Sunday Business Post | Irish Business News

Breaking News Business Ireland World Sport Weather

Navigation (Home)News News Features The Market Technology Media & Marketing Comment & Analysis Computers In Business Profile Property Motoring Agenda Letters

People In Business Done Deal Budget Forum Events / Conferences Company Reports Tools Crossword Search the archives Newsletter IMODE RSS

Text-Only

Keep living the good life
Sunday, January 25, 2009 By Emma Kennedy
With a shrinking budget - and a sinking feeling that it is not likely to grow any time soon - many of us will be watching the pennies a lot more closely in the months ahead.

Overall price levels may be on the way down, with the Central Statistics Office reporting that the annual rate of inflation fell to 1.1 per cent last month, down from 2.5 per cent a month earlier. However, some prices rose by more than the annual rate of inflation last year. For example, the cost of alcoholic drinks and tobacco jumped by almost 7 per cent last year, while hotel and restaurant prices rose by 3.7 per cent.

But keeping your outgoings low doesn’t have to mean you have to live on a diet of tinned beans and soap operas for fear that anything more fun may overwhelm your finances. With a little careful hunting, it is still possible to enjoy the odd treat without breaking the bank.

Anyone looking for cost-cutting inspiration will find plenty of information online. One online resource, Thrifty Pages, was set up by husband and wife team Seamus Brady and Ann D’Arcy. ‘‘The website focuses on adjusting your lifestyle and way of thinking,” said Brady. ‘‘It’s about living on less money without ruining your lifestyle.”

He said a few hundred people a week had been logging on to the recession-inspired website since it went live towards the end of last year. It features tips on a wide range of topics, including cutting the cost of your wedding and getting the best deals on your weekly grocery shopping. Brady plans to expand the range of features on the site this year.

Trawling online treasure chests

When trying to cut costs, remember that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. A number of websites have been set up to help people to trade unwanted goods, presents and other odds and ends. Jumble Town is a free online service for anyone who wants to give away or acquire items.

The website, which says its a ‘‘virtual marketplace’’, was developed by Dublin-based web and database development company Utilio, and launched in March 2006.

Dublin’s local authorities have developed a similar service, which allows people to pass on or pick up unwanted goods in the Dublin area free of charge. You can browse the online database for items you need, or set up an account to give away unwanted goods. Furniture, bikes and car parts are among the most popular items on the site.

Buy and Sell’s website also has a freebies section, with current offers including manure for your garden and all manner of furniture - all free, once you collect it.

Taking advantage of special offers

When the Celtic Tiger was roaring, it was easy to ignore those fiddly coupons that lay buried beneath used bus tickets in the back of your wallet.

However, now that money is a little tighter, savvy spenders are using all available means to cut their shopping bills. Most major supermarkets offer a loyalty card system which allows you to earn points as you shop. Every few months you receive discount vouchers equal to the points you have earned, allowing you to reduce your weekly spend a little.

Loyalty card holders can also avail of other special offers and price discounts. As well as your weekly spend on groceries, other shops, such as Boots, also offer loyalty cards to reward regular customers.

Aside from signing up with your supermarket of choice for a loyalty card and special offers, it’s also worth keeping an eye on the host of online coupon sites to help cut your bills even further. In most cases, you can print out a voucher with a bar code and redeem against purchases from selected retailers.

Having fun on a budget

While discretionary spending is often the first place we wield the axe when budgets shrink, it’s still possible to have a little fun without going into the red. If you are a regular theatre goer, preview and matinee seats can be considerably cheaper than a peak evening show.

Similarly, most cinemas increase their prices for ‘prime time’ shows, so go earlier in the evening - or in the afternoon, if you can. Regular cinemagoers can also save money in the long run by availing of special offers. For example, Dublin’s Cineworld offers cinemaphiles unlimited access to films for €19.99 per month, with a minimum commitment of 12 months. The online what’s on guide, Entertainment.ie, regularly updates its ‘goodie bag’ section.

This features a range of special offers on everything from meals to airline tickets. Also keep an eye on what’s on at museums and galleries, as many of them offer free entry to selected exhibitions and talks.

Dining out may seem like an expensive luxury, but with a little planning, eating out does not have to be totally abandoned if you are on a tight budget.

Many restaurants offer early bird and pre-theatre options, which provide great value for those prepared to eat before 7pm.

And when you are organising your reduced-cost entertainment, keep communication costs in mind.

Most mobile phone customers have access to a free web texting service, which gives them about 300 free texts a month. Using these instead of sending the same amount of texts from your phone and paying for them could save you a considerable amount.

Click here for Sunday Business Post stories before this date