Here are 12 ways that you can save some money. I hope some of them are useful. Do you have any more ideas?
- Find a better broadband deal: If you shop around you can get some great deals on broadband nowadays.
- Check to see if you are getting the best deal on your gas and electricity.
- Use loyalty cards: Using a loyalty card for your shopping can be a great way to get cash vouchers off your shopping as well as discount vouchers and special offers.
- Record your expenses and income: If you keep a track of your money it becomes encouraging when you can see that you have been able to reduce your outgoings.
- Lose the brands: You may not be a fan of own brand products, but many are not that bad or as good as the branded version. If you do not want to sacrifice food brands, why not start with other things such as toilet rolls, washing powder and household products.
- Consider a Pay as you go mobile phone: Lots of people opt for a mobile phone nowadays because you can get great deals without the need for a contract.
- Make a shopping list and stick to it: I am terrible for picking up things not on the shopping list, but when I manage to my shopping bill is much less!
- Use cash wherever possible instead of a debit card. Handing over the cash makes it much easier to keep a realistic idea of the amount you are spending.
- Take part in community incentives such as online forums. The money saving expert forum has some great threads where people try to support each other in their quest to save cash and share ideas.
- Try to find some work from home options: There are lots of ways that you can earn a little extra cash from home.
- Shop around for your home and car insurance rather than renewing with the same company.
- Make it fun: by rewarding yourself when you meet your goals before moving to the next one. It is obviously counterproductive if you spend more money on the treat than you save but having something tangible in your hands that you could not have had without saving is a huge encouragement for you to continue.