Well... Geneva is not the ideal place for practicing frugality skills even if you wanted to.  But if you must live centrally then you can walk to most places; rent bikes for free for few hours; getting a 'demi tariff' train pass; cooking at home as opposed to eating out; shopping in bulk across the boarder in France (but careful about bringing in beyond the allowed quota of meat, alcohol, etc.); taking advantage of one 'free' month internet through glocals exclusive offer from blue-win (I've seen swiss com offer up to 3 months, but not sure where I found that offer); check out what discounts your company may have on offer; asking member "acquarius" to send you a list that he's collected on this exact sort of tips on where to go for good deals; once you're over here organize a coffee with other at-home parents and exchange tips; post a service you can provide on the Market place in exchange for what you're looking for  ;)

It is possible to keep within budget, you just need some ingenuity. 

Good luck!
YouMeCo, Aug 27, 2008 @ 16:40

Yeah -- largely what YouMeCo said -- Geneva is in general not cheap. I moved here from Scandinavia so didn't notice an incredible transition. I don't know what the cost of living in Uganda is but I assume it's, er, lower.



The situation seems to be that if you're on a salary around the median (by which I mean 'similar to most people I know'), then your largest expense will be the rent on your apartment. In Geneva this is high -- not as high as some European capitals, I don't think, but certainly a contender. If you're moving here with a few children and need space for them, I think that this is the expense you want to be minimising. The problem with minimising rent is that there is an awful lot of competition for apartments and as such, the adage "beggars-can't-be-choosers" tends to apply. Often you have to take what you can. Of course, you can always take somewhere more expensive and try and move from there, but that costs time, money, and points on your blood pressure.



My 2nd highest expense, averaged out, is probably my stupid car. Probably most of the petrol I go through is burnt standing at traffic lights. I would dearly love to be shot of my damn car. I never ever take it out in town, the public transport network is very good. Geneva is certainly a very walkable city although sometimes you do have to wait an age for the green man. Having a car *does* mean I can do bulk buying in France (although I almost never do -- is it *really* that much cheaper, after accounting for petrol and time?).



Health insurance is mandatory and expensive. There seems to be a minimum price below which no companies can go. Find it.



Like YouMeCo said - demi tarrif is very good if you travel, and reduces the price of local public transport in town.



I have Orange broadband who gave me 3 free months.



Yallo provide very cheap basic cellular access as people keep saying.



I know some cheap bars, if that's your thing.



Good luck!
hayes, Aug 27, 2008 @ 17:32

YouMeCo Thanks for the contribution.  we can share lifestyle changes like these and other frugal practices that may not necessarily find a place under deals.

Frugality flops are also welcome as they may give us something to laugh about ;) and are always a good learning tool
Shuta, Aug 27, 2008 @ 17:39

Hey Shuta,

Sadly, GVA indeed is not a great place for frugal living. Most of the local businesses cater for folks who don't have 'frugal' as a hugh priority, and it shows. Here's the big things you can do: 

1. Compromise on apartment size. The real estate prices in GVA are just crazy. If you'll want to live in your dream house / apt here, it will cost you an arm and a leg. If you're willing to compromise, you'll save a lot.
2. Don't buy a car. This can work if you live in the center, cos - like Youme said - GVA is tiny and the local public transport is great. Use it, or use a scooter / bike.
3. Eat in. GVA has a big eat-out culture (oh, how I hate those 4-hour dinners!), and a typical good resto will set you back CHF 50-70 for dinner. Don't fall into the trap that many expats fall into, of eating out all night.
4. Buy your groceries at the discounters; avoid the Manor / Globus supermarkets.  The supermarkets in GVA split into 3 categories. I'd go for the top 2 only - it's certainly good enough, and MUCH cheaper than the others.
• Discounters: Denner, Pick-Pay
• Mid market: Migros, Coop
• Premium: Manor, Globus
5. Concentrate big shopping of clothes / appliances in the sales periods: July and January. During the sales months, prices are really slashed by 50-60%. If you stock up then, you can save a lot. 
6. Check out these Geneva Discounts on various products / services. 
7. Get a rich husband / wife! Then you can forget all about being frugal...(-;

OK, hope this helps. When do you arrive here?

Nir
Nir Ofek, Aug 28, 2008 @ 01:01

If all else fails, move to Lausanne :D
EfeE, Aug 28, 2008 @ 02:43

Nir:

 

Having listened to that deep voice, watched the masculine build and enjoyed the TLC ......., I could not hold up:rolleyes:, before I could assess criteria 7, I was smitten and had already said “I do”!!!!

 

So here I am scheduled to travel across the world in October 2008 so that we can address criteria 7 as a team.

 

Will sound out Glocals as soon as I have a confirmed date:).
Shuta, Aug 28, 2008 @ 13:10

 

I await your applications.  The richer the more chance of success ;)

 

Seb
seb23, Aug 28, 2008 @ 13:16

[quote]

• Discounters: Denner, Pick-Pay

[/quote]



Hey! What and where and how good and how common is Pick-Pay? I ain't never done heard of that.
hayes, Aug 28, 2008 @ 13:34

I think Carrefour in Balexert might be an option. I've been there once and saw they have a big food section. and you can get there by public transportation.  I heard Aligro has good prices but i believe it's on the other side of the boarder.  If there's any saints out there in Glocal-land who go there regularly, perhaps they can start a 'transport service' by posting on the forum the day before and pick up any city stragglers (like me) who'd like to do bulk shopping.  Plus, the more people you pack in the car, the greater quota you'll have in bringing back meats & alcohol into CHF :)  (just a random thought... )

The other general thing is about marketing and buying brand name items... (sorry for folks in P&G or other marketers...) but buying brand names ups the prices marginally.  Don't be shocked at the prices of Starbucks and their donuts or any items in their display cases.  I would not suggest you go their for your daily coffee run.  For a price of their super grande... you can buy a whole package of coffee beans to last a few wks at least. If you are a smart shopper and creative planner on your outdoor activities, I think you can get by enjoying what Switzerland has to offer you! 
YouMeCo, Aug 28, 2008 @ 14:30

Aligro is in Acacias (just a bus ride away from the city center) but if you plan on buying in bulk (which is the point of shopping at Aligro), then a car is needed. 
Tasmin67, Aug 28, 2008 @ 15:01

I have been advised that accommodation is much cheaper away from the centre of Geneva however for one to realise the benefits one has to own a car (True or false).

 

That said; please recommend feasible accommodation areas for someone working with the UN.
Shuta, Aug 28, 2008 @ 16:35

[quote][b]hayes (28/08/2008)

[/b][quote]

Discounters: Denner, Pick-Pay[/quote]

Hey! What and where and how good and how common is Pick-Pay? I ain't never done heard of that.[/quote]



Pick Pay has been swallowed by Denner:



Denner SA

chemin Bizot 4

1208 Genève

022 347 17 29



Plainpalais rue de Carouge 64 / 022 800 08 31

place de Cornavin 18-20 / 022 738 71 36

promenade de l'Europe 11 / 022 940 08 41

route de Frontenex 51 / 022 700 62 15

rue du Lac 10 / 022 736 65 40

avenue Louis-Casaï 27 / 022 970 07 51

rue de Lyon 81-85 / 022 345 80 80

rue de Monthoux 57 / 022 900 03 86

rue Prévost-Martin 36 / 022 320 77 57

rue de la Servette 89 / 022 733 45 68

rue du Vicaire-Savoyard 2 / 022 344 57 00

avenue de la Praille 15 / 1227 Carouge GE / 022 342 27 84

route de Jussy 5 / 1225 Chêne-Bourg / 022 348 70 48

chemin Taverney 1 / 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Le / 022 723 21 70

route de Chancy 71 / 1213 Petit-Lancy / 022 793 61 01

chemin des Clochetons 1 / 1213 Petit-Lancy / 022 792 38 20

rue de Genève 109 / 1226 Thônex / 022 348 66 25

route de Suisse 73-75 / 1290 Versoix / 022 755 54 27

Free, Aug 28, 2008 @ 16:38

[quote]

[b]

Free (28/08/2008)[/b][quote][b]hayes (28/08/2008)

[/b]

Pick Pay has been swallowed by Denner:

[/quote]



Ah, right, that explains why I haven't heard of them. I know Denner, of course. Thought I could be missing a (cheap) trick there. Cheers Free :)
hayes, Aug 28, 2008 @ 16:51

[quote]

[b]

Shuta (28/08/2008)

[/b]

That said; please recommend feasible accommodation areas for someone working with the UN.[/quote]



Perhaps Servette / Petit-Saconnex or Pâquis if walking to work is your goal? Really anywhere in town would work using the bus/tram network -- it's really not that difficult to cross the centre.

hayes, Aug 28, 2008 @ 17:05

[quote][b]hayes (28/08/2008)

[/b]

Ah, right, that explains why I haven't heard of them. I know Denner, of course. Thought I could be missing a (cheap) trick there. Cheers Free :)[/quote]



And Denner has been swallowed by Migros :-)

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/Swiss_retail_market_consolidates.html?siteSect=105&sid=7423697

Switzerland's largest retailer, Migros, has purchased a majority stake in the country's third largest food chain, Denner.

At a news conference on Friday, Migros announced it would take over 70 per cent of the discount chain's shares, at an undisclosed price.



The other 30 per cent will be retained by Gaydoul Holding, owned by the family of Denner CEO, Philippe Gaydoul.



Gaydoul will remain operative head of the retailer for at least another three years, ensuring, according to a statement, that Denner retains its identity. The companies also said all of Denner's 3,500 employees would keep their jobs.



Both companies said the deal would secure the long-term future of the discount chain at a time of increased competitiveness since the arrival of foreign retailers in the Swiss market, such as Germany's Aldi, and France's Carrefour.



"As a successful food discounter and goods retailer, [Denner] perfectly complements Migros," said Migros head, Herbert Bolliger.



"This merger is a very promising Swiss answer to the increasingly fierce competition from abroad."



The companies said Denner was not big enough to compete on price with the foreign competition.



They said Denner, as a subsidiary of the Migros group, would now be able to profit from better purchasing conditions, passing the benefits on to consumers in the form of lower prices.

Win-win situation

Marco Strittmatter, retail analyst at the Zurich Cantonal Bank agreed, telling swissinfo it was a win-win situation for both companies, and would not affect Swiss consumers in the near future.



"Denner will remain Denner, Migros will remain Migros," Strittmatter said. "But Aldi and Lidl will have more difficulty getting into the Swiss market than they would have had without the deal."



Strittmatter believes there is still plenty of room for growth at the discount end of the market, which makes the buyout an extremely good one for Migros.



"Discount stores only account for around four or five per cent of retail sales in Switzerland, whereas the figure is about 40 per cent in Germany."



The largest Swiss trade union, Unia, welcomed the fact that Denner was not sold to a foreign company, saying working conditions at non-Swiss retailers could not compare with those offered by Migros.



But Unia, along with another union, Syna, called on Migros to live up to its promise not to lay off workers.



The unions said they feared Migros could integrate a significant part of Denner's supply chain and close two of Denner's warehouses, which would lead to job losses.
Free, Aug 28, 2008 @ 19:16

Is it just me or does it seem like everyone in Geneve is a millionaire? I'm exaggerating, but compared to all the other places I've lived, it probably has a higher percentage of more well-off people.



It seems many of the business folk and such eat out a lot, but what about the locals? It is pretty expensive. Do folks here in the evening tend to stay in more or be out and about?



I've just arrived a few days ago and walk around a bit each day before school starts. I can't bring myself to sit down for a meal, I'd be on a bread and water diet before you know it.
hrv_nomad, Aug 29, 2008 @ 01:51

Nomad...very observative.  most of us who come from lower cost of living cities would find it bit hard to swallow eating out at a restaurant for lunch every day when avg cost for a meal would be 20-25.  and unfortunately unless you go to Manor, Globus or a corner panini shop for a sandwhich (which still averages 8-10) there's not many choices for eating 'cheap'.  Yes i miss my $5 lunches consisting of a simple slice of pizza (not the squares you get at Manor) or sandwhich filled with suffficient amount of filling, and not just 2 slices of ham with a wimply piece of lettuce in a big baguette and charging me 8chf.  But even I have gotten used to it as 'a fact of life' here in Geneva.  However, i have found Ban les Paquis offers probably the best value for money with a full platter of the plat du jour for 14chf.  Thanks to Glocals friends who introduced me to this great find!

we should resurect a separate section of 'best finds' in town by various categories. 
YouMeCo, Aug 29, 2008 @ 03:40

On the bright side, sometimes, you just get lucky. (Tastes like chicken.)




Casuistik, Aug 29, 2008 @ 11:28

Why would you need to be frugal?

Spend and overspend, but over all spend a lot.

You know what they say: "If you have some little debts you have a problem. If you have HUGE debts is your creditors who have a problem and an interest not to let you sink! ;)
Stef__Granny, Aug 29, 2008 @ 11:55

Oh Casuistik; :D Your sense of humour just blows me over
Shuta, Sep 1, 2008 @ 11:04