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A couple who lost their jobs within months have offered 12 tips for living frugally after paying off thousands of debts.
Ricky and Naomi Willis lived on just over €1 a day to pay off over €51,000.
The couple struggled to feed themselves after racking up debt on payday loans and credit cards and now they want to help others avoid the same mistakes.
Their problems started when Ricky lost his job as a machine operator at a printing company and the following year Naomi lost her job in insurance, as reported by the Express.
With no money coming in, the couple, from Hull in the UK, racked up £43,000 (€51,500) in payday loan, credit card and catalog debt.
Their remaining savings were wiped out and their debt ‘exploded’ when their car and fridge-freezer broke down in the same week.
(Photo: Ricky Willis)
“We knew the refunds would devour everything, but we had no choice. It just kept spiraling from there.
The family of four hit rock bottom when Ricky realized she had to live on less than £1 (€1.20) a day.
“We made a list and feeding our two daughters Daniella and Chloe was top notch, then nappies as Chloe was still a baby. We eat third,” he said.
“I felt like I let my family down.”
They began their return to solvency by ruthlessly going through their bank statements to reduce all non-essential expenses.
Naomi says, “We made sure we didn’t spend a dime on products or services we didn’t absolutely need. This has saved us thousands of pounds a year.
They set up individual payment plans with creditors, used money-saving apps like Freecycle, sold goods and stuck to cheap meal plans. Thanks to their frugal lifestyle, they became debt free in just four years.
Ricky and Naomi, set it up Daddy Skint blog in 2013 to help others get their finances back on track. Now their money-saving tips are helping hundreds of thousands of followers as the cost of living soars.
Here are their top 12 money-saving tips:
Be energy efficient. Even simple measures can save money. Block drafts from doors, windows, and even an unused fireplace, lower thermostats on radiators in unused rooms, and turn off appliances and lights when not in use.
Check your bank account regularly. Check direct debits and standing orders and reduce what you don’t need.
Watch out for TV subscriptions. The costs add up quickly. “Do you watch a lot of shows or movies on each service? If not, cancel and save,” says Ricky.
Save fuel. Check local gas station prices online before filling up or use loyalty programs.
Meal plan. Planning weekly meals for your family will reduce the money you spend at the supermarket and reduce food waste.
Use a slow cooker. This makes cheaper cuts of meat delicious and tender and uses less energy than an oven.
Consider secondary agitation. From online tutoring to party planning to carpooling, this could be a great way to earn some extra cash.
The other six easy tips are:
Earn cash back when shopping online.
Choose the right broadband provider.
Benefit from all the tax advantages.
Select the correct mobile operator.
Face all debts.
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