Lets help eachother through this recession

mardybumbum

Ok, Im surprised I haven't come across one of these threads already.
Basically I need to spend a LOT less money this year.
Im 600 yo yos in the red and somehow I managed to secure a loan for €4000 from the bank.
So that equates to about €120 a week in college.
I managed to put myself in the red on €150 a week last year.
I need some tips on how to be a stingey bastard.

Some ones I have come up with so far.

- Make my own lunch. The hamilton and buttery are ****e anyway.
- Cycle, walk, dont pay the luas fare.
- Still go to the pub. Let people buy me guinness, then leave when Im expected to buy them a pint.
- Brew my own coffee and invest in a flask. I used to buy about four coffees every day last year. :eek:
- Scab everything I can during freshers. Pens, erasers, condoms, pot noodle, lucozade, chocolate bars, notepads.
- Dont join a gazillion societies.
- Borrow flatmates food. Just every now and again so they dont get suspicious.
- Beg
- Prostitution??

Anybody else care to add to the list?

Agent Smith

Join societies that give out free food

Latchy

mardybumbum wrote: »

I need some tips on how to be a stingey bastard.

Some ones I have come up with so far.

- Make my own lunch. The hamilton and buttery are ****e anyway.
- Cycle, walk, dont pay the luas fare.
- Still go to the pub. Let people buy me guinness, then leave when Im expected to buy them a pint.- Brew my own coffee and invest in a flask. I used to buy about four coffees every day last year. :eek:
- Scab everything I can during freshers. Pens, erasers, condoms, pot noodle, lucozade, chocolate bars, notepads.
- Dont join a gazillion societies.
Borrow flatmates food. Just every now and again so they dont get suspicious
- Beg
- Prostitution??

Anybody else care to add to the list?

Strangers, specialy at todays prices aint gonna buy you pints and you wouldn't have the balls to turn to prostitution .

You could go live in a Tent .

karlr42

Get a part-time job.

Jonathan

mardybumbum wrote: »

Im 600 yo yos in the red and somehow I managed to secure a loan for €4000 from the bank.

You're gonna be a doctor. I doubt they are too worried about your debt going bad. :P

Larianne

Do a job on yourself and sell a kidney?

Seriously - how about grinds?

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

mardybumbum wrote: »

- Brew my own coffee and invest in a flask. I used to buy about four coffees every day last year. :eek:

Definitely this, when I was in the darkest depths of my caffeine addiction I would bring in a thermos flask full of tea, and another one with milk. Saved loads of money that way. Plus the tea/coffee you make yourself always tastes ten times better than crap that comes out of a machine/Buttery.

If you're on the green line Luas, you can probably save yourself a (rather small) amount of money every month if you only get the Luas as far as Charlemont. The walk to Stephen's Green isn't too far from there, comparable to the walk from Stephen's Green to College, and it's the slowest part of the journey plus you'll be getting a bit of exercise...

I wouldn't recommend the kind of scabbiness that other people will notice, like stealing food from flatmates, and weaseling your way out of buying drinks, that stuff won't pay you back in the long run

Sign up for all the random trials/labs that are going on around college...they'll mostly pay you in book vouchers, but even with second hand books and library books, you'll probably find something you'll need to buy in H&F or whatever.

Personally, I'd say do as much as possible to avoid needing a part time job, unless you're only in second year. If you need to, get one, but keep it to the weekends, or the first half of the year. A good college degree will probably earn you more money in the long run than the €5,000 or so you'll earn in a part time job.

jingx3

karlr42 wrote: »

Get a part-time job.

"I can't get a job because RECESSION. Any advice?"

"Get a job."

karlr42

He never mentioned not being able to get a job.There are jobs available in "this recession"- Subway on Westmoreland St is hiring, for a start. Menial work in retail and the like will always be available.

j1smithy

There are plenty of ways one can be more "efficient" when in college, but you have to break it down to see where the money is going.

Food is a large expense, I suggest stealing as much as you can carry from home and shop in the cheaper supermarkets. No more M&S be thinking Aldi

You must make your own lunch, typically this can cost about €5 a day if you always buy it.

A thermos flask is awkward and looks stingy. I suggest you bring tea bags/coffee with you and just pay for the hot water. Even go to the chaplaincy where they have a tea/coffee making facilities. On Tuesdays they have a free lunch too.

Not that I condone this, but you should cancel your broadband and steal the neighbours locked eircom connection. (plenty of info on the net how to do it;)) or look for open networks.

Don't live in trinity hall, there are cheaper places to rent closer to town. you will save on rent, busses and taxis after a night out.

Befriend someone with dyslexia... they get loads of photocopying cards for free, could save you a packet.

Befriend someone in CS they have free printing if you bring your own paper. Often reams are left outside offices in the college... steal them.

Don't go home as often and encourage cash gifts to be lodged to your account Besides It can cost as much for the trip home as it can to stay up for the weekend.

Using one of a variety of methods sneak onto the ball rather than pay for a ticket... and you can feel good about it to sticking it to MCD!

Don't buy textbooks if at all possible, we have an excellent library.

Steal toilet roll from the toilets beside the pharmacy school (under the stairs) in the east end. One of those giant rolls will last a year, no need to be flushing money down the toilet.

If you're a smoker, quit.

If you're a drinker, quit or cut down on what you buy out. Offies are your friend, sneaky naggins in socks too.

Only go to free places... not places like coppers... the palace on a friday night with your own drink... sorted.

Don't go to every class night out... most aren't that good tbh and you'll know which ones that will be in advance probably.

Steal exam script books from exam centres, excellent for preparing and practising on. Only take ones from a different faculty though in case you get caught with them.

Take up a hobby like going to the gym, it will give you a healthy outlet without wasting the precious few euro.

Thats all that I can think of now, but you must remember the golden rule, Anything not nailed down and is the property of college is fair game (apart from the library), but NEVER EVER steal from your fellow students.

mathew

giving grinds is very good advice. 2 1hour grinds a week could earn you 40+. Go to some shops in nearby suburbs and stick up some ads..

EGaffney

Stop drinking alcohol. This will save you a packet if you drink at anything like the usual student rate. It is why I am student-rich. Start drinking instant coffee, or at the very least, filter coffee. Shop at Aldi (Parnell Street, Rathmines, etc.), use the fruits of German food manufacturing to make lunch. When shopping, don't buy useless ready sauces in jars - buy tins of chopped tomatoes instead. Reduce consumption of meat and increase consumption of vegetables. Walk. Teach.

ninebeanrows

EGaffney wrote: »

Stop drinking alcohol. This will save you a packet if you drink at anything like the usual student rate. It is why I am student-rich. Start drinking instant coffee, or at the very least, filter coffee. Shop at Aldi (Parnell Street, Rathmines, etc.), use the fruits of German food manufacturing to make lunch. When shopping, don't buy useless ready sauces in jars - buy tins of chopped tomatoes instead. Reduce consumption of meat and increase consumption of vegetables. Walk. Teach.

Now that wouldn't exactly be fun!

Thats why one saves money, to have more drinking tokens = more fun. Duh:pac:;)

Unregistered.

mardybumbum wrote: »

Ok, Im surprised I haven't come across one of these threads already.
Basically I need to spend a LOT less money this year.
Im 600 yo yos in the red and somehow I managed to secure a loan for €4000 from the bank.
So that equates to about €120 a week in college.
I managed to put myself in the red on €150 a week last year.
I need some tips on how to be a stingey bastard.

Some ones I have come up with so far.

- Make my own lunch. The hamilton and buttery are ****e anyway.

Meal from the buttery + a drink ~ €6 per day. That will bring you down to €120 a week straight away! With a few other small changes, e.g. two less pints a week will bring you down to €110 (4, €100 etc.....) and you'll be able to save more and even treat yourself to the delights of the HamCaf on a Friday

Liquorice

Don't waste money on clothes etc. you don't need. Nobody really notices if you wear the same dress out twice, or the same clothes two day in a row, and if they do, they don't care, and if they do care, they probably have issues and you don't need them as a friend.

Clothes you do need... TK Maxx. If the elbows are wearing through on your jumpers, you can find cashmere or angora for the same price as cotton would be in H&M. They're good for winter coats as well. Obviously stuff is from past seasons but a. most people don't care and b. basic stuff like woolly jumpers tend not to be affected by trends. You may have to pop in more than once to find something that's good quality, cheap enough and fits but it's 5 mins away from college.

Encourage a resurgent trend in house parties. Clubs are either over-priced, over-rated, or both.

Piste

Fill your belly with carbs, get your nutrition from berocca. Don't do this all the time though, or you'll feel rundown and wont be able to concentrate.

mardybumbum

Some great ideas here. Very informative post from 242 and j1smithy.

you wouldn't have the balls to turn to prostitution

Well I will let my clients know I dont offer a "teabagging" service.
On the subject of balls, is there anywhere in Dublin where I can donate sperm.
Its great for making babies and doubles as a smashing tortilla dip.

He never mentioned not being able to get a job.There are jobs available in "this recession"- Subway on Westmoreland St is hiring, for a start. Menial work in retail and the like will always be available.

I handed out 64 CV's this year in dublin city and I didnt get one call back.
I am giving guitar lessons and chemistry grinds at the moment. I hope to maybe give at least 4 lessons each week in college.

Sign up for all the random trials/labs that are going on around college...they'll mostly pay you in book vouchers, but even with second hand books and library books, you'll probably find something you'll need to buy in H&F or whatever

Thats actually something I did last year and a great idea. I was payed €10 to look at wimmin in bikinis for an hour. Happy days.


What are your opinions on mobile phone networks? Which one do ye think would work out cheaper for making mostly phone calls. Not a big text fan.

Jonathan

mardybumbum wrote: »

What are your opinions on mobile phone networks? Which one do ye think would work out cheaper for making mostly phone calls. Not a big text fan.

Meteor Bill Pay Lite

starbelgrade

Tesco mobile are one of the cheapest.

Piste

I find meteor pay as you go to be cheaper, I make all the calls and texts I want and it still only costs me 20 euro every 6 weeks whereas bill pay lite is 25 euro every 4 weeks, I suppose it depends how often you use your phone and how many of your friends are also on meteor.

Kwekubo

mardybumbum wrote: »

On the subject of balls, is there anywhere in Dublin where I can donate sperm.

Nope, not for money anyway (unless you're talking prostitution again).

Jonathan

Piste wrote: »

I find meteor pay as you go to be cheaper, I make all the calls and texts I want and it still only costs me 20 euro every 6 weeks whereas bill pay lite is 25 euro every 4 weeks, I suppose it depends how often you use your phone and how many of your friends are also on meteor.

He says he is not a big texter.

Pay as you go gives you 69 minutes per month for €20.

Bill Pay Lite gives you 300 minutes per month for €25.

Even after you use your monthly allocation of minutes, calls are still cheaper than pay as you go - 20c vs 29c

But yes, meteor friends are a big factor :pac:

mardybumbum

Jonathan wrote: »

He says he is not a big texter.

Pay as you go gives you 69 minutes per month for €20.

Bill Pay Lite gives you 300 minutes per month for €25.

Even after you use your monthly allocation of minutes, calls are still cheaper than pay as you go - 20c vs 29c

But yes, meteor friends are a big factor :pac:

Thanks for that Jonathan.
I think I may go with the Bill Pay Lite option so.
Can I send webtexts with meteor for free?
I quickly googled "meteor webtexts" there and there were prices mentioned.

starbelgrade

mardybumbum wrote: »

Thanks for that Jonathan.
I think I may go with the Bill Pay Lite option so.
Can I send webtexts with meteor for free?
I quickly googled "meteor webtexts" there and there were prices mentioned.

Meteor webtexts are free. If you want to find THE cheapest option for you, go to http://callcost.ie - it was set up by the Commission for Communications Regulation & will give you a real cost comparison on mobile phone usage costs.

Jonathan

mardybumbum wrote: »

Can I send webtexts with meteor for free?

Yup. 300 of them.

For non meteor texts, you can use this program to use your webtexts from your phone, enabling you to text other networks for about 2c each text.

Unregistered.

Jonathan wrote: »

Meteor Bill Pay Lite

Yo dawg, I herd that's a scam!:p

gamma23

mardybumbum wrote: »

- Cycle, walk, dont pay the luas fare.

- Scab everything I can during freshers. Pens, erasers, condoms, pot noodle, lucozade, chocolate bars, notepads.
- Dont join a gazillion societies.

They wear bright orange coats for a reason don't they? You can see them coming.

Yes exactly!
No no no, join 2 gazillion societies just don't pay the registration fee and take the free stuff.

j1smithy wrote: »

Food is a large expense, I suggest stealing as much as you can carry from home and shop in the cheaper supermarkets. No more M&S be thinking Aldi

Don't live in trinity hall, there are cheaper places to rent closer to town. you will save on rent, busses and taxis after a night out.

+1 they work

j1smithy wrote: »

Befriend someone with dyslexia... they get loads of photocopying cards for free, could save you a packet.

What! right ok then, time to make some phone calls.

mathew

mardybumbum wrote: »

I handed out 64 CV's this year in dublin city and I didnt get one call back.
I am giving guitar lessons and chemistry grinds at the moment. I hope to maybe give at least 4 lessons each week in college.

64??? I applied to 4 places and got offered 2 jobs.. All 4 replied...

Unregistered.

mathew wrote: »

64??? I applied to 4 places and got offered 2 jobs.. All 4 replied...

PM me the name of the place where you didn't get the job (assuming you only took one!):p

karlr42

Depends where you apply, too many students think themselves above working in shops and only apply to temp office jobs and such, and then of course get no response.

WARNING: massive generalisation with no evidence preceding.

tolosenc

Move to France... :P

I have a very un-PC suggestion that I want to make, but I'll be good.

jingx3

Why can't you tell us? It's only boards.ie :pac:

mathew

Unregistered. wrote: »

PM me the name of the place where you didn't get the job (assuming you only took one!):p

Well it was back in may so I'd say they have someone by now. I turned down HMV. I'd say a lot of shops will be looking for people soonwith students going back to college. Include a cover letter with your cv....

mardybumbum

karlr42 wrote: »

Depends where you apply, too many students think themselves above working in shops and only apply to temp office jobs and such, and then of course get no response.

Not me.
Where did I apply again........Hmmm
HMV, Golden Disk, Gamestop, House of Ireland, A few hotels, A few bookshops, e.t.c.
I even volunteered to work in a charity shop and they turned me down. :eek:

There has to be something wrong with me.

Audie

If its any consolation, I applied to loads of places and heard nothing back! (however SVP did want me, lol!)

mathew

mardybumbum wrote: »

Not me.
Where did I apply again........Hmmm
HMV, Golden Disk, Gamestop, House of Ireland, A few hotels, A few bookshops, e.t.c.
I even volunteered to work in a charity shop and they turned me down. :eek:

There has to be something wrong with me.

HMV and House of Ireland were the two jobs that I got! :P :pac:

mardybumbum

You bastard:mad:

t0mm

Minus accommodation, I lived 50-70 a week last year.

30/35 on food. Shop around. Buy whatever's on special. Aldi and Lidl are your friends. So is the "Reduced to Clear" section in most supermarkets. In town, Londis Weekly Madness gives you a large role with a different filling every week for less than €2. Or else bring food in with you.

Every Sunday I would go out and buy a 25g packed of Drum. Did me for the week easily. You'll soon get the hang of rolling your own if you don't know already.

The rest was on going out, which I did twice a week. Don't bother with pubs, pre-drink at home and then head to the clubs. 700cc of Kinsly Rum from Dunnes costs €13.99, half before a night out works wonders. When In a club, steal.

Many of my friends complained of being poor on "only €100 a week!". Don't be stupid, it is very, very easy to live on €70 a week. If you're spending more than €2/3 a meal then you're being overly extravegant.

EGaffney

Weathercheck wrote: »

Now that wouldn't exactly be fun!

Thats why one saves money, to have more drinking tokens = more fun. Duh:pac:;)

That attitude is why I am getting out of this country whenever I can.

mardybumbum

t0mm wrote: »

The rest was on going out, which I did twice a week. Don't bother with pubs, pre-drink at home and then head to the clubs. 700cc of Kinsly Rum from Dunnes costs €13.99, half before a night out works wonders. When In a club, steal.

Going out is my problem. It would be ok if I went to those dirt cheap student nights but I honestly cant stand those sort of places.
I much prefer to see a live band in whelans which is like 15 or so euro. Then add the price of a few pints of guinness on top of that and it adds up.
I rarely drink anything else apart from guinness but I guess Ill have to get used to those cheap "studenty" drinks.
Ill have to stop my trips to the tea garden this year as well. €10 for a pot of tea is too much. I dont care how amazing it tastes.

Time Magazine

EGaffney wrote: »

That attitude is why I am getting out of this country whenever I can.

Haven't you just accepted a place on a PhD programme?

t0mm

Mardybumbum, you can't complain about being poor and yet pick and choose what you eat and drink. €10 on tea? Give me a f**king break, you don't need that. You don't need to drink Guinness. A healthy social life is important, so by all means go out where you want, but there is nothing stopping you bringing in your own sneaky naggin in your sock. I could live like a king on €120 a week! You are actually being rather febble needing that amount to support yourself.

A word of advice, read "Down and Out in London and Paris" by George Orwell. You'll soon learn how well you can live on so little.;)

mardybumbum

t0mm wrote: »

You are actually being rather febble needing that amount to support yourself.

Oh noes........not febble! :eek:

Ah, but on a more serious note. I realised I squandered a lot of money last year. Cant you see Im trying to change my ways man.

We can argue about the need to drink guinness. I personally believe its a necessity and I wont be willing to sacrifice my few pints.

Do your parents live in dublin out of curiosity?

And thanks for the recommendation. Ill try to read that book when I have a bit of spare time.

Edit: I also take it you havent tasted the tea in the tea garden? Its worth a try my friend.

t0mm

My parents live in Cork. I earn my own living, and have my own loans in my own name. When you have to live on €70 a week you very quickly realise it's not that hard. I know I may come across as being rather harsh, but it is a rather harsh reality; you cannot spend more than €120 a week. If you do, you must cut down the next week to make up for it. I once put myself in the situation where I had €100 to live three weeks, and found it is entirely doable, though boring as hell.

Best way to do it is this. Make two lists, one for things you NEED (Hint: this is food, accommodation and transport, phone credit), and one for things you would like (Guinness, tea, new clothes, etc). Everything on the second list is wasted money. Don't worry, your second list should be at least 3 or 4 times as long as the first. Now pick things out of your second list until you reach the limit of your finances. Maybe leave yourself about €10 a week for emergencies or treats. I know it all seems a little silly, but once you've been properly poor for a few weeks you realise how very serious the topic of money is.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

mardybumbum wrote: »

Edit: I also take it you havent tasted the tea in the tea garden? Its worth a try my friend.

This is true

claire h

Write down what you're spending on everything, even for a couple of weeks. Being aware of what you're spending, and on what, makes a huge difference. e.g. If you're happy enough to make your own lunch/dinner rather than eating out, but find you're spending loads on meals out, that's something to tweak. Means you can spend what you have on things that are important to you - whether it's being able to buy new clothes every so often, going out clubbing and/or drinkng, buying DVDs, being able to sometimes take a taxi home, etc.

mardybumbum

t0mm wrote: »

My parents live in Cork. I earn my own living, and have my own loans in my own name. When you have to live on €70 a week you very quickly realise it's not that hard. I know I may come across as being rather harsh, but it is a rather harsh reality; you cannot spend more than €120 a week. If you do, you must cut down the next week to make up for it. I once put myself in the situation where I had €100 to live three weeks, and found it is entirely doable, though boring as hell.

t0mm, I have to hand it to you. I would find it impossible to get through three weeks on €100. I dont know how you do it.
That list idea is good. I will give that a bash and see how effective it it.

sheroo_05

mardybumbum you'll be living it up with €120 p/w next year

billykwok

mardybumbum wrote: »

Going out is my problem. It would be ok if I went to those dirt cheap student nights but I honestly cant stand those sort of places.
I much prefer to see a live band in whelans which is like 15 or so euro. Then add the price of a few pints of guinness on top of that and it adds up.
I rarely drink anything else apart from guinness but I guess Ill have to get used to those cheap "studenty" drinks.
Ill have to stop my trips to the tea garden this year as well. €10 for a pot of tea is too much. I dont care how amazing it tastes.

O noes!
Mardybumbum... have you ever thought of selling your left kidney or part of your liver?
on a more serious note... welcome to crash at mine anytime after the luas and bus stop operating!
get a job! - some people like aoife are working as a nursing assistant during the weekends, (although most of the jobs goes to nursing students :eek:) but still she makes quite a fair bit!

Als0 you can make a list on everything you spend, and the amount it cost every day. Now every night calculate how much you have spent, and once you hit the 80quid mark, then ye be warned. And you'll have to stop yourself from spending anything if u hit the 100 mark! (Not even allowed to buy tiolet papers if u don't have them! You can go use the pharmacists'!)

johnnyc

Ok this would be stingy what about stealing the butter,jam sachets from college

Unregistered.

johnnyc wrote: »

Ok this would be stingy what about stealing the butter,jam sachets from college

Stealing is bad.