Hi there all - I love coming read this board so thought I would introduce myself and share some of my/our money saving ways....

I'm Sarah, I have 3 dd's and a lovely dh who is a sahd. Dh had a few financial 'issues' in his past so we've never been flush but not long after dd3 was born he lost his job and I went back to work full time while he became sahd. Since then we have made more of an effort to economise and get by in a way that doesn't feel like we're missing out......

Putting aside - if you don't have money this is easier said than done but the first thing I always do when I get paid is transfer money into different pots, we have holiday, Xmas, Kids (covers dance lessons, school trips etc), car, house (if we want to save for new furnishings etc) and treats (not often much in this one!) I used to be terrible at saving for things but this way I don't touch the money for anything other than it is intended.

Meal planning - this is probably where we have really saved and reduced waste too, we rarely throw stuff away now. My friends other half was horrified at the lack of spontaneity of this but I quite like knowing what I've got to look forward to! lol

Shopping round/stocking up - I suppose not everyone has time to trawl the shops looking for bargains but if we see things on offer we tend to stock up, if Lidl has their ludicrously cheap aubergines (sometimes 20p!) we buy a box, grill them and freeze them - though mostly less random things :)

Cash back sites - not only have I saved money by swapping my car and house insurance and mobile phone provider but I have also bagged £230 in cash back! Its brilliant, and I've also got a few quid back on bargains I got online for Christmas pressies.

Competitions - This might sound odd - or may be well used here but you can win loads of good stuff without spending a thing. This is actually Dh's area but he has won loads of stuff, including a dyson, a weekend away,cinema tickets, an ipod, breakfast cereal (10 boxes!) and books, games, an mp3 player and a mobile that we are saving for Christmas pressies for the girls.

Hmmm I think I had better stop there, lol and well done if you got this far!

Looking forward to reading and sharing more ideas

Sarah x

Hi Sarah,

Welcome aboard :-) Looks like you have most of the "old classics" covered there, they are all brilliant tips well worth flagging up for everyone again.

I agree with you about "pay yourself first", it was one of the best frugal tips I heard when I was starting off. If you wait til the end of the month there will never be money left over but by getting it into savings/paying off debts first then you get used to not having it.
Win win win.

I don't know if you've ever entered any of the competitions we have here on iVillage but (when I remember ) I post them down in one of the folders below. Here's a link to the main competitions page http://www.ivillage.co.uk/ivillageuk/comp/events

Look forward to sharing more tips with you.

Thanks Sam :)

 I've just been and entered all the competions - fingers crossed I've got some of dh's luck!!

Sarah