2018 will hopefully be the year we pay off our remaining debt and finally start and make over payments on our mortgage.
2017 wasn’t the easiest of years when it came to money. We were left with some debt from my husbands old business and a smallish amount on a credit card and a couple of store cards. It’s been a slow slog to try and bring them down to a less concerning amount but they still feel like a weight on our shoulders.
2018 should see us debt free, other than our mortgage and our PCP car payment ( though I suppose this is technical rent as we have no intention of purchasing the car at the end of the term).
Once our debt is gone I’d like to start and make significant over payments on our mortgage and increase our monthly savings. Our mortgage is low and it’s something we should have started to do a few years ago but it’s never happened. I would like to pay at least £100 extra each month which will slowly reduce our balance. I think it’s a manageable amount and hopefully something we could increase as the year goes on.
I would also like to save more. I save a small amount directly from my monthly wage at work and we have a small amount in Premium Bonds but I would like to create an emergency fund which means we worry less about any unforeseen expense like problems with the house, car or maybe when I come across that cheap trip that just HAS to be booked!
Newcastle Building Society are launching a savings account exclusively for people like us who live within a Durham postcode area. It’s a 6 month ISA which can be opened with a minimum of £500, offering an interest rate of 1.25% and can be opened exclusively inside the Durham branch.
They’ve opened a brand new branch and financial advice centre in Durham, a brighter, more modern branch which is better equipped to help people with their finances. It sounds like something that will really help Hubby and I kick start our savings for 2018. Newcastle Building Society want to help local people in the Durham area create a better financial future, starting in 2018.
We’re hoping that if we manage to meet our financial goals for 2018 we might be able to book a very special trip to see them man in red in Lapland!
The new Newcastle Building Society branch is situated on Saddler Street, replacing the premises on Elvet Bridge. It has improved access to services, information and advice, as well as improved meeting spaces to discuss all aspects of personal financial planning. Local companies have been employed to carry out the work, including Newcastle-based MWE Architects and CCTV and door access systems installed by Data Fire & Security in Westerhope.
Newcastle Building Society are also hosting a treasure hunt in partnership with the Northern Echo, which kicks off today (25th January) and runs until 17th February. Entrants can download an interactive map on your phone and follow the clues to locations in Durham.
When you find the final location, take a quick photo and upload it to Facebook or Twitter, tagging Newcastle Building Society and using the hashtag #NBSDurhamTreasureHunt. You’ll then be entered into a prize draw to win £500. It’s something fun you can do as a family and gives you the perfect reason to explore the beautiful city of Durham. The lucky winner randomly from all valid entries on Saturday 17th February at the official opening event inside the new branch at 11.30am!
If you’re not lucky enough to win the treasure hunt, why not try your luck on the competition below? Newcastle Building Society are offering one of my blog readers the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher. To enter, just complete the Gleam form below.
Newcastle Building Society/Amazon
This post was sponsored by Newcastle Building Society.
I love this – and our mortgage is going down this year so I think the idea of making overpayments is such a good one. Otherwise I am forever spotting cheap trips I want to take!
I think my top tip is to pay money directly into a savings account as soon as it comes into my account, so I never feel tempted to spend it. It’s quick to get into the habit and it can build up even with a small amount.
I had a friend who chose to pay off mortgage by overpaying regularly. I believe that he as glad that he had done so. His aim I believe was to provide some sense of security, stability, etc for his family. Also have come across individuals who chose to pay off mortgage with redundancy payment. Again reasoning was aiming to provide security, stability, etc for family members.
Seems a sensible priority. Especially when we know the present, but what about the future. Whilst we live we will always need a home to live in.
We recently went through our bank statements and cancelled any subscriptions/direct debits for things we no longer use – it’s amazing how much you can save just by taking 5 minutes to check!
Well Done!
Overpaying on the mortgage, even a small amount will help and it means you are paying less interest overall.
budget for everything and shop around
Meal plan & when you cook do double & freeze, then when you are too tired to cook, you can do a meal from the freezer. Cheaper than a takeaway!
I now withdraw a certain amount of cash each week to spend on food etc and leave my debit card at home – then I know I cannot oversprend and I have found this to be a really effective way of saving money each week!
Getting your bank App on your smartphone, it really helps keep track of your incoming and outgoing balance. Helps you realise the spendings.
I use voucher code and cashback sites x
Don’t waste food; check the expiry dates. Buy store cupboard items when on special offer.
Takeaways and convenience foods – why buy a ready chopped onion or bag of salad leaves for say £1 – silly
Dont ever take the first price on anything you want to buy: deal on the internet- check Google for vouchers off.
Shop all year round for Christmas starting in the January sales with on sale Christmas cards and wrapping paper. Shoppibg in the sales and when it’s cheaper will save you a fortune
Use the money mantra: do I need it, is it worth it and will I use it. If it doesn’t clear all of those 3 dont buy it
compare and switch all renewals, meal plan and shop online to stop implsive buying 🙂
I always shop around, and even if I am out and about shopping I check on my phone for online prices.
I use price comparison sites, and then use cashback sites as much as possible.
use compare and switch on all utilities and shop around online for discounts and deals
Use the Cash back system and coupons, you can save a lot of money
Never go food shopping when hungry & always take a shopping list so you don’t get side tracked! And if you do your food shopping online, use a cashback site & look around for the best deals!
Use leftovers, look for special offers and buy birthday & christmas presents in the sales.
Look for voucher codes.
Using comparison sites to check the best deals for financial products, phone and broadband regularly.
Remember the adage – if you don’t need it, it’s not a bargain!
All loose change around the house going in a jar it builds up from down the sofa!
planing! plan as much in advance as you can so no last minuet added costs plus set yourself a money goal for the year to save x amount of money by the end of the year
Always meal plan and write my shopping list from my recipes plus stick to my list.
Get into the habit of saving some money each week even if its only a small amount. Its a good habit to built up.
Only buy new clothes if you really really love something !
I make meal plans for the week and budget each month so I can save for holidays and a rainy day fund
Use coupons and cash back sites. budget carefully for food, bills, etc. and save all loose change to convert to cash at a supermarket machine x
Use coupons and cash back sites. budget carefully for food, bills, etc. and save all loose change to convert to cash at a supermarket machine
Save all loose change to convert to cash at a supermarket machine
Though need to bear in mind, that these machines you mention charge a fee.
I tend to use up change / coins at self service check outs. That way :- Receive full value of cash / coins.
Save all loose change to convert to cash at a machine (often found at supermarkets) x
I save all my loose change and take it a coin machine to exchange it for cash – at either Morrisons or Tesco. It soon mounts up! x
being thrifty, upcycling, and buying 2nd hand from the for sale sites.
I saved any £2 coins we got in change – if you use cash for shopping instead of card this can add up quite quickly. Also any oddchange goes in a pot at the end of the week, and saved until the end of the year. Great extra cash for Christmas!
Shop around.
Only buy things you absolutely need.
Don’t impulse buy
Expenses such as car insurance premiums, line rental or gym membership fees can often be cheaper if you pay them annually instead of monthly. You could save a bundle by ensuring you have enough money stored away to pay these annual bills in one go. Also, there are plenty of products that tend to cost less at certain times of the year. If you can plan your major purchases to coincide with these discounting periods, it’s possible to make big savings.
Use a flip phone. The battery lasts a week, a £10 top-up lasts months and you’re not getting your every move tracked by nosey companies who employ neuroscientists to work out how to circumvent your logical reasoning and persuade you to waste money.
Always look for discount codes, use a cashback site, search around for the best offer and I also find sometimes if you contact the company they sometimes give you a discount or code 🙂
Prepare lunches and take a flask on days out. Eating out eats up money/
I don’t have any tips unfortunately – I am pretty useless at saving!
Go to several shops to find the cheaper prices
Use comparison sites for your utility bills and any insurance policies
Everytime you do the weekly shopping, buy a saving stamp or two, they soon add up, if your struggling one month you will have money to fall back on or a great lump sum for christmas if you manage to get to the end of the year while saving.
Only buy what you really really NEED and do not buy anything just because you WANT it
My tip is to avoid temptation such as looking at shops instore and online, so as not to buy things and to stick to a list of what you need
Before buying things think ‘Can I afford this? Do I really need this?’
Write a shopping list – double check it – REMEMBER to take it – STICK to it
I have a savings account linked to my bank account and at the end of each day I transfer the pennies at the end of my balance into my savings, you don’t miss the pennies and it soon adds up
use a price comparison website for utilities
TALK ABOUT IT! Discuss money with your family and partner – you’d be amazed how many overlapping services you probably have – we cancelled down a bunch of unnecessary subscriptions and now each family member pays for one family subscription from which we all benefit! Amazing!
To stop buying stuff! If you start to question every purchase you find you can do without loads and not really miss it. It becomes more satisfying to not get the stuff than to get it!
I’m trying to save £1000 and I have this chart that I star a square each time I save £10. Really works for me!
Make a meal plan before you go shopping, but have it flexible enough to incorporate any special bargains you find while you are out.
Recycling is always a good way to save and using up left over meat, to create other meals.
mine was to stop smoking, was costing me a fortune
I do one big grocery shop online rather than constantly getting little grocery top up shops, it always means I save money.
Make a food shopping list and absolutely stick to it buying nothing else tempting
One of my tips are that if you go supermarket shopping check around various stores to see who has the best deal/offer on the items you want to buy as even saving a small amount is better than saving nothing.
I have a change jar and put all change smaller than £1 in there. Over the last year there was over £200 in there 🙂
Do your research. Shop around for best prices, use cash back and coupons.
Do comparisons before renewing insurance, energy supplier, etc
Treat savings like a bill to come out straight after payday. If you try to save what is left at the end of the month, you will often find there is nothing there to be saved!
Meal plans and a good inventory are definitely a penny saver
Use loyalty cards
Any good experiences which you are willing to share?
cut back on spending – very few things you actually need
I try and meal plan each week, it saves so much money, time and resources. Also being prepared stops me from buying so many snacks and doing top up shops!
always look for voucher codes when shopping online
I try to skim my bank account into another one every couple of days even if it is only a couple of pounds x
Use cashback sites to make sure you can get a little bit of savings as you spend
Only buy what you need and make shopping lists for grocery shops, and stick to the list.
Wait a few weeks before you’re about to make an ‘impulse’ buy. If you’re still thinking about it after a few weeks then feel free to go ahead.
Work out what you spend your money on. Make a list of everything you buy in a typical month. This will make it easier to work out where you can cut back.
Use cashback sites when buying things online – even small amounts can really add up and it feels like free money!
Stick to a shopping list.
Shop around. I always check prices of grocieries online before I go shopping & never go without a list. Also if buying online I check for vouchers codes.
Shop around and use vouchers
Shop at Aldi – cuts the cost of the shop in half!
Taking tea bags into work so I don’t spend too much on bought in drinks
Don’t waste money on ready made coffee, sandwiches, snacks they cost a fortune over a year. You can easily spend 10-15 pounds a day on coffees and a meal deal
Know the exact amount you have coming in and keep an eye on it all the time. Look for any areas that can be cut and also anything that should not be going. I’m always surprised that people pay direct debits for things they don’t know what for.
Pay yourself first- as soon as you get paid, transfer a chunk straight to your savings and leave it there! Once it becomes a habit it’s so easy and you don’t even miss having that cash to hand.
Google Docs has a couple of really useful budget tracking tools that I use, which helps me keep a really close track on all my outgoings (and incomings, but I don’t have many of them at the moment lol!)
I am a devotee of topcashback for getting money for things I was going to buy anyway.
Also a fan of ebay/charity shops/ car boots for finding all sorts of bargains.
I’ve had a lot of practice at thrifty living…
I view our car PCP as renting a car too rather than debt. Other than that we got ourselves debt free a couple of years ago and it makes a massive difference. I’d love to be able to overpay our mortgage too. We moved in September and it took a real leap so probably can’t afford to right now, but would love to in the future.
It’s greta to have some goals when it comes to finances because if you write it all down, you’re a lot more likely to actually do something about your debts and start saving 🙂
We now only buy food we need. It’s reduced a load of thrown out foods.
Love this! Our main goal this year is to save money to finally buy a house! I hope you manage the trip to Lapland, it sounds amazing! X
I like to do ‘no spend’ weeks here to save a bit extra! Meal planning is my go to when I need to keep food costs down though! x
Plan meals, shop with a list and try to stick close to it
I try to set myself a weekly budget, erring on the side of caution in case I need to make any unexpected purchases 🙂
Meal planning – we always save money when we plan ahead. Buying groceries online has also helped.
Regular switching utilities, sim only contracts, direct debit make for good savings, and my biggest is probably home cooking from scratch, really does save hundreds !
Shop when supermarkets have reductions, prices are very cheap in comparison to what you would usually pay. Thankyou for the competition x
Review all your spends every time you get a bank statement, and look at the offers from your energy company every time you get a bill. We are on a very good one from Scottish Power at the moment which is coming to the end, so I check regularly for what’s on offer, not leaving it till the last minute and having to take what’s available.
Use a cash back credit card and pay off in full
Only buy what you need. Don’t impulse buy & shop around it’s amazing what you can save. It’s always worth joining Top cash back or quidco to earn money when you do spend.
meal planning is essential, and sticking to the list when doing the food shop, I always use vouchers and cashback sites too
Have a shopping list and go to different shops
Use comparison sites before renewing then make the call
I always think of how comfortable my family and I would be if I save! I always withdraw atleast £20 from my bank each week and pop it in to my money pot at home!
If I am shopping online I always search for the best deals, same goes with grocery shopping.
Using cashback sites & discount codes when buying online!
Set up a direct debit to go out of your current bank account the day after pay day into a regular savings account. if you don’t have it in the first place, you don’t notice it’s gone!
I put a half my earnings in my savings, then i dip into it if needed. Helps me to leave something in their substantial.
I have started putting a little bit away everytime I get some money in so I am hoping to see my savings grow.
erm…not having kids. Only kidding. I do a lot of my shopping online. I ensure I sign up to all rewards programs for the places I shop and got my christmas food shop with the points from morrisons alone and a live Christmas Tree. Planning in advance helps a lot if special occasions are coming up such as making the most of the end of winter and summer sales ready for the following year. I also look online before I spend for any money saving vouchers and am a member of a couple of cashback sites too. I am a pretty frugal mom but it allows me to get the kids the things they want without having to firstly queue for hours for this years must have toy and by buying earlier you don’t find yourself paying double or in some cases more nearer the time.
Not having kids. Only kidding. I do a lot of my shopping online. I ensure I sign up to all rewards programs for the places I shop and got my christmas food shop with the points from morrisons alone and a live Christmas Tree. Planning in advance helps a lot if special occasions are coming up such as making the most of the end of winter and summer sales ready for the following year. I also look online before I spend for any money saving vouchers and am a member of a couple of cashback sites too. I am a pretty frugal mom but it allows me to get the kids the things they want without having to firstly queue for hours for this years must have toy and by buying earlier you don’t find yourself paying double or in some cases more nearer the time.
I put £10 away each week. Some weeks I am struggling so I can’t for that week, but mostly I do
Looking around for discounts and voucher offers, also ask yourself “Do I really need this or do I just want it?”.
Write a shopping list and stick to it – don’t be tempted by all those offers for products you don’t really need!
We save every 20p
Making a really firm budget (I use Quicken) so that you know EXACTLY what you have to spend each month, and sticking to it! It’s amazing how much you can save by simply not buying things you don’t really need. I actually manage MORE treats here & there when I’m strict with myself! I ask myself, “What will give me the most joy/impact?” It also means less clutter around. Win, win! 😀
Make a shopping list and stick to it.
Save as soon as you get paid – set up a direct debit into a savings account on the 1st of every month (for example) as though it is a set monthly bill – even if it’s £50, or £100 it adds up quickly.
Create a spreadsheet in Excel with your incoming’s and outgoing’s so that you know what bills go out on which dates, how much they are and what money you’ll have left – then you can decide how much to save. Also cancel any direct debits you really don’t need.
Call up your utility companies – broadband, gas, electricity, water & see if there are any better deals. We’ve reduced so many of our bills just by doing this. I take the “if you don’t ask, you don’t get” approach. And definitely don’t just accept your renewal price for car insurance as you will 100% get it cheaper elsewhere!
I also always google discount codes to see if I can get something cheaper – and more recently I have started using cashback sites (like Quidco) which I’m hoping will build up over the year and can be used for Christmas.
Bulk in bulk, make a list, write down things you are going to buy to avoid over spending. Also make good use of rebates, cashback on cards, and coupons.
Mine is to stop spending. It’s one of my biggest issues but I notice the difference if I just watch every penny.
Reusing and Upcycling saves me a fortune.
My best tip is not to impulse buy! Put things in your online basket but don’t check out, leave it for a few days and then see if you still really want it!
Best money saving tip: Never ever ever buy on credit. Ever. If you’re tempted to, stop and ask yourself how much difference it would make if you have to wait a month for it. If you are in place where you can’t avoid using credit because you just don’t have enough for the month without it, then you need to get advice on that now before it starts causing real problems.
Don’t buy things on impulse, always shop with a list. It also pays to learn how to sew. I’ve upcycled lots of clothing, making tunics out of dresses I no longer wore, making cardigans out of sweaters and sweatshirts, and have hardly bought any new clothing in the past year except undies.
Use cashback sites & always look for voucher codes
Use cashback sites & search for voucher codes
Sit down and budget! It will make you realise how much you spend on stuff you don’t need!
i try to buy larger packets of many products and then repack and save them in smaller quantities – more economical in the long run
I stock up when there are good offers on and use supermarket coupons
being mindful…….don’t be materialistic! ddon’t waste food, don’t buy a weeks worth of perishable food items!
Keeping a money diary is great, you really don’t realise how much the odd coffee or magazine adds up, once I kept track of every penny and realised how much it was costing me per month, it was much easier to say no! 😀
Thanks 🙂
Look for voucher codes, go on mysupermarket.co.uk and see where the products you need are cheaper. Sign up on Quidco where you can get cashback. Also don’t go food shopping when you are hungry xx
Planning meals, then only buy what you need through an online shopping site, this means that you don’t impulse buy at the supermarket
I save £2 coins in a jar, they quickly mount up.
I write down everything i spend (even if it’s only a few £s) every day. It really helps me feel in control of where my money is going and helps me budget correctly for the month. I have a really nice budgeting book from Paperchase for this, it has columns for every day of the week and a section at the back to keep receipts.
We’ve definitely saved money since we started creating a meal plan for the week, making a shopping list from it and only buying what is on that list.
Set up a monthly direct debit from your bank account to a saving account, that way the money goes out each month like a bill and you don’t miss it.
Don’t waste food – keep a close eye on Use by dates. In supermarkets, always check the reduced section for bargains.
Once or twice a month, check your bank account and round it down, then put the random amount shaved off into your savings. For example, if my bank balance were £667, I’d round it down to £650 and put the £17 in savings. I never notice the loss, and it’s amazing how quickly the savings add up.
I batch cook and freeze it, if you plan meals this saves a lot of money
compare and switch all renewals 🙂
Always make a meal plan for the week 🙂
I go shopping in the evenings when quite often the fresh food is reduced dramatically
I always try to go for the economy and value brands when food shopping as most of these are just as good as the expensive branded items. By selecting the value brands you really can save some money.
I always buy the value or economy items instead of the expensive branded options when food shopping in the supermarket. Most of them are just as good as the branded items and will save you money.
Start with moneysavingexpert.com I trust that site to get my started in buying or paying for anything. They can really save you hundreds or even thousands a year when you follow the advice re your mortgage, insurance and utilities etc
Meal plan and shop around.
Use cashback sites and don’t buy anything you don’t need.
Try and AVE s little each payday soon mount up
Only spend what you need
I always batch cook, save £3 a week on amazon incase an unexpected birthday pops up and always look around for best deals with gas/electric and car insurance plus don’t take my 3 children shopping with me lol as they want to spend money on everything!
i figured out how to dramatically drop my expenditure, i gave my wife control of the bills and my bank card. Now i have more play money
Make lists of what you actually need and don’t deviate from it with impulse buys.
I use a reward credit card to do all my shopping and pay it off in full each month. I don’t have to pay interest and I receive vouchers for doing shopping I would have been doing anyway!
Use cash. Withdraw a weekly amount and live within it
I transfer £7 a week into my Cash ISA. A pound a day, only a small amount, but makes a big difference in savings.
Sony put 2 pound in a jar a day. All adds up
Shop around for the best prices, compare online prices.
I draw out cash every week- its too tempting to pay with card/contactless and lose track. Also this allows us to save copper and silver change in jars
Always put something in your savings after your paid, dont wit till the middle of the month because you never will. If you dont have it in your current account you wont spend it
Just remorgaged and now in deal that it 100 pound a month less
Best tip for saving money is to not buy tea/coffee from the places like Starbucks, Costa etc. Even at £2-£3 a cup it makes a heck of a dent in your budget!
Cook from scratch and love your leftovers
Always shop with a shopping list, it has saved me loads
I always shop with a shopping list and stick to it, it has saved me loads
Shop around to make sure you are paying the best price for anything
Plan your meals….and stick to it!! Plus don’t rule out using own brands and reduced items.
Meal plan, don’t shop when hungry , cook from scratch rather than buying convenience , buy cheaper own make products rather than branded . It’s surprising how much you can save
The best way to save money is to NOT spend it. It sounds so simple but is absolutely the best tip I have ever lived by. The more you manage to not spend from your wages/income, the more you have left over! So to achieve this you can employ a variety of methods such as meal planning and using up what you’ve already got as the food budget I find tends to be the most flexible, finding free activities to do with the kids, managing your outgoings and seeing if there’s a viable cheaper alternative to switch to and purchasing via cashback websites. Every little helps after all!
cooking at home,
take packed lunches to work
Set up a direct debit to save a small amount of money as soon as your wages etc are paid into your account. You don’t seem to notice it and it will build into a little nest egg, or rainy day fund.
i only spend what i need to
Meal plan for the week and write a shopping list from that. It saves spending money on feed you don’t need and will just fill up the cupboard or go off.
Make a weekly meal plan and stick to it
Cook homemade meals, I save a fortune on cooking from scratch, can do most meals for family of 5 for less than £5 and sometimes as little as £2 x
i have started meal plans for the family and only shop with whats on the list im saving over 40 pound a week
Save every week. Be it a few quid or more. It quickly adds up
Have a budget and try really hard to stick to it
Shop around especially online x
If you have access to more than one supermarket, use mysupermarket.com to compare prices on the items you buy, stocking up on household staples when they are on offer
Go to Poundland!
I do most of my shopping online & I never check out until I have searched for any voucher codes, there’s usually one floating around somewhere! I also use Top Cashback
Put all your loose change in a jar – amazing how it mounts up!
I agree with others that meal planning and buying our food online saves our family a lot of money.
Only take as much cash as you need out with you – leave your cards at home.
Every pay day put a certain amount of money in a savings account. Think of it as a necessary bill
Cook a week’s worth of food at the weekend. Dish out a portion in freezable and microwaveable containers, freeze, then take one to work each day – you have convenience and savings both at the same time.
Draw just the right amount money out of the bank for shopping etc and leave your card at home that way you can only spend what you have and won’t spend on impulse buys
We found that we were spending a lot on new books and DVD’s. Charity shops and car boot sales are our friends now. I picked up abrand new hardback which should have been nearly £20 for 50p (they were just about to put it on the shelf as I walked in). We got a huge bag of children’s clothes which had hardly been worn (with the labels like new) for about £7. If you don’t mind “used” clothes especially for the younger ones who grow very fast, they are a great place to shop. Lots of bargains to be had. Oh and buy Christmas cards and wrapping in the sales so when it comes to Christmas you aren’t spending because you have to pay full price. We also try to save 20p when we can. Amazing how quickly they add up and it helps towards our holiday petrol fund as we holiday in the Uk and have had some amazing holidays within 3 hours of home.
Write a meal plan and stick to it
Every year I do the 1p Saving challenge i.e. on day one save 1p, day two save 2p and so on. I find that over the year I don’t miss the money because it’s such a small amount and yet by the end of the year I have saved over £650 – comes in great at the end of the year for either Christmas or starting January sales!
Make ‘fake away’s’ instead of buying takeaways, there are loads of recipes on line, and they are really good! Save you £££’s in the long run!
I make a withdrawal of my “week’s money” on a Friday – that’s all I have to spend for the week (except the direct debits going on bills from our account) and anything left over goes into a savings jar. Paying for things in cash rather then by card definitely helps me keep in control.
I withdraw my “week’s money” on a Friday and that’s all I have to spend for the week. Paying in cash keeps me in control and anything left over gets put into our savings jar.
i put any lose change asode and count it up november time for christmas
I use coupons and search for deals on the items I need. I never buy an offer on something I don need just because it looks like a bargain. also my daughter and I share the BOGOF’s if we need them.
Be a savvy shopper. If you can afford to do so stock up on non perishable groceries when they’re on a good offer. You can save loads of money doing this
Before you buy anything ask yourself if you really need it and if so can you get it cheaper anywhere else?
Leave your cards at home and take your cash with you x
Cook from scratch and freeze left overs
Using vouchers, searching the internet for deals and using as many discounts as you can find 🙂
My best tip for saving money is make home cooked meals instead of ordering takeaways 🙂
Annually check that you are on the cheapest plan for tv, broadband, energy etc. Its amazing how much you can save x
Do lots of meal planning then you wont buy things in the supermarket that you dont need
Meal plan! Weekly shop is easily reduced! We bulk out with veg and then freeze extra portions. We saved over 1/3 and decreased our food wastage. Which has helped us save up for a family holiday! Winners all round really. So simple but makes a huge difference!
Save your change from every purchase you make xxx
Go through your direct debits every six months or so and one by one see if you can reduce it, ring the company, click the number for leaving and ask for a loyalty reduction in price.
Any loose change at the end of the day, put in a tin and watch it build x
I only buy what I need, and any money left over I put into a savings each month, any money in my purse, I put into a jar then if the kids need anything for school I have it
Mine is a simple one:
Make a decision on the max amount of money you want to spend during the week
Draw it out in cash – take only cash out with you
At the end of the week put any cash left over into a savings tub
It makes you think before buying as you know you only have this much to spend
This has helped me save a fair amount
Whenever I buy anything I check to see if I can find a voucher code first. It doesn’t always work, but when it does I love it. Love Quidco and Topcashback too!
Use cashback sites, sell unwanted goods on eBay, buy on eBay, always get several quotes for insurance at renewal.
Meal plan and make a budget and stick to it.