Since the Recession I have noticed.....

sofaqueen

1. That my car will run approx 17 miles on the petrol light!!
2. The difference in the price of different brands of milk/bread!
3. That adding a little 7-up to a glass of wine to make it last isnt all that bad!
4. That I paid an absolute fortune on my billpay mobile... now switched to pay as you go, and only using 20e a month
5. Drinks in the house before heading out for the night is as much fun as actually going out!! And on most occasions we dont actually make it out at all!!
6. Planning ahead regarding lifts when going out and coming home can save about 35e in taxis (not great if your the taxi driver)
7. Bringing my lunch to work saves me approx 22e p/w... and bringing tap water into work in a large bottle saves me 2e a day (used to buy it in the shop at work!!)
8. Selling stuff on ebay, and then letting the payments build up on the paypal account, is a great way of saving for car tax etc!


That's all I can think of for now.... anyone anything else to add??

SQ

cursai

I work for less.

Attempts being made to make me work for time off in lieu instead of overtime.

Drive slower on the motorway.

Buy fresher food.

Have less shame when i shop at Pennys.

Have noticed that girlfriend hasn't noticed theres a recession on.

Drink more wine.

Bring in fruit for lunch.

Wait til i get home to have dinner and make it fresh.

..all good stuff

sofaqueen

Yep... you could add nearly all of them to my list.... although I have no shame shopping in Pennys' recession or not!! I love the place!!

Kimia

Cool thread!

1. I now always bring my lunch to work. Way cheaper. How did I Ever afford sandwiches etc??
2. I've given up smoking (yay me!!) and am nearly better off since the recession hit!
3. There are great bargains to be had and I've become an excellent hunter.
4. There is less bragging/boasting going on about money, and now being thrify is a good thing!

Feeona

People do cool things now on Sunday instead of browsing in Harvey Normans for tiles/sofas/outdoor heaters etc

Malari

cursai wrote: »

Drink more wine.

..all good stuff

You drink more wine? How is that saving money?

I don't really think I've adjusted my behaviour that much. Maybe I was always thrifty!

Kimia

Kimia wrote: »

4. There is less bragging/boasting going on about money, and now being thrify is a good thing!

that always got on my tits, folks who had normal jobs etc living the life on credit and talking through their arse about it.

The_Kew_Tour

That no matter how bad the Government is in this country we still just sit back and let them do what they like without doing anything. We talk a good talk but dont do the walk.

pollypocket10

I've always been quite thrifty but I don't feel so ashamed of it nowadays... It's become cool

In fact I think the boasting about having the nicest house/car/tv on the block has been replaced by boasting about who's gotten the best bargain

Stacks Mad

Saving money because instead of blowing my wages I buy only what I need and let my a/c build up and do things with my other half on the cheap ie going for a walk renting dvd's ,basically I copped on to living and now know what my mam was talking about budgeting for things like family holidays and car tax etc etc.

It's all good!!

Fran79

Since the recession I have noticed that the reduced for quick sale section in the supermarket is always busy.........

Fran

Jessibelle

I've noticed people are a sight politer than they once were.

terlywerly

I have to say Penneys is one of the few shops doing well out of the recession. I was in TK Maxx today, and usually avoid the place like the plague cos its so untidy and hard to look in. But I perservered and got some great bargains. 2 tops for jogging and a light jacket for under €35 that I would have paid €150 or so for if I had gone into a 'specialty' shop.
I notice I don't buy coffees when I'm out anymore. I wait till I come home where I can make it for a lot cheaper, and enjoy it in one of my nice mugs instead of a paper cup.
The OH has started bringing pre-packed homemade lunches to work, saves us a lot of money as well.
I also noticed lately, people don't throw their odd change into charity boxes at tills, they seem to put it back into their purses/wallets. During better times I think people were more inclined to just chuck it in, now people are thinking twice.
I think a lot more people seem to be browsing and buying in charity shops too, or using swap services. Not that thats a bad thing, the country had gone a bit mad imho.

shofukan

I eat less, sleep more and need work.

princess-lala

People have started to look for the cheaper option rather than the expensive one which is usually the same product.

Lidl and Aldi are ten times busier than they ever were.

Pennys are minted now

Lia_lia

I have noticed very little difference to be honest.

Snowie

op with you on all those things tho

I did bye a britax filter which cost me 40 quid cause irish water tastes like crap ..

Giselle

I've noticed a outbreak of new babies and pregnant women everywhere!

I've also noticed that I've stopped doing stupid things without thinking, like buying expensive moisturiser just because I like the nicer pot in the bathroom instead of the (even better product) Aldi one.

I've noticed that more people out of work means more people have time on their hands to be a bit nicer to and spend more time with each other.

I pay more attention to the quality of items I want to buy, since I now expect to need them to last.

And theres a sort of 'we're all in it together' feeling in some communities.

Posy

...that I appreciate my job more. Before the Big R, I used to be almost apologetic about my work since it wasn't really connected to what I did in college- "it's just a stop-gap since I'm finished college; I'm taking some time out to suss out my career options" etc... Now I say where I work with pride, because since I left school in the midst of the Tiger, I never realised how lucky I was to have a decent job, until the recession hit.

Maple

Giselle wrote: »

I've noticed a outbreak of new babies and pregnant women everywhere!

I have also noticed this!! Is it because people can't afford to go out anymore so they're staying at home shagging? Or because they can't afford contraception!

For myself I have noticed that i'm expected to work harder and do much longer hours for less money, cover the work of 3 people because staff are not being replaced and i'm expected to suck it up just because I have a job. I'm permanently knackered and stressed, I was already working regularly 10/12 hour days before the recession. Two weeks ago 4 out of 5 days were 13/14 hours long. I am thankful I have a job and I truly appreciate it but i'm exhausted.

On a more positive note, I believe there has been a shift in thinking. People are realising what's actually important, family & friends and not material goods.

And even better, people in the service industry actually want your business nowadays. My car broke down the other day and when this happened two/three years ago it was a nightmare trying to get it towed and brought to a garage. this time around the tow guy offered to bring it to his garage and sort it out for me, he couldn't do enough.

Truley

maple wrote: »

I have also noticed this!! Is it because people can't afford to go out anymore so they're staying at home shagging? Or because they can't afford contraception!

If definatly noticed this too people are settling down having babies much earlier now. I think it might have something to do with this...

On a more positive note, I believe there has been a shift in thinking. People are realising what's actually important, family & friends and not material goods.

People aren't as pushed about the career/nice lifestyle so much and search for fulfillment elsewhere. That said I wont be having kids for a looong time :P

Maple

Truley wrote: »

People aren't as pushed about the career/nice lifestyle so much and search for fulfillment elsewhere.

Very true, my mate was made redundant from her job due to the recession. She tried for months to get a new job and after much soul searching decided that she actually didn't like her profession that much and has retrained as a pilates instructor.

The money isn't even half of what she used to earn but she's so much happier and contented in herself.

Although if she offers to adjust my spinal alignment once more i'm going to punch her. I hate pilates.

No1XtinaFan

When I do my food shopping I go to Aldi Dunnes and Tesco for the specials!!

I go home for lunch everyday

I've become a good bargain hunter!!

Piriz

OP what sort of stuff do you sell on ebay (out of curiosity & searching for ideas)?
(cool thread btw!)

im more conscious on taxi's etc..i'll often drive my mates to the pub and get one of them to take me to collect my car the following day...its a great money saver for everyone..
i also don't go to the most expensive barbers anymore..
when i return to college i might bring out the bike rather than the car..
home made lunches etc..
definitely have stopped eating dinner out...awful expensive!
have breakfast at home instead of buying jambons and sausage rolls...healthier too!

sofaqueen

Hi all

Great ideas already on this thread!!

Off topic a bit but this morning I discovered that I can get 22 miles on the petrol light!!!! :D

As regards ebay, so far I have sold college books, lots of shoes, some dresses that I bought for weddings etc, stuff that I know I'll never wear again, etc

seenitall

I eat out and consume more in general than I ever did before.

It is because before the recession everything was through-the-roof expensive (especially dining out and other such luxuries), and as I like to stick to a budget and get value for money, almost every expenditure on non-basics would end up with me feeling ripped off.

Now, bargains to be had at every turn, 2-for-1 vouchers and special offers abound. Finally started treating myself a bit more. Bliss. :cool:

Giselle

maple wrote: »

I have also noticed this!! Is it because people can't afford to go out anymore so they're staying at home shagging? Or because they can't afford contraception!

Might also be something to do with one partner being jobless and deciding now is the time to take the plunge while childcare isn't an issue.

Cadyboo

Loving all the tips here. Thanks
I am working and when Im out, Im nearly embarrassed to say I am working. Everyone kinda looks at you..
I know of 6 women that are preggers at the mo, go on the population boom:D

SarahBeep!

I've noticed that since I was forced out of my job at christmas I've only worked 3 nights in a pub and now that college is over I' even more worried because I cant find a job, especially because I'm so far into my overdraft...

jokettle

I've noticed that people are annoyed at me for choosing a career path that will have me in college for the next 5 years at a minimum, having already done 4 years at this stage. It bothers them that I don't pay tax yet, and it definitely bothers some begrudgers that by the time I leave college I should hopefully be a strong enough candidate for a good job.

I won't apologise for working my ass off and trying my best to come out the other side of my education with good career prospects. I don't think people realise that doing a post grad is more than 9-5; there are evening classes, volunteer jobs, and conferences/presentations on top of what is normally expected day-to-day. I'm not complaining because I love what I do, but some people get angry when they hear that too...

Basically, I've noticed people are angrier!

Micahelxcx

1. Now shop in Aldi, Lidl, Penneys and Dunnes for food and summer clothes
2. Developed interest in home cooking
3. Study prices in supermarket more carefully - check my receipt at home!
4. Go for walks or cycles at weekends rather than afternoon drinks
5. Go to local pub rather than town generally around 10pm
6. Make sandwiches for lunch in work
7. bring tap water to work
8. put small change into piggy bank and empty at end of month - saved €60
9. Note cost of a litre of petrol and cut down on unnecessary driving
10. Read more and watch telly more
11. Bought cheap winter jackers in charity shops last winter
12. Take public transport where possible
13. Avoid using taxis
14. take plugs out of power sockets rather than leave TV etc on standby
15. switch off lights at home when in except room where I am
16. avoid turning on heaters where possible. Use extra blanket
17. use immersion to heat water in this weather sparingly
18. seek out bargins

BumbleB

I'm still wearing the same Y fronts.

amoppet

i can afford to have someone paint my house without remortgaging.....

emma82

I've noticed that:
I don't go out to pubs, clubs etc as often but spend more time with friends sitting in having a drink or two...
That I expect more when I go out for lunch, dinner etc. I expect a good deal & seek out special offers.
I do not tolerate bad service now at all because I'm thinking I have paid good money (that is in scarce supply) & deserve to be treated well.
That people are friendlier & try to help each other out a bit more.
How much money I wasting before the big R- everything from shopping to eating out to how much those wee trips to the shop for 'something nice' were actually adding up to each month!

Honestly, nothing has changed for me. I've always been quite broke and I've never been able to go out every weekend, leave ten euro tips for waiters or shop at M&S. I think it's my English blood, I hate wasting money. I don't mind spending it, but I've never been accepting of bad service and rip offs. I was pretty shocked when I arrived in Dublin and found most Irish people happy to pay over the odds for a load of crap. There are still people who insist that 50 euro thin sweater in Topshop or 5 quid for a sandwich is 'reasonable.' Irish people just seem to have a thing about people thinking they're poor or stingy. I've always boasted about the bargains I picked up in Penneys or Lidl. I don't mind spending money and I'm certainly not a scab, but I hate being ripped off or spending hundreds of euro on drink with nothing to show for it but a hangover.

The Big Red Button

Well, before the recession, I was a college student, living at home, no regular income, no grant, and always broke.

Now, I'm finished college, I have a job but am no longer living at home, so a third of my wages go on rent, another big chunk of the wages goes towards running my car, and I'm not sure what I do with the rest, but I'm still always broke.

So it hasn't made any big difference to me anyways.

terlywerly

chatterpillar wrote: »

Well, before the recession, I was a college student, living at home, no regular income, no grant, and always broke.

Now, I'm finished college, I have a job but am no longer living at home, so a third of my wages go on rent, another big chunk of the wages goes towards running my car, and I'm not sure what I do with the rest, but I'm still always broke.

So it hasn't made any big difference to me anyways.

Tbh, I think I had more money as a student than I have now!

offaly1

terlywerly wrote: »

Tbh, I think I had more money as a student than I have now!

I totally agree...when i was a student it was the height of the boom! Im working guts of 7years and am still broke! thinking of it now..what in gods name do i do with my sponulas?:o

RacoonQueen

offaly1 wrote: »

I totally agree...when i was a student it was the height of the boom! Im working guts of 7years and am still broke! thinking of it now..what in gods name do i do with my sponulas?:o

I think everyone wonders the same. I bring lunch to work every day but I usually go out to the shop and buy a paper to flick through at lunch. 1.20 x 5 = €6 a week. €6 x 4 weeks = €24 a month. €24 x 12 months..... I don't NEED a paper, I literally flick through it to give me something to do at lunch, read very little of it. Same with a bottle of coke zero or whatever, 1.50ish a bottle x 5 days = 7.50 a week, but a couple of bars of choc or bags of crisps and it could bring it up to about 12 euro a week on stuff you don't NEED or particularly want + the 6 a week on your newspaper, plus coffee of whatever for you morning break.

I don't know how people can afford to buy lunch every day, people I work with buy it every day, will buy their brekkie in work and get a coffee or two a day. It must equal about 70 euro a week. Madness.

I buy my lunch in work every day which is about 2 euro or so and a couple coffees at 40c each, but I don't know how the others afford to eat in restaurants most days for lunch, I really don't

RacoonQueen

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I think everyone wonders the same. I bring lunch to work every day but I usually go out to the shop and buy a paper to flick through at lunch. 1.20 x 5 = €6 a week. €6 x 4 weeks = €24 a month. €24 x 12 months..... I don't NEED a paper, I literally flick through it to give me something to do at lunch, read very little of it. Same with a bottle of coke zero or whatever, 1.50ish a bottle x 5 days = 7.50 a week, but a couple of bars of choc or bags of crisps and it could bring it up to about 12 euro a week on stuff you don't NEED or particularly want + the 6 a week on your newspaper, plus coffee of whatever for you morning break.

Yeah the old paper habit is easy to get into if you have to eat lunch alone. Have you tried bringing a book? That's what I did when I found myself wasting money on magazines to flick through. I also always bought snacks even when I promised myself I wouldn't so in the end I just bought multipacks of Walkers and Twix at the supermarket and brought them in every day along with lunch, pretty much solved the problem. Added on a few euros to the weekly shop but it's a hell of a lot better than buying individual things in the shop every day. Frittering money away on stuff you didn't even really want is the worst ever.

terlywerly

[quote=[Deleted User];66444873]Yeah the old paper habit is easy to get into if you have to eat lunch alone. Have you tried bringing a book? That's what I did when I found myself wasting money on magazines to flick through. I also always bought snacks even when I promised myself I wouldn't so in the end I just bought multipacks of Walkers and Twix at the supermarket and brought them in every day along with lunch, pretty much solved the problem. Added on a few euros to the weekly shop but it's a hell of a lot better than buying individual things in the shop every day. Frittering money away on stuff you didn't even really want is the worst ever.[/QUOTE]
Back in the good old days of job-having, I always kept a book in my locker at work for breaks, and usually a multipack of some sort of bar of chocolate. We used to chip in together every week as well and get things like bread/Ryvita etc and share them for tea breaks, and we clubbed together for a coffee pot at one point too, to save us from crossing the road to buy it in paper cups. Its amazing how fast it all adds up.

SeekUp

Kimia wrote: »

2. I've given up smoking (yay me!!) and am nearly better off since the recession hit!

That's great! Good for you.

RacoonQueen

[quote=[Deleted User];66444873]Yeah the old paper habit is easy to get into if you have to eat lunch alone. Have you tried bringing a book? That's what I did when I found myself wasting money on magazines to flick through. I also always bought snacks even when I promised myself I wouldn't so in the end I just bought multipacks of Walkers and Twix at the supermarket and brought them in every day along with lunch, pretty much solved the problem. Added on a few euros to the weekly shop but it's a hell of a lot better than buying individual things in the shop every day. Frittering money away on stuff you didn't even really want is the worst ever.[/QUOTE]

I don't eat alone I just don't have much desire to sit and make small talk with the people I lunch with, they make too much noise for me to be able to concentrate on my book. :pac: I don't tend to buy drinks or snacks much but it's unreal how quickly they add up.

Caught

Since the recession I've noticed how bad my highlights I got were!!!
I've also noticed how bad my style was. :L
And I agree, there are SO MANY PREGNANT PEOPLE. My friend and I were both talking about that the other day.
Penneys

rainbow kirby

I wonder are maxi dresses so fashionable at the moment *because* there are so many pregnant women around?

I've noticed far more people cycling these days, wonder is this down to the recession or whether it's just a high takeup on the Bike To Work scheme?

caseyann

1:How much shops are fluctuating prices and i have to be careful and watch them otherwise i end up with a shop that cost me more than it did week before:mad:

2:How good eggs really are for your hair and no conditioner needed.
3:How fast i can have a shower to save on elect.
4:No matter how many times i turn off everything to save on elec.Someone else comes behind me and turns back on :mad:

The petrol in OP's first post agree hundred percent.
5:I also have to watch what petrol station i go to as some petrol stations seem to be giving me less petrol than others but the amount says the same
6:My OH isnt effected at all by it:P
7:Oh and twice i had shop assistants from another country try to charge me for something for them on my card.

Apparently new scheme and i couldnt prove it as they said was mistake.

carolinespring

Before the big "R" we would eat out for both lunch and dinner on saturday and sunday. Got for big night out with friends, head to posh hotels for weekends 4 or 5 times a year. Now we eat out once a the weekend, have friends round or go to them, go to the cinema more and have saved about 200 euro a week and use 30 euro of the savigs we made to get a cleaner... So happy days, better life style and less house work. I buy more clothes now but thats really due to having lost a lot of weight and feeling so much better about myself.

I am also proud that as self employed I fought my haedest not to have to let anyone go and cut my wages to the bone and it worked. At times I was sure we would go under and the stress was aful for the last 6 months of 2009 but it paid off and I still have a full and very loyal staff. So all in all better day.

So with us its less about the big spend and more about the spending time with family and close friends.

LeahK

I've noticed the following :

1. I know EXACTLY how much money is in my pocket and bank account.
2. That Irish people talk alot of sh!t... I was made redundant and had to claim the dole for 4 months. Listening to people harp on about how people who collect the dole are wasters and that they get too much money...made me so mad as I have worked since I was 15 years old!!!!!! (27 now) I will think twice before I ever judge or pass remark again.
3. I never get taxis...Insanely expensive
4. Shocked at the price of things...literally have only started really looking at the price of things such as food in the supermarket..shocking!! (€2.50 for bread!!!)
5. Ive realised I dont need a new top/outfit for every night out
6. If I feel I'm being ripped off or getting treated badly for a service I'm paying for, I speak up! was a walk over before and would have been too embarassed. Now I know how hard I have to work for that euro...
7. I have become stingy...I was always really wreckless with money, loaning it out, paying for people, generally throwing it about. Now I pay what I owe and no more!

Jaysis...thats loads!

Getting there

Since the recession I have noticed an overwhelming sense of guilt that I wont be able to get a job and start repaying my parents after I finish my degree.

I also experience little bits of panic when i think of having to move home indefinitely after I finish.

On a more consumerish note, the difference between cost/quality of meat in supermarkets compared to local butchers astounds me. Same with fruit and veg and local greengrocers.

Also, in a bid to "save money" or not spend as much since its technically not my money, tipsy me seems to think its ok to get that bit drunker before I go out. Resulting in earlier foolish behaviour.

Sea Sharp

I've noticed that the cheapest lunch I can find is a sausage baguette with ketchup and a small container of milk from Dunnes. It works out at 2.51.

Beans on toast and pasta mixed with them little 2euro dolmio's sauce packets are also dirt cheap and good eating.

When you're out you can alternate between beer and water.

Starting smoking was a stupid stupid thing to do.