Household hints & tips to save money

[Cuilidh]

Great ideas, there.  Electricity can be so very expensive.

[Cornish Cream]

Thanks for the tips thermilover.

[judydawn]

Thanks for your contributions thermilover. 

[Cuilidh]

Yesterday I paniced as I thought I had accidentally let our company car insurance expire so got on to the insurance company to arrange for renewal.  As it happened it hadn't expired but I was glad I had actually rung instead of simply paying as, during discussions with the "team member" I was asked if the car was still under finance / hire purchase.  It was not and had not been for a year or two.  It turns out, because it is now owned outright by the company, the premium came down by over $100.  I did not know that finance affected the premium and it means that we had been paying extra for a year or two without even realising.

I have just checked, the saving was $150.00!  For those of you with mortgages, it might be worthwhile to check your premiums once you have cleared your mortgage, it could be worth hundres of dollars to you.

[courton]

That is very interesting. Thank you for the info.

[obbie]

I also just phone and ask for a discount to keep me, when the premium comes in the mail.
 Do you want to discount this for me, or I will shop around.. works for about 10-15% discount.

[judydawn]

Interesting Marina.  I do what Obbie does, it works with the house/contents insurance but not with my car insurance.  No-one has ever asked if I own them outright so it might be worth running that by them next time.

[thermilover]

I agree with Cuilidh, recently we cleared our finance on the car, and it has reduced the insurance by some 50/100$, hubby was surprised as we did not make that change on the second car on which we cleared the finance an year ago.. As soon as we realized, did the same on the second car as well, and saved few more $
 
They don't mention this anywhere clearly though... probably a  strategy of insurance companies..

[obbie]

I just changed my car insurance after 26 years to another company, and saved $95, amazing what they will discount.

so that would be $1600-$2000 I have saved on insurance, by changing.

[cookie1]

I did the same when I bought my new car too Robyn. Like you I had been with the same company for a very long time. I changed to the RAC ( NRMA) and saved several hundred dollars. I've been a member for nearly 50 years so got an extra discount for that too.

[CreamPuff63]

My own hint:  Have you got one of those citrus zesters that give you fine shreds? Use it if you have hard butter to make fine "zoodles" and it will be be easy to spread without softening

[Cuilidh]

What an excellent idea, CP.

[achookwoman]

Love it CP.   thanks.

[thermilover]

Woww, nice idea CP, I always melt it in the microwave for few secs, but this idea is much better

[cookie1]

A lateral thinker. Thanks.