How To Beat the Recession and Save Money - Part 1

Many people have been affected by the recession also known as the credit crunch but if you see this situation not as 'challenging' but as 'challenge on' and vow to beat the recession and save money at the same time it can be done!

Here are some tips:

Swap clothes with your friends

There are bound to be lots of items you have barely worn that you nolonger want and the same for your friends. Why not get together and do some swapping. Each of you get a great nearly new wardrobe and it hasn't cost you a penny.

Swap toys

Just as above, your children will have either grown out of or never had interest in some of their toys. Have a toy swap party with your friends and swap away.

Check out your local thrift/charity shops.

It is not uncommon to find brand new (with tags) items in these small shops. You can pick up designer items, new items and great vintage clothing for next to nothing.

You can buy children's books and games from these stores also as well as great pieces of furniture. My lounge is full of lovely antique furniture which after research I know would cost me several hundred pounds to buy from an antique store. I bought every piece for less than 100 from a charity shop. You can do the same. Why buy poor quality furniture that is new when you can buy good quality' built to last centuries' furniture that is old but back in style?

Buy in bulk

If you have the storage space, buy your tinned.dry food goods in bulk, as you can get great discounts this way. The same applies to cleaning products, toilet paper, wash items etc.

Shop at the end of the day

If you shop before store closing, many items will be reduced and you can make big savings.

Buy out of season clothes for the following season

This is great with kids clothes as their fashions rarely change.

Summer clothes are greatly reduced when winter is on it's way and vice versa. Buy next summers clothes now while they are cheap.

Buy Xmas cards/decorations etc after xmas for the following xmas.

As above, these items are massively reduced just after Christmas, so buy them for the following Christmas. You can stock up on cards, trimmings, wrapping paper, crackers. Gifts brought into the store especially for the Xmas period will also be reduced so you can do your Xmas shopping a year ahead!

Invest in season tickets to your child's favorite play area.

Often the ticket price can be recouped after as little as 5 visits yet you can visit 365 times a year if you want to! Ask relatives to contribute to the cost for b'days instead of buying unwanted gifts.

Ask relatives to pay for classes for your children

When your relative asks you what they can get little Johnny for his birthday, suggest a contribution to swimming lessons etc.

Make your own greetings cards

Greetings cards are fairly expensive these days and yet you can make your own for as little as 30p a card. Save pounds and buy yourself a card making kit and get crafting. These cards are often treasured far more than the store made commercial ones.

Read more money saving tips in part 2 shortly.