Tag

saving

Browsing

Useful tips when buying a used car and when buying a cheap car. In the following article, you will find out which tips you can take into account in order to save when buying a car.

If you want to save when buying a car, there are several things to consider. Especially when buying a car, you don’t want to be ripped off. If you follow these tips when buying a car, you have a good chance of acquiring a decent car.

1) Where is the best place to buy?

Newspaper advertisement or Internet: The used car offers are in the special sections of the daily newspapers or on the Internet. One can assume that the Internet platforms that specialize in vehicle trading have a larger selection of offers than a newspaper. You can also find useful car tips for buying a used car on the Internet. The question of whether you should buy the car from a dealer or privately cannot be answered unequivocally.

In the case of a private purchase, the buyer is faced with a number of dangers if he is completely unfamiliar with the car. As a rule, there is no guarantee and there is no possibility of prosecuting the seller for any defects that may exist. The dealer, on the other hand, must give a warranty for the car, although you should also be careful when buying from a dealer. There are enough “black sheep” on the used car market who are considered dubious dealers.

2) Buy a used car instead of a new car

If you decide to buy a used car instead of a new vehicle, you can save a lot of money. This is due to the fact that a new car loses significantly in value after the first trip and is therefore also cheaper. If you then also buy your new used car from a dealer, it may be possible that you also get a guarantee on the car.

3) More ways to save when buying a car

If it is a new vehicle, you can also consider leasing returns. These are often available very cheaply as they are sold at market value. In this context, discounts of up to a maximum of 40 percent can be expected. It should also not be forgotten that such leasing models are often available with a mileage of between around 20,000 and 40,000 kilometers. Here it is worth using the best leasing companies. They usually offer their returns cheaply at various locations at important traffic junctions and on the Internet.

There, the returns accumulate enormously and should preferably be brought “to the man” again quickly. So the price is even lower. Especially in this area, you can sometimes save a lot of money when buying a car. Other options are also daily registrations or annual cars from the dealers, the savings potential is somewhat lower, but the vehicles also have lower mileage.

4) Accident-free or accident car?

Accident-free or an accident car: For a layman, it is usually difficult to tell whether the dream car has already been in an accident or not. This is especially difficult when the car has been professionally repaired. If you don’t know for sure whether the car was in an accident or not, you should be more cautious when you spot the following features on the vehicle:

  • lighter or darker areas on the body (different paint tint)
  • suspicious paint marks in places where paint is not normally found (e.g. rubber seals or strut)
  • Trunk, doors, or bonnet do not close properly
  • weird gaps of different widths on doors or bumpers
  • the car is not running straight.

5) Detect odometer tampering

Discover manipulations on the odometer: Today it is even easier to manipulate the odometer than it used to be, you just have to have certain computer skills. The best way to find evidence of mileage manipulation is to take a closer look at the interior. In a new car, for example with 60,000 kilometers on it, the pedals, seats, or gear knobs are in a neat and new condition. However, if the seats are worn and you can no longer see any grooves or patterns on the pedals, you should refrain from buying them and go to another dealer.

6) Observe the service booklet

The service book provides information on how and if the car was serviced at all. Especially with new cars, it is important that the service booklet is handed over to the buyer. If the original invoices from the service appointments are added, you can buy the car with a clear conscience.

Simple tips and tricks for saving in the household are particularly suitable for housewives. If you save cleverly, you have more money for beautiful things or for old-age provisions. Save in the household and improve the household budget.

Clever housewives always compare the prices and automatically look at the costs in the household and the family budget. They live frugally because they always find clever ways to save euros. We show all the good ways to save money cleverly in everyday life and at home so that a little more money is available for the family at the end of the month.

The necessity of saving in the household

The fear of financial bottlenecks in German households can be felt more and more frequently. Negative news and the euro crisis mean that many consumers in Germany and other countries are concerned about their previously carefree future. Many German households are now saving for bad times.

1) Vacation in Germany instead of abroad

And that brings us to the topic. If you want to save, you don’t have to give up your vacation. Recreation is important, and if you work hard all year round, you also need to relax once in a while. However, when planning your holiday, you can also think about your wallet at the same time.

  • A holiday trip to Germany is usually cheaper. In this way, you will also get to know a new city or a new district at the same time.
  • Going on holiday outside of the high season saves. Because then the accommodation is available at a fraction of the price.
  • Shorten your vacation by a week. In the second week, just do a lot of interesting excursions from home. Properly planned, you will have the feeling that you have been on vacation longer.
  • The organization of holiday activities also offers potential savings. Just go hiking more often or go on bike tours instead of spending a lot of money on city trips for visits to restaurants or museums.

2) Observe prospectuses and advertising papers

Brochures and weekly offers, promotional goods from Penny, Aldi, Lidl, and Co.

  • rewe.de – All market offers from REWE.
  • penny.de – Current offers in the Penny branches.

3) Compare prices

Be it browsing through the advertising insert in the daily newspaper, leafing through the advertising mailings, or shopping in the city. Especially with the direct mailings of the food discounters, you can see that the same products are almost always on offer or that the same product appears the following week at a competitive price from the competition.

Especially with more expensive items in the computer sector, it is always worth taking a look on the Internet. Even when you enter the exact product name in a search engine, price comparison sites usually appear among the first hits – and often expose supposed “sensational offers” as average normal prices, even if you add postage.

All price comparison providers for housewives at a glance.

4) Compare cell phone and DSL contracts

But you can also save money within your own four walls without turning the heating on to the back burner or saving on food. We often take the fixed costs such as rent, electricity, and internet for granted and turn every cent three times over for all other expenses. But it is definitely worthwhile to look through the contracts more often and look for cheaper offers. With the right contract alone, you can save a lot of money on electricity, for example.

Internet contracts also have enormous savings potential. A comparison and, if necessary, a change of provider can be worthwhile. However, it is often not even necessary to change providers, sometimes it is enough if you switch to a cheaper tariff with the same provider that did not exist when you signed your contract. Incidentally, the same applies to mobile phone and insurance contracts. Also, think about which contracts you really need and which ones you can cancel – do you prefer cycling in the fresh air to going to the gym anyway? Then cancel your contract. The money saved can certainly be used for more meaningful and beautiful things.

  • Compare fixed cost contracts regularly
  • Mobile phone, DSL, insurance
  • Also, consider changing tariffs with the same provider
  • Terminate unnecessary contracts and save money

Calorie saving during a diet apparently significantly changes the gut microbiome, as a recent study shows. A “hungry microbiome” develops, which has a lasting effect on the absorption of food in the intestine and thus on the human energy balance.

Charité study: This is what saves calories with the intestines

For more than 16 weeks, the working group examined the effects of a diet on a total of 80 women who were slightly to severely overweight. In addition, all of them were already in the menopause. During these four months, the women either lost weight through a formula diet under medical supervision or kept their weight constant. The formula diet was implemented using ready-made drinks with less than 800 kilocalories per day. The subjects’ stool was analyzed regularly. These analyzes showed that the diet reduced the number of microorganisms in the intestine and changed the composition of the intestinal flora. dr Reiner Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg explains in a Charité press release: “We were able to observe how the bacteria change their metabolism in order to absorb more sugar compounds, which are then no longer available to humans. One can say that a “hungry microbiome develops. “

The scientists then transferred the stool samples before and after the diet to mice without their own intestinal flora. Within two days, the mice that received the post-diet stool lost more than 10 percent of their body mass. The mice that received the pre-diet stool, on the other hand, had no effect.

According to the Charité press release, these results could lead to possible therapy options for metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The team is now investigating how intestinal bacteria can be influenced in order to have beneficial effects on metabolism and body weight in humans.

Save money cleverly with the money box. Accordingly, “Save in time, then hasten in need”. This is an old saying that makes perfect sense today. Because the cost of living and other costs are constantly increasing. So tips are needed to save money.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to save money and put an emergency egg aside. Because running costs eat up a lot of money and every now and then you want to treat yourself to something good. But how do millions of people manage to save a little? We have tips on how a piggy bank can help you.

Different ways to save money

Actually, it’s not that difficult to create a nest egg. You just have to want it. Anyone who plans to save and does nothing has said a lot in the end, but empty trouser pockets. Therefore, you should choose one or more money-saving methods. Simple tips for saving in the household can help. But an account for savings or the classic money box will also help you to save.

1) Create a savings account

Creating savings accounts is certainly still the most common form of investment for Germans to save themselves an emergency fund. But often we tend to just take some money from this account. So the savings are gone faster than you would like. Therefore, in addition to such a savings account, you should use the classic money box. You should also follow our tips for saving electricity and saving money.

2) Use the money box to save money

If you want to save money, a money box, also known as the piggy bank, is worth it. Because in it you can collect the many and mostly useless small change. If you diligently save the small change with it, you will end up with an incredible amount of money in the long run. It is best to place the money box where you regularly walk past. For example in the hallway or the kitchen. Because the kitchen is the most central part of an apartment in almost every German household. The savings note is also particularly suitable for the pocket money of children and young people.

3) A community money box

In order to be able to save a lot of money, the whole family should take part. The piggy bank should be given a name so that everyone can participate vigorously. Either “Piggy” or “Horst” or vacation, wellness, and laptop. If you’re saving for a common cause, like a vacation or a dog, it’s a lot more fun. And everyone has spare change. This usually weighs heavily on the wallet. So put it in the piggy bank! You can also teach your children how to handle money.

4) Make your own piggy bank

It is also a great idea to make a money box with the children yourself. This is fun and ensures an individual money box. This can increase the motivation to save.

5) Benefits of saving money with a piggy bank

This piggy bank method offers a number of advantages. Therefore, saving money with the money box makes sense even today. It is a suitable saving method not only for children but also for adults. Because many save in this way throughout the year and in the end afford a nice meal in a relaxed atmosphere, a small holiday trip, or a wellness weekend for two. We have collected the following advantages for you.

  • A lot of money is raised. Depending on the piggy bank size and saver participation, a lot of money can be collected.

  • A good approach for children. Because the “piggy bank method” can teach children how to handle money at an early age.
  • It makes saving money easier. Since it is not difficult for anyone to sacrifice a few cents from their wallet or to put the sum of the empties in the piggy bank, the method makes so much sense.
  • The money is safe. Usually, you don’t get the money that quickly, because not all money boxes have an additional opening. This prevents you from quickly stealing money.

6) Nice money boxes from the internet

If you don’t have time to make a piggy bank yourself, you can just as easily use an old mason jar or another container. Or you can buy a nice money box from the internet. Here you will find great and funny models. With these, saving can only be fun. Some even have a built-in counting function. Or keep an eye on your household budget with the envelope method. Then there will definitely be something left over to save.

Saving money is by no means a dusty and stuffy affair that only parents and grandparents have made a virtue of. Saving money where it is particularly easy is clever because you can then afford many other, nicer things. A good and easy way to do this is to avoid unnecessary power consumption in the household. Quite a few people are annoyed that their electricity bill is very high. You can accept that, but you don’t have to. Because electricity is often unnecessarily consumed unknowingly and a lot of money is wasted.

For motivation to save electricity in the household

A few simple power-saving tips can help you save. There are simple behavior changes that can reduce power consumption. It is important to know, for example, that off does not mean off. All you have to do is unmask all the secret power guzzlers. A lot of electricity can also be saved by replacing old electrical devices with energy-efficient models and by replacing old light bulbs.

Perhaps knowing that it will have a direct impact on your account will increase your motivation to save electricity. Especially when the annual electricity bill flutters into the house. It is not uncommon for high additional payments to occur here. You can counteract this by taking a few things into account.

At the lighting

A simple and sensible option is to replace incandescent and halogen lamps with LEDs. Modern energy-saving fluorescent tubes are also highly recommended. Replacing old bulbs helps noticeably to save electricity. For example, LEDs consume even less energy than energy-saving lamps. You don’t need to replace energy-saving lamps immediately. You can wait for them to break down.

In general, however, you should not forget to switch off the light when you do not need it. If a floor or table lamp not only has a switch but is also operated with a power supply unit, then it is advisable to pull the plug or plug it into a power strip that can be switched off. This makes sense because lamps can use up electricity unnecessarily even when they are switched off.

Which devices use how much electricity?

If you are interested in this question, you can easily measure the power consumption with an ammeter. You can even borrow them free of charge, for example in an advice center at a consumer advice center. Comparing the measured power consumption with an energy-efficient, the new model can be very revealing. You can easily read the annual electricity consumption on the energy efficiency label of the new devices. It may turn out that replacing an old device will quickly pay off financially, despite the higher purchase price.

If you think that an electronic device is switched off, it can still turn out to be a secret power guzzler. The easiest way to find out is to feel if the power supply is warm. If so, this device is consuming power.

Save electricity with refrigerators and freezers

The refrigerator should be set so that the temperature in the upper compartment is around 7 degrees Celsius. That is perfectly sufficient. A drop of just 1 degree Celsius increases power consumption by around 6 percent. Food that perishes quickly, such as minced meat, should be stored at a refrigerator temperature of around 2 degrees Celsius. The ideal temperature for freezers is minus 18 degrees Celsius. The doors of all these devices should only be open for as short a time as possible. Warm food is best left to cool before putting it in the fridge.

Save electricity with the dishwasher

The dishwasher should be as full as possible so as not to use up water and energy unnecessarily. About 80 parts fit in a conventional machine. The pre-rinse cycle is usually not necessary and coarse leftovers can be removed with the cutlery. It is recommended to use the dishwasher’s automatic program or to select a low temperature (50 to 55 degrees Celsius). Also, note our simple tricks for saving in the household.

Save electricity on the stove and oven

When cooking (e.g. bringing water to a boil), always use a lid. This saves time and electricity. For vegetables, eggs and potatoes it is sufficient to use only 1 to 2 cm of water. In this way, the vitamins are more likely to be preserved. If you bake with convection, you can save about 15 percent energy (compared to the top and bottom heat).

Save electricity with the washing machine and tumble dryer

Here, too, the device should be sufficiently fully loaded. Washing should preferably be carried out at low temperatures (30 to 40 degrees Celsius). This is completely sufficient for normally soiled everyday laundry. You should also descale your washing machine regularly to reduce energy consumption. If you want to use the dryer, you should have selected a high spin cycle on the washing machine beforehand. You save time in the dryer because the laundry is less wet. It is even more energy-efficient to simply air-dry the laundry.

If a cake has dried out a little after a few days, save it with simple remedies. Whether as a cake or as a base for a dessert – there is always a useful use for dry cake.

Throw away dry cake – not an option

If you’ve stored cake for a few days, it may have become a bit dry. So it no longer tastes completely fresh, but it is still a valuable food. If the cake is only slightly dry, refresh it as described below. If it’s so dry that you can’t eat it in pieces, use it as a base for a dessert.

Dry cake as a base for dessert

You can use dry sponge cake as a basis for tiramisu, for example. Cut the cake into slices and put it in for a tiramisu:
You can use light, rather neutral cakes just like ladyfingers and pour espresso over it until it is soaked.
Dark, strong cakes or even gingerbread give the tiramisu a particularly characteristic taste. If you don’t want to cover it with espresso, pour (plant) milk over the cake.

Dry cake to delicious topping

If the cake has become very dry, break it up with a knife and let the cubes dry completely. Make sure that the cubes are airy when drying so that they don’t get moldy. When the cubes are completely dry, grind them up with an immersion blender. This will give you sweet breadcrumbs.

Fry the breadcrumbs in a pan with some vegetable oil and serve as a topping on sweet desserts.

Save dry cake as cake pops

Cake pops look like lollipops, but are made of delicious dough. To make tasty cake pops from dry cake, crumble the cake with your hands or in a food processor. The cream cheese in the recipe balances out the dryness of the cake and you end up with a delicious new “pastry”.

coffee and cake

A popular trick to save dry cake is to soak it in coffee, cocoa, or juice. To do this, poke small holes in the dough with a skewer and fill them with the liquid of your choice. Allow the cake to soak up the liquid before serving.

Depending on how formal the environment is, you can of course also dip the cake in the coffee or cocoa.

Grandma’s tip for dry cakes

This tip is simple but effective: simply spread butter, cream cheese or some jam on the piece of dry cake. This way you can upgrade the cake leftovers from the weekend and don’t have to throw them away.

If you have dried out a whole cake while baking, there is no reason to despair. Here’s where you can use the trick on a grand scale:
Cut your sponge cake horizontally into 2 or 3 pieces.
Then fill the individual pieces of cake with jam, buttercream, pudding or a cream cheese cream with lemon juice.
Of course, you should make sure that the dough harmonises with the (rescue) filling.