on good morning australia, one guy suggested literally ''freezing your credit card''; as in, put it in water and put it in the freezer so you can't use it. obviously this dude can't memorise 16 digits.

Yeah, unfortunately my credit card number is etched in my brain forever. I never spend so much on my card that I can't pay it off each fortnight, but I do spend enough on it that paying it off cuts into my savings.

I think I need to get work to transfer a chunk of my pay straight into my ING account. That would help.

oxo cube + hot water = soup.

stay home.

we're doing the same thing, with plans to buy a place and a lovely valiant in the next year.

i've found sticking to a budget really helpful. also, just accepting the fact that you have everything you really do need, and just stop buying shit.

aldi helps massively with food purchases.

nominating a set amount each week into savings helps as well, and then at the end of the week, any extra cash you have still sitting in the other account, transfer it to savings and start each week fresh with the budget.

good luck.

create an account on a dating website that suggests that you put out for a meal, and then during the meal...

• insinuate that you're a vampire, or some form of the undead.
• ask for extra yogurt to treat your yeast infection.
• steal all the bread rolls.

Here's some things I did when I had to adjust to living by myself and the additional costs involved:

1) For internet, look at Naked ADSL instead of renting a phone line. I use my mobile for all calls and since I'm on a cap it's all worked out to be cheaper than having line rental through Telstra / Optus

2) It sounds dorky but I put together a kick ass spreadsheet of all my incoming and outgoing costs for a month. I was able to see just where I was spending too much on things that I could easily cut out (ie eating out, clothes, petrol etc). I'm sure there's a template you could find on the net somewhere.

3) Again it sounds dorky but cooking in advance and freezing meals has saved me a shitload of money.

4) When I moved I sold a shitload of CDs, books, DVDs and computer stuff. That in itself pretty much paid for my moving costs.

5) If you have a skill in something outside work (writing, music, sewing etc) considering putting that to some use. I write articles for blogs and sometimes get a nice sum from it. I also freelance in web design which bring in much needed money now and again.

Thanks svelty - I think that's the kind of approach I need. I'm not one for buying lots of big ticket items (my washing maching is a million years old and I can't bring myself to buy a new one until it dies), but I think I just spend alot of money on incidentals. I'm the kind of person who goes into the supermarket to buy milk and somehow spends $40.

This has all come about because I'm thinking of putting in a offer on the place I'm renting to the landlord. I've been here 8 years and It's getting to the stage where it needs a lot of work (new window frames and replastering) but it's a great flat. When the girl came around to do an inspection the other day she was hinting about putting in an offer to buy it. I'm just not sure they'd acccept what I can offer.

create an account on a dating website that suggests that you put out for a meal, and then during the meal...

This is what I like... creative ideas

*It sounds dorky but I put together a kick ass spreadsheet *

I'm a big dork, spreadsheet is in development as we speak.

there's a budget template here if you need one:

http://www.understandingmoney.gov.au/

Op shops are your friend.

spend all your summer at the beach. you can get away with wearing very little so wont have to shell out for a new summer wardrobe. bring a fishing rod.

or, if you haven't got one, some fishing line and a hook. failing that, a bit of string and a safety pin. failing that, weave your hair together and pull a tooth.

yep, it's that 40 bucks here and there that you really notice also adding to the savings on a weekly basis.

sometimes i log on to internet banking and transfer small amounts each day into the longer term savings thing. if it's getting close to the end of the week and i know i can do without for a few days, i transfer all the money into the account i can't touch, and force a quieter weekend upon myself.

it's amazing how quickly those extra 20 bucks, 40 bucks etc make the balance grow.

i'm now in such a saving headspace that i think through every single purchase i make, cause it's more exciting saving that money than spending it.

can't wait to own a place. i feel so grown up right now.

Being a grown up's a bit scary though, especially when you're doing it on your own. I'm going to try and see a mortgage broker this week but I'm making my mum come cause a) I'm a wimp and b) I reckon she has a better bullshit detector than I do.

oh, another tip, DON'T PLAY IN A BAND.

but if you're going to, you've got the perfect role.

Why have I got the perfect role?

no leads or gear to maintain and you can take your instrument on public transport.

saving petrol is probably a good thing to look at.

For internet, look at Naked ADSL instead of renting a phone line. I use my mobile for all calls and since I'm on a cap it's all worked out to be cheaper than having line rental through Telstra / Optus

How much does that cost you per month? I'm currently forking out about $150 a month all up for mobile ($49 cap) and home/ADSL ($99).

buy as little packaged food as possible. We also buy hardly any meat except when we are eating out.

Slow cookers are a great investment too, you can put just about anything in them in the morning and come home to a great hearty broth.

Oh yeah, Get a bike. I don't catch public transport at all anymore (unless it's raining). You'll get fit and it's a great way to start the day alert.

Becoming addicted to Mama brand instant pho/tom yum

I haven't seen these about. Where do you get them? This could be dangerous...

Most of the larger Asian supermarkets have them. What city are you in, rawr? I can probably point you to your nearest Sydney vendor :) The pho is green packet and the tom yum red.

They're a rice noodle, just add boiling water (no arsing around with the microwave/saucepan), and you eat the soup - it's the best bit. The chili is NUCLEAR. I added the whole sachet over lunch just then, and got through 5 glasses of water with my meal!

I am moving so sydney to become a student. it's almost like i was meant to eat this stuff!

Haha, cool! It's insane, I'd usually get sick of a food after a couple of months of consistently eating it, but I'm still going strong on these noodles. I crave them every lunchtime. I get my stash from Miracle at World Square or Chatswood, Thai Kee in Market City, or the super choicey new asian grocer under Town Hall station (who also sells an amazing array of Taiwanese sweets and wacky imported ice-creams!).

If you're feeling extravagant, you can even put coconut milk in. I'm so retardedly attached to these noodles I even became a ''fan'' on facebook, and occasionally post missives of love to their ''wall''.

Ummm... I'm only embarrassing myself now.

hahaha awesome. thanks for the tip!

Cheap coffee: you need a stove top machine, a milk jug.. and the secret ingredient is a milk frother. Heat the milk on the stove, not too hot, and use the batter powered frother. It's better than most shops, especially if you let your machine gurgle for a while.

Inspired by this thread, I had a shot at making some jam tonight. I will have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure, but right now it pretty much tastes like burnt sugar and it's kept me up past my bedtime.

I think perhaps a lower sugar to fruit ratio next time... I just followed a recipe from the net, it seems to have come out very sweet. Tips anyone? If I cut back on sugar, will it still set properly?

What kind of fruit? Shouldn't need too much sugar to set. Jam is notorious at not setting, hence the product jamsetta. Pectin is what does the trick...

Interesting doco on ABC iview at the moment called The Hunt for the Tightest Person in Britain . There's some pretty interesting tips for being frugal to be found there including the woman who wears men's undies because they are better made and last longer.

I was using nectarines & plums. It set fine, but it's pretty sickly.

$120 food challenge.

''Currently unemployed and relying on social security to provide enough money to feed my family, I have just $120* per fortnight to spend on food. Is it possible to feed a family of four on $60* per week? Centrelink seems to think so.''

The recipes look alright, although I'm eyeing off the Kedgeree and wondering how frugal 500g of smoked fish is.

according to Curtis Stone, you can do a meal for four for under $10.

He's giving you the side eye

the sugar is what preserves the fruit and stops it from going mouldy. You can use less sugar but you have to keep it in the fridge when it's open.

Becoming addicted to Mama brand instant pho/tom yum is my greatest trick

Umm, I think I'm hooked. Instant rice noodles!

Good with cuttlefish balls and some red wine vinegar

I just dropped a $40 payment on a bill that's not due until the end of March. I feel fiscally responsible!

Heres a money/environment saving tip I just worked out after getting my last gas bill,turn down your hot water service!

Mine was set to maximum and when I turned it down to the lowest setting it almost halved my gas bill, and I haven't had any problems with the water not being hot enough when having showers either.