Swapping Books is a great way to save money but why stop there? We have put together some tips and tricks to save even more money on everyday expenses.
If you want to add your own tip on shaving precious dollars off your bills, have found a product that’s saved you money or simply have some great budget advice we’d love to hear from you. Money@thebookswap.com.au
Save money on household bills
Reduce your dept
Slash your shopping bill
Cut price car costs
Truly madly cheaply – Brides on a budget
Travel on the cheap
Perfect Pets on Pennies
Budget Babies
Looking after kids with little cash
Credit Crunch Munch

Save Money on household bills
•Take an empty bucket into the shower with you and use the contents to water the garden.
• Get an egg timer and make sure people use it before taking a shower. It will cut your water bill immensely.
• Turn off electrical equipment at the wall when its not in use. That little red light on the TV still costs money.
• Ditch the bar fridge. Unless you use it all the time unplug your bar fridge as it is costing you around $50 a year to run.

Reduce your dept
• Try swapping your credit card to a bank that has a low or no interest period.
• Make sure you pay the highest interest loan or credit card bill first

Slash your shopping bill
• Get the big pots of yogurt and serve it to kids in small bowls instead of the individual pots.
• Write a shopping list before you go. But more importantly stick to it! This will stop you impulse buying and save some good cash.
• Have a clean out of your store cupboard and use the ingredients to prepare your weekly menu.

Cut price car costs
• Turn off the engine if you are going to be waiting for more than a few minutes.
• Don’t warm up your car in the mornings you’re just wasting petrol. Cars built these days are ready to get in and drive.

Truly madly cheaply – Brides on a budget
Did you know the price of cakes and flowers almost double when they are for a wedding. Why not try getting some quotes without telling them what you need the flowers for and why not try a yummy cheese cake instead of the traditional wedding cake.
Seen a dress you love but can’t afford. Then get someone in China to make it for you for a fraction of the price. On average a dress can be tailor made in China and be on your doorstep within two weeks for around $10. Check out ebay wedding dresses for this service.
Make sure you haggle the price of as much as you can. There is often room for negotation

Travel on the cheap
•There are plenty of ways to see the world without breaking the bank. Why not try couch surfing? There are plenty of sites online that hook you up with people from around the world. You stay on their couch and in return offer your own for a fellow traveller.
•Have you thought about a staycation? Having a holiday at home is a great way to save money. Lots of the local attractions will offer you a discount rate and it will give you a chance to see all the things you never get around to.


Perfect Pets on Pennies
•Buying pure breed dog or cat can be really expensive. Consider adopting an animal from a shelter. You will save money and an animal's life.
• Your best friend doesn’t care if her pet carrier or crate is new or used. Look out for a second hand one on ebay or a garage sale. Or just borrow one from friends and family. It’s unlikely you will need one at the same time.

Budget Babies
• Disposable nappies can cost the earth – Literally! While cloth nappies seem like a big expense by the time you spread it out over two years it will be well worth the investment.
•Make your own baby food at home and put them into little Tupperware containers and freeze them. Grab some pears/apples/mangoes cook them up, stick them in the blender then put them into the glass jars that the baby food comes in, and freeze them too.”

Looking after kids with little cash
• Boredom Busters is a company set up by two very clever Aussie mums. It enables you to put your kids school holiday activates on lay-by. Check them out www.boredombusters.com.au
•Have a cooking day - even young children love to help cook. Let children decide on the menu for dinner, take them to shop for it and then cook, or help cook it

Credit Crunch Munch
•Take your lunch to work. A loaf of bread costs around $1 compare that to a $5 sandwich and you will save a fortune.
•Make a big soup with all the vegetables that are in season. Then freeze it up and have it for dinner one a week for the rest of the month.
Ditch the daily coffee - it costs a fortune and is no good for you. Three take-out cups a day is the same as half a pizza!