Living cheaply

[Darth Quorthon]

Re: dumpster diving.
Didn't see this mentioned yet, but I've seen plenty of dumpster diving going on at my apartment complex for recyclables - bottles and cans. Now, I'm not sure exactly how much money can be made off this, but it might be worth looking into.

[Lusankya]

Hongi's in Sydney, IIRC, which means he can make a grand total of $0 off of cans and bottles, unless he feels like trucking them over to SA for a 10c deposit per can/bottle.

[aerius]

What happens if I leave things plugged in their sockets but turn off the switch? Do I have to take the entire cord out and all?

This one depends. Some electronics have a "hard" off switch, meaning when when you turn it off it physically breaks the circuit so that no power can flow. The big rocker switch on the back of your computer by the power cord is an example of this. Other power switches are "soft" switches, they turn the power off to the device but the switch and its control circuitry still draw a small amount of power. An example would be the power switch on the front of your computer. If a device has a remote power button any power switch on the thing is a soft switch.

As a general rule, pretty much all computers, monitors & TV, and media player devices use "soft" power switches, they never turn off completely. Light switches are all "hard" switches unless you have one of those fancy touch sensitive ones. Toasters, kettles and sewing machines are also hard switches.

[Jawawithagun]

What happens if I leave things plugged in their sockets but turn off the switch? Do I have to take the entire cord out and all?

This one depends. Some electronics have a "hard" off switch, meaning when when you turn it off it physically breaks the circuit so that no power can flow. The big rocker switch on the back of your computer by the power cord is an example of this. Other power switches are "soft" switches, they turn the power off to the device but the switch and its control circuitry still draw a small amount of power. An example would be the power switch on the front of your computer. If a device has a remote power button any power switch on the thing is a soft switch.

As a general rule, pretty much all computers, monitors & TV, and media player devices use "soft" power switches, they never turn off completely. Light switches are all "hard" switches unless you have one of those fancy touch sensitive ones. Toasters, kettles and sewing machines are also hard switches.

I may be wrong but hongi might be talking about the switch at the socket - which accomplish just that.

[spaceviking]

I don't know if you pay your electric and water or they are included in your rental fee, but...

-make sure you are taking quick showers
-leave a bucket in the shower to collect water (if you water plants)
- never turn the heat on high, just wear extra clothes (within reason)

also in terms of food try to buy large cuts of meat and break them down into individuals servings yourself.

[Enigma]

Hongi's in Sydney, IIRC, which means he can make a grand total of $0 off of cans and bottles, unless he feels like trucking them over to SA for a 10c deposit per can/bottle.

Sydney doesn't have recycling yards that pay people for scrap metal\copper\brass\etc...?

I live in a county that has a population of only 400K, yet we've got several recycling yards.

[muse]

I don't know if you pay your electric and water or they are included in your rental fee, but...

That reminds me of something, one of my friends lived in an apartment which was electrically heated and hydro wasn't included in the rent. However they had a gas stove & oven and gas was included in their rent. Aha! You guessed it, they used their stove & oven for heating. I'm not sure how safe that was, they lived to tell the tale so I guess it can't be that bad.

[Broomstick]

It's not safe, actually. Obviously, people get away with it, but every couple of winters you get a case where folks in the Chicago area turned up dead after doing that.

[Zaune]

It's not safe, actually. Obviously, people get away with it, but every couple of winters you get a case where folks in the Chicago area turned up dead after doing that.

An electric stove and/or a properly ventilated kitchen would probably be the safest way to go if it was that or risk hypothermia, I should think.

And this tip might be of dubious value if you care about proper nutrition, but you'd be truly astonished how many interesting things can be done with supermarket own-brand instant ramen and a small initial outlay on seasonings. A tablespoonful of sweet soy sauce, some mixed herbs and spices (this is my personal favourite) and a little Tabasco or other hot sauce goes a long way.

[Dalton]

That reminds me of something, one of my friends lived in an apartment which was electrically heated and hydro wasn't included in the rent. However they had a gas stove & oven and gas was included in their rent. Aha! You guessed it, they used their stove & oven for heating. I'm not sure how safe that was, they lived to tell the tale so I guess it can't be that bad.

That sounds pretty stupid and dangerous to me. The words fire hazard come to mind, as do carbon monoxide.

You could kill two birds with one stone though and just use the oven to do a ton of baking from scratch. Heat AND food.

[Eternal_Freedom]

I'm surprised it hasn't already been mentioned but:

Cut the booze. It's (especially from pubs) very expensive compared to other drinks. And, hey, cutting out all booze entirely might even be good for you.

Also, cut out junk food and snacks. Eat two or three proper meals a day. One, it's much cheaper and two it's better for you.

AS a student I found that by cutting back on booze and junk food and snacks, I halved my weekly budget and lost half a stone. Which is good going for me.

[Broomstick]

And this tip might be of dubious value if you care about proper nutrition, but you'd be truly astonished how many interesting things can be done with supermarket own-brand instant ramen and a small initial outlay on seasonings. A tablespoonful of sweet soy sauce, some mixed herbs and spices (this is my personal favourite) and a little Tabasco or other hot sauce goes a long way.

Ramen noodles are not as nutritionally horrible as people think IF you follow the two simple rules I outline below:

1) limit meat/dairy intake (the amount of fats is OK if you aren't getting much from other sources)
2) add one or two handfuls of vegetables per serving.

Adding the vegetables makes it much sounder on a nutritional level, plus the fats in the noodles help you absorb the fat-soluble vitamins from the vegetables. Additionally, I use a different broth than the packets provided, either a chicken bouillon (which can be found in lower-sodium, lower-fat varieties though the noodles themselves contain some fats) or homemade dashi, the latter being ridiculously easy to make if you can only find the proper ingredients (I have to get my kombu mail-order around here). Add some tofu or some sort of lean meat and you've actually got something pretty good there. Just don't eat it all the time.

The main problem with ramen and other noodles is people trying to live on JUST the noodles. As with so many other things, they are PART of a well-rounded diet, not the whole of it.

As for the vegetables - any variety will do. Mixed (frozen or canned), chopped carrots/celery, greens, add some mushrooms...

[Jawawithagun]

In general, cook your own and don't rely on frozen/chilled pre-made meals.

[Korto]

Please give tips on how to cut down money.

OK Hongi, you've asked something that I happen to feel is a specialty subject of mine. It's late, and I'm going to bed, but I'll see what I can come up with.
Have you made a budget? Is it accurate, listing all those pinhole expenses such as mobile ring tones, a coke at work, etc? Those add up. What are your major costs?
What are your living arrangements? Do you rent, do you live with your parents? That would be useful to know.

Dumpster Diving - Is against health regulations. Stores are not allowed to allow people to take discarded food for human consumption. I'm not saying you can't do it, I'm just saying avoid Security. Bins are kept in all cases I've seen on the property and therefore you are theoretically stealing.
They don't allow it since if you get sick eating the food, you could sue the supermarket. Even if you fetched it out of the bin without permission. Ridiculous, and I don't know if you would win, but none-the-less....
A small business may allow you to take discarded food for animal consumption, I wrote up and signed a document saying I was taking vegetable scraps for my chickens, the business in question filed it away, and then they didn't care (it was true, anyway). Coles and Woolies will not do this. Maybe an IGA, but I doubt it.

You live in urban Australia. The tap water is fine. Drink it. This isn't some 3rd world heap.

You live in Sydney. You don't need a heater. Get a fluffy jumper, and put another blanket on the bed.

At work or Uni, do you buy your lunch? Stop doing so, and take sandwiches. Do you buy drinks while you're out? Stop that too. Either wait until you're home, or buy a large no-name bottle from the supermarket and take a small drink-bottle of it when you go out. The comparison is ridiculous, you can pay $3+ for a 600ml bottle, or 89c for 2 litres. The better alternative is to give up soft drinks.

Give up drinking alcohol while out. Buy a bottle and drink at yours or a mate's place.

Learn this as an unquestionable fact. Money is happiest in your wallet, or in your bank account. It cries when it's forced to leave. Remember that every time you feel like buying something. There is seldom anything that needs to be purchased right now. Most things can wait a few days, and the longer you can put them off, the longer you have to discover you didn't need it after all.

No-name sausages are palatable if stewed (with potatoes and other vegies), bulk mince is also cheap and also works well with a stew.
Porridge from rolled oats is as cheap and healthy as you can get for breakfast, although allow half an hour for it. Makes a decent dinner too, if necessary.

When it comes to taking a bucket in the shower with you, remember water's cheap by volume unless you're a large family with extravagant habits. Assuming you're not, it's the fixed costs that form the bulk of the bill, and they're fixed. Of course, if you rent those fixed costs are probably already figured in.
Water's cheap, but power isn't. Short showers not a bad idea.

A small vege garden is not a bad idea if you have the mind for it (and a suitable place).

Do you have any friends who work anywhere useful, like a bakery, pizza shop, etc?

If you live on the city outskirts, there may be small farms nearby advertising fruit and vegetables for sale at the gate. Mind you, apparently you have public transport, so presumably you don't.

That's it for now.

[hongi]

What are your living arrangements? Do you rent, do you live with your parents? That would be useful to know.

I rent and share a house with three other people.

Dumpster Diving

Okay, I'll be careful. I've been walking past my local Woolies and I've never seen anyone around.

You live in urban Australia. The tap water is fine. Drink it. This isn't some 3rd world heap.

You live in Sydney. You don't need a heater. Get a fluffy jumper, and put another blanket on the bed.

At work or Uni, do you buy your lunch? Stop doing so, and take sandwiches. Do you buy drinks while you're out? Stop that too. Either wait until you're home, or buy a large no-name bottle from the supermarket and take a small drink-bottle of it when you go out. The comparison is ridiculous, you can pay $3+ for a 600ml bottle, or 89c for 2 litres. The better alternative is to give up soft drinks.

Done and done.

Give up drinking alcohol while out. Buy a bottle and drink at yours or a mate's place.

Okay. The only time I actually have beers during the week is while eating steaks at the local pub.

Learn this as an unquestionable fact. Money is happiest in your wallet, or in your bank account. It cries when it's forced to leave. Remember that every time you feel like buying something. There is seldom anything that needs to be purchased right now. Most things can wait a few days, and the longer you can put them off, the longer you have to discover you didn't need it after all.

Feck, don't I know it. There's so many things around the house that I regret buying. My worst habit is splurging on books. Not so much nowdays, but Borders has eaten up so much of my money.

Do you have any friends who work anywhere useful, like a bakery, pizza shop, etc?

Funnily enough, I got a good friend who now works at Baker's Delight.

That's it for now.

Thanks mate!

[thejester]

Hongi, dumpster diving strikes me as extraordinarily desperate. If you want cheap food and vege, find a weekly market. I used to go to one in Richmond (Vic) and it was a) cheaper than the supermarket and b) better - the food lasted longer and tasted better because it was fresh.

[Rabid]

Where dumpster-diving become really interesting, is when you are scavenging for things other than food.

For example, I know some people that have found several interesting pieces of furniture (sofa, shelves, etc...) around dumpsters / trash deposits.

Other than furniture, you can find lot of object lying in dumpsters to which you can give a new life with a bit of creativity, some tools and elbow grease.


Anyway, a random advice I could give you is to always wear protections while dumpster-diving : gardening gloves and long sleeves are a must, just to avoid the risk of inadvertently hurting yourself - AIDS contaminated syringe or just plain ol' tetanos come to mind. You can also add eye protections, and some kind of bonnet to protect your hair. Sure, you'll look like a hobo at best, but better to be safe than sorry, huh ?


P.S. : Edited for proper grammar

[salm]

If you dumpster dive for furniture you have be aware that you run risk of getting furniture contaminated with bed bugs. And that will be expensive. I shelled out over 1000€ to get rid of these fuckers.

[Broomstick]

Yes, so decontaminate it BEFORE you bring it into the home. Even if you don't see any, assume there's some sort of bug and take precautions.

[salm]

How do you cheaply decontaminate anything from bed bugs without destroying it?

[Broomstick]

Rubbing alcohol (isopropol alcohol) kills them on contact, so for hard surfaces you can use it to eliminate them. 50 C heat kills them, so IF you can launder something fabric at that high, or higher, temperature that will kill them (remember the old days when laundry used to be boiled? My mother did, and told me about it.) If you can keep an item below freezing (0 C) for two weeks that will also kill them.

However, some items such as mattresses, are impractical to treat and simply should not be obtained via dumpster diving.

Of course, one of the problem with bugs - of any sort - is that the bastards can hide in the tiniest cracks and you have to get them ALL.

[salm]

Hell no, rubbing poison on the surfaces of furniture won´t do shit because they sit inside cracks and gaps. The only thing you could to is put the piece of furniture inside your room spray poison around it and sleep in the same room. You´d have to keep the poison around the object for 4 or so weeks.
You see, bed bug eggs are even more resistant than the bed bugs themselves and rubbing them with poison doesn´t work. And it takes two or so weeks for them to hatch.
You have to wait until they hatch. After they hatch they have to have a reason to come out of their hiding spot. This reason is a human. Since they only come out during night times you have to sleep in the same room as your poisoned piece of furniture and act as live bait. After walking over the posion they die after a while if you´re lucky.

I think this bed bug episode has destroyed all my interest in second hand furniture, especially furniture from dumpsters.

Washing stuff at 50 degrees is fine and dandy but some stuff shrinks and if there´s somethig printed on the shirt the print will die. I lost a whole bunch of shirts that way.
Acutally i still boil some stuff like bed sheets every once in a while in the washing machine but that kills printed stuff on t-shirts.

The freezing option is also risky because the damn eggs don´t die off. Or so my exterminator tells me. Note my 1000+ bed bug cost was only for the exterminator. I have no idea how much I lost because I had to throw out furniture, books, comic books, video games, mattresses and similar stuff.

[Elheru Aran]

Hongi, if you have a lot of books and other media, consider perhaps selling some of them off to get some quick cash. I used to live fairly close to a large used-book store that would purchase your books for either store credit or cash, and we got some pretty decent money that way. You'll get rid of books that you only read once and then put away on the shelves, movies you don't really give a shit about, that kind of thing, and have some extra money in pocket...

[Broomstick]

Hell no, rubbing poison on the surfaces of furniture won´t do shit because they sit inside cracks and gaps.

Yes, as I said, they hide in the smallest damned places. You have to apply enough to soak into the cracks.

And it takes two or so weeks for them to hatch.

That's why, if you use the freezing method, you have to keep the object frozen at least two weeks - to outlast the length of time for the eggs to hatch.

Washing stuff at 50 degrees is fine and dandy but some stuff shrinks and if there´s somethig printed on the shirt the print will die. I lost a whole bunch of shirts that way.
Acutally i still boil some stuff like bed sheets every once in a while in the washing machine but that kills printed stuff on t-shirts.

Yes, well, some stuff can't be decontaminated safely. Never denied that.

The freezing option is also risky because the damn eggs don´t die off. Or so my exterminator tells me.

Parking stuff outside during a Chicago winter does kill off all the bugs, of all sorts - I know this from experience. But you have to keep it cold - not once during that time can the temperature rise above freezing. That also means the interior of a large object has to get and remain that cold for two weeks.

Then again, in my area there's a portion of the winter where the temperature might never rise above -15 C for a couple of weeks, much less above freezing - maybe that's sufficiently cold to do the job for sure.

And, of course, your exterminator has no motivation to tell you low cost options when he can make 1,000 per infestation. Some are that nice, but not all of them.

[Dalton]

Okay. The only time I actually have beers during the week is while eating steaks at the local pub.

Unless steaks are insanely cheap there, you should cut back on that habit and cook your own meat at home.