What being Thrifty means to me

Am I a Savvy Shopper?  I like to think so.  There was once a time when I didn't even check the bank balance before making a purchase.  When I didn't even contemplate money or not having enough of it.  But then my priorities changed and I had children.

A month or so ago, I went to an event held by Savoo to meet up with other dealpro's and I chaired a session on What Thrifty means to me.

What does thrifty mean to you?

•thrift·y/ˈTHriftē/
•Adjective:
•(of a person or their behaviour) Using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
•Synonyms:
•economical - frugal - sparing - saving - economic

What thrifty/savvy means to me:

•Spending wisely, using wisely and reducing waste
•Value for money
•Cost per use
•Pleasures from small things
•By planning, not just financial, but also meal plans etc as a family we reduce our waste, which has an impact on the environment
•I like to think that I am provident in providing for my children’s futures
•I want to educate my children to value money and change the culture

My fam,ily, which spurs me on to be a Savvy shopper 

We all have our own financial priorities.  As a mum to two children and a wife mine are pay the mortgage, feed the family well, pay bills, cover boys extras at school and make memories.

Single people, couples, people without children may not have the same priorities as me.

Thrifty means making good financial choices for my family.   It means thinking about what we're spending, researching what we're buying.  It means budgeting by knowing what's coming in, what's going out and if we're lucky enough to have any leftover - making the right decisions for us. Thrifty doesn't mean cheap, it means wise and good value to me anyway.

A big part of my lifestyle as a frugal and thrifty mum is weighing cost and value benefits.

Children understand the value of money less and less.  Less children are given pocket money and taught how to manage their finances.  This is what I am doing with my children.  I want to introduce them to a saving culture rather than borrowing one.

Tools that help me be a savvy shopper:

1. Voucher code sites such as Savoo.  I make sure that I plan purchases and get the best deal I can.
2. Cashback sites such as Quidco.  If I have to make a spend them why not get back a percentage for doing so.
3. Price comparison sites such as My Supermarket and Moneysupermarket.  Again for any expenditure we make, we ensure that it is the best value as possible.
4. Second hand isn't second best. I am a firm believer in going to charity shops, car boot sales and using auctions sites online.  
5. I sell anything that we do not need.
6. I do not impulse buy, this means meal planning, using shopping lists and always budgeting.
7. I use a cash budgeting system, even making my own cash envelopes.
8. I shop local.
9. I make quarterly financial manifestos
10. I have an annual plan, showing when utility, insurance renewals and other expenditures are due and I always look for the best deals.
11.  I use loyalty cards to make the most of any spends that we made.  You can get four times the value when you use a Tesco card.
12. We recycle what we can 
13. I look after our appliances and know a good local repair man.  I research any large purchases I am going to make.