computer and Skype for home phone calls (saving $40 per month line rental)
• Internet: reduced our plan as we didn't need the 12GB we were paying for the last two years! (saving $40 per month)
• Mobiles: Reduce our plans to $29 per calendar month each and increase them when necessary (e.g. when our baby girl was born and I knew I would be using the phone more I increased the CAP for one month)
• Car: My husband started a new job where he had a company car so we were able to sell his car and cancel the insurance/rego/petrol costs associated with having a second car (I estimate $100 per week savings)
The only thing that I am still struggling with is the meal planning/cooking/shopping etc. with a newborn and a toddler but I am hoping that is my next thing to tackle ! I have been eBaying all our unwanted things in our townhouse and I have made some good money this month ! I am saving to buy a freezer off eBay and a larger fridge so we don't have to shop as often for food ! My husband just laughs as he comes home and one piece of furniture is gone and replaced by another all in the time he has been at work !
I am also making use of Freecycle for recycling things we don't need and also getting things free like a pirate costume that I needed for my little boy for a party last week ! Got it FREE off Freecycle ! FAB FAB !
I am feeling really inspired and will be hoping to sort out the kitchen side of things in the next few weeks/months! WISH ME LUCK !!
Thanks so much ...you really are an inspiration ! My constant motivation is that I really don't fancy going back to the Corporate world after having my two babies ...so I am trying everything to be debt free as soon as possible !
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for the wonderful work you do with your website I am truly inspired to start living the Cheapskates way! Thanks Cath!
Michelle Nel
I stumbled across the Cheapskates Club website a year or so ago and signed up to the free newsletters and then I finally bit the bullet and upgraded to a Platinum membership last year and I haven't looked back since.
We are a family of four (with a three year old and a 2 month old) living on my husband's one income which is very challenging in this day and age when the prices of everything seem to go up and up! So far since signing up I have really gotten our finances in order and feel like there may just be a light at the end of the tunnel.
The main things I have done that are helping:
• Bills folder
• Set up a Payment Push to try and pay down our highest interest debts first.
• Overpayments on our mortgages in UK and Oz ($100's in interest over the term of the loans)
• Insurance reductions (a few phone calls = savings $150 + per year)
• Low interest credit cards (I have been an interest rate tart for years !! think they are onto me now though!)
• Paying our rates/electricity/water bills off weekly via BPAY at $25 per week (no more bill shock !)
• Phone: Cancelled our Telstra home phone and we now only use our computer and Skype for home phone calls (saving $40 per month line rental)
• Internet: reduced our plan as we didn't need the 12GB we were paying for the last two years! (saving $40 per month)
• Mobiles: Reduce our plans to $29 per calendar month each and increase them when necessary (e.g. when our baby girl was born and I knew I would be using the phone more I increased the CAP for one month)
• Car: My husband started a new job where he had a company car so we were able to sell his car and cancel the insurance/rego/petrol costs associated with having a second car (I estimate $100 per week savings)
The only thing that I am still struggling with is the meal planning/cooking/shopping etc. with a newborn and a toddler but I am hoping that is my next thing to tackle ! I have been eBaying all our unwanted things in our townhouse and I have made some good money this month ! I am saving to buy a freezer off eBay and a larger fridge so we don't have to shop as often for food ! My husband just laughs as he comes home and one piece of furniture is gone and replaced by another all in the time he has been at work !
I am also making use of Freecycle for recycling things we don't need and also getting things free like a pirate costume that I needed for my little boy for a party last week ! Got it FREE off Freecycle ! FAB FAB !
I am feeling really inspired and will be hoping to sort out the kitchen side of things in the next few weeks/months! WISH ME LUCK !!
Thanks so much ...you really are an inspiration ! My constant motivation is that I really don't fancy going back to the Corporate world after having my two babies ...so I am trying everything to be debt free as soon as possible !
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for the wonderful work you do with your website I am truly inspired to start living the Cheapskates way! Thanks Cath!
Michelle Nel