Saving money isn’t particularly exciting or sexy is it? But saving money can relieve a lot of stress and worry when it comes to going about your life. And if there’s one thing we all need less of, it’s stress!
Our lifestyles are all different so I’m not expecting every tip to be relevant for you. Some might be an absolute ‘no way can I do that!’ And others might be a revelation.
So even if just one of these tips is useful to you, it will help save you a bit more money than you were saving before.
Some of these tips can give you instant savings and some of them will reap the benefits over the course of a year.
Get good at saving money and you’ll be able to feel financially comfortable. That’s what I believe everybody should feel when it comes to managing their money. It’s not about getting rich or having lots of money. It’s about knowing that you’re comfortable living within your means.
So, let’s get you started on your journey to financial comfort.
How to save money on your food bill
1) Avoid BOGOFs on treats
You’ll only eat them twice as quick. ‘Buy one get one free’ deals are designed to entice you and make you buy things you wouldn’t have otherwise bought.
2) Alternatively, split BOGOFs with family or friends
You’ll effectively get a half-price product by buddying up with somebody and splitting the cost. Use an app like Splitwise to make it easy to track shared food shops.
3) Go the supermarket and a full stomach
Ever noticed that when you’re hungry and shopping, you’ll add extra things to your basket? Well, the opposite happens when you’ve just had a big meal and are completely full.
If you do a weekly shop at the weekend, then have a big breakfast, fill your belly and head off with your shopping list. Or go one evening after dinner.
In fact, I often find being so full that you can’t even think of food is a great time to do a food shop. You won’t be tempted by any deals or treats.
4) Buy food that’s gone past its ‘best before date’
As the long as the packaging is in good condition, then an expired best before date means the food is still perfectly good to eat.
It can still feel a step too far for many. Eating fresh is on trend these days. But if you can get your head around the fact it’s still the same quality as in-date products, then there are savings to be made for not being ageist.
There are even websites that specifically sell food past it’s best-before date. You can currently get £5 off your first order at Motatos.
Some supermarkets have even started removing use-buy labels and instead encourage you to do the look and sniff test.
5) Buy frozen instead of fresh
Frozen food tends to get a bad rep for being poor quality.
The truth is frozen fruit and veg locks in nutrients and is cheaper than buying fresh.
Things like frozen berries, peppers and cauliflower can be around 40% cheaper frozen.
In fact, research has shown many of us have started switching to frozen products during the cost-of-living crisis to save money on the supermarket shop.
And there’s less food waste too. Double win.
6) Bulk out recipes with carrots and onions
Versatile and super cheap. You can bulk out sauces and one-pot dishes with these nutritious larder staples.
Carrots and onions can be bought for pence (even though prices have risen recently).
7) Do your food shop in the evening
You’ll be more likely to find those whoopsie sticker products. Buy and freeze. Enjoy the satisfaction.
But be patient. Those sections of the supermarket can get hectic.
8) Check the price of fruit and veg per 100 grams
Now more than ever, we’re trying really hard to reduce our household waste. So ditching food packaging is becoming the norm.
But buying fresh fruit and veg loose can also be cheaper.
Always check the price per 100 grams when comparing packaged and loose fruit and veg. Loose is often cheaper and means you can buy exactly the amount you need.
9) Download an app called Too Good To Go
This app hooks you up with local cafes, supermarkets and restaurants that have surplus food to get rid of.
You typically save 2/3 off the retail price. Greggs is a very popular one, giving you £8 of food for under £3. The idea is that you save money, and less food is wasted.
You’ll usually have to be available at the end of the day, depending when the retailer shuts.
You won’t get to choose what you get so it’s a bit of a lottery. But the app has been around for a while so you can check the ratings of local places. Personally, I only go for ones with at least a 4 out of 5 rating.
Bakeries and cafes are great on Friday nights as you can get a nice box of pastries for a weekend brunch with family or friends. If you’re quick, the supermarket offers are a great way of reducing your food bill. But again, you may end up with things you’d never normally eat.
10) Always take a shopping list
Getting organised is key when it comes to saving money.
So always write a shopping list for your food shop and stick to it. Even if you’re doing an online shop!
I find it helps to visualise your local supermarket as you already know the layout.
It’s good to allow some flexibility to make the most of weekly offers. Most supermarkets rotate offers on lots of fresh food, so if you had one type of potato on your list, and another variety happened to be on offer, then switch them.
How to save money on general shopping
11) Stock up on non-perishable goods
Offers on items that won’t go out of date are great to stock up on if you can afford the extra expense as a one-off cost.
Toiletries
Tinned goods
Foods you can freeze
12) Buy generic versions of over-the-counter medicines
Painkillers, cold and flu remedies and other pharmacy medicines can cost a fortune if you buy the big brands.
But the cheaper generic versions usually contain the same ingredients for a fraction of the price.
13) Don’t always assume cheapest is best value
It’s worth investing a little extra in certain items. Going too cheap and you risk having to buy them more often, so the product becomes a false economy.
Check out my list of 15 items where it doesn’t pay to go cheap.
14) Use online retailers offering free delivery and free returns
I hate paying for delivery.
Free delivery + free returns = risk-free for you.
Sometimes you do need to spend a minimum amount to get free delivery.
Simply spend the minimum to get the item you actually want for free delivery, then return what you don’t need using the free returns option.
But be strong – you may end up adding things to your basket that you decide to keep, which contradicts the point of this tip.
Another handy way of getting free returns if the retailer doesn’t offer it, is to make your purchase through PayPal and use PayPal’s free returns service.
15) Stock up on wardrobe essentials when on offer
Socks, underwear, shirts, blouses. If you buy a wardrobe essential on offer, it’s a great idea to buy a couple of them. Use one for now and keep another in the packaging for later.
16) Buy clothing out of season
Winter coats in spring, shorts in the autumn.
It sounds a bit backwards, but by shopping out of season, you can get some serious bargains on stock clearance as retailers prepare for new season collections.
Is anybody really going to notice how ‘last season’ you look?
17) Take advantage of new customer offers
If you’re ordering from a website for the first time, you can often get a discount by signing up for their newsletter.
18) Refer family and friends for discounts
Businesses make money through word of mouth.
Many companies offer incentives like discounts or store credit if you refer somebody else to buy their products or service.
19) Ask for a discount on live chat
Haggling feels uncomfortable for many of us. Test the water on live chat.
Simply ask the assistant if they can offer any sort of discount.
Just be polite and say something like:
“I’d really like to buy this item, but it’s just a bit out of my budget at the moment. Is there any way I could get it a bit cheaper?”
The worst they can say is no.
20) Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Trying to save money can be hard if your inbox is full of enticing emails from retailers you’ve previously bought something from.
Have an email detox and unsubscribe from any email lists you’re on.
21) Always get new quotes for any insurance about to expire
Say no to auto-renew! If you’re in any doubt about whether or not a company will automatically roll you on to a new plan, double check now.
Put a reminder in your calendar to get a new car insurance quote around 3 weeks before your current policy runs out.
Don’t leave it until the day before as insurers will perceive that very action as risky and make your quote higher.
22) Search for a discount code before buying
Before you hit the checkout, do a quick search for RETAILER NAME + DISCOUNT CODE.
You might get lucky. No guarantees though.
You can also install plugins to your computer that can automatically search for live codes at checkout.
If you end up finding lots of invalid codes, a good place to start with is VoucherCodes.
They give £20 in vouchers if the code you use from their website doesn’t work.
23) Make sure you’re using cashback websites
While cashback websites are a great way of saving money (by getting back some of your spending), consider them a bonus.
The top cashback websites are Quidco and Top Cashback. But there are other cashback offers available through certain banks and apps like Airtime Rewards and Cheddar.
So, you may even be able to get cashback from multiple places at once. Take a look at my tips on cashback stacking.
24) Ask for a refund of the difference if the price drops
If after you’ve received an online purchase, you notice the price has dropped, ask the retailer for a refund of the difference.
By law, you have 14 days after receiving your order to change your mind, whatever your reason.
If a retailer isn’t very cooperative, just say this:
“I’m only going to re-order at the cheaper price anyway, so you’ll incur postage costs for me returning the original item.”
This usually works for me, particularly for large items that need a courier service for returns.
25) Don’t buy instantly
Give yourself a cool-off period. Don’t be lured into limited-time offers.
Most things come back on sale time and time again.
By giving yourself time to think about it, you’ll realise if you really want it or need it. We often buy on impulse for instant pleasure that soon subsides. And it’s nothing to do with the actual thing we’ve just bought.
26) Get lots of free stuff on your birthday
Many retailers offer you birthday freebies for signing up to their newsletter or loyalty scheme. This year I got free cake, a cocktail, a restaurant meal and a doughnut. Yum.
Check out my list of free stuff you can get on your birthday.
27) Check your wardrobe before buying new clothes
In the world of fast fashion, we usually buy things we hardly wear and then they end up at the back of the wardrobe.
Get your wardrobe in order before adding more stuff to it.
28) Buy discounted gift cards
You can save 10-15% buying second-hand gift cards online.
So, your loved one gets a £20 gift card which has actually cost you around £17-£18. Win.
How to save money on household bills
29) Switch energy suppliers
Even if you’re in a contract with an exit fee, this could still save you money over a year.
Energy is energy. Some of it might be green energy if you’re specifically looking for that.
Ditch and switch to make sure you’re paying as little as possible for your household energy.
This one can save you hundreds of pounds a year, so it can be a lucrative move.
30) Go old fashioned with a hot water bottle
Save on your heating bill by snuggling up to a hot water bottle. Or do as your Grandma did and warm the bed with one before you get in.
31) Use energy-saving lightbulbs
Invest a few quid in energy-saving lightbulbs which will save you money for years to come.
Energy-saving bulbs have come on since the days of those annoying light bulbs that take ages to get to full glow.
32) Turn off unused appliances at the wall
Saving on residual energy can save you pounds.
This is really about forming a new habit. Get into a routine of switching off things at the wall when you don’t need them.
When you’re ready to start switching off your broadband overnight, you’ll really notice your electric bill come down.
33) Turn off/down your kitchen radiators
You’ll get plenty of heat from using your hob or oven.
34) Wash at 30 degrees or less
Cooler washes = less energy used.
What’s more, a cool wash still cleans clothing properly.
35) Turn down your water temperature and thermostat
Shave a few extra quid off your energy bills by knocking of a few degrees on the boiler.
You probably won’t notice it but you’ll notice it when your energy bill is lower across the year.
36) Get a water-efficient shower head
Consider investing in a water-efficient shower head.
You won’t notice the difference but you’ll save on water use which will bring down your water bill, especially if you like long showers.
37) See if you can reduce your TV subscription
Many of us have TV packages with companies like Sky or Virgin Media. If you’ve been with a provider for years and never questioned what you’re paying, it’s likely you can save money on your TV package.
Check out my guide to reducing your Sky bill. The principles are the same for other TV providers.
38) Switch to a SIM-only mobile phone deal
Phone obsessed? Then don’t bother with this one.
If you’re not on a contract, there are plenty of SIM deals out there.
Work out what you need most. But these days, most packages contain enough minutes and texts so it’s really about how much data you’ll need, which can bump up the price. So think about how often you use your phone without Wi-Fi available to make sure you’re not under or over-estimating how much data you need.
If you travel abroad a lot, you might be better with a network that offers free roaming.
39) Homeowners – consider learning a trade for household repairs
Household repairs can be expensive.
If you get skilled up on something like basic plumbing, decorating or tiling, you can save yourself some money on hiring professionals.
You could invest in a weekend course at your local college or community centre, or even watch YouTube master classes.
40) Get a phone grip
Even if you have phone insurance, you’re still going to pay an excess charge for any repairs.
The invention of the phone grip has been a game changer.
It won’t guarantee you’ll never drop your phone again, but it’s a worthy investment for added security.
How to save money on leisure
41) Cut back on the little and often purchases
The thing about saving money is that we often don’t notice the little things we buy here and there.
Cutting back on something like your daily takeaway coffee or buying lunch could save you hundreds of pounds a year.
Many households are investing in coffee machines so they can make their coffee at home ready for the morning commute. Or failing that, why not try a quality instant coffee.
Or you could start off by taking your own cup to a coffee shop - some baristas will give you a discount for helping the planet.
42) Get a Big Mac and Fries for £1.99…every time
A nice little hack which saves you a couple of quid on your fast food fix. You’ll need to buy something first of all and keep your receipt.
Then complete the online form – takes about 5 minutes.
You’ll get a code to write on the receipt which you hand in at the till to get your £1.99 Big Mac and Fries next time you fancy a McDonald’s. You’ll then get another receipt for your Big Mac and Fries so you can complete another survey…and so on, and so on.
That’s a saving of over £3 every time.
43) Get Spotify Family if you live in a big household
Great for student houses, houseshares or even couples. As little as £2.50 per house member.
£16.99 gets you separate accounts for up to 6 people living in the same home. A bargain if you love your ad-free music.
Check out my other tips for ad-free music too.
44) Use restaurant vouchers or deals
You don’t have to eat in all the time if you’re trying to save money!
With a bit of flexibility, you can eat out on a budget.
Lunch menus and mid-week evenings offer best value. Whether it’s a set meal or a 241 offer.
Try a 30-day trial at Tastecard for £1 and see what offers you can enjoy.
I went to a local pub recently and paid £8 for fish and chips using Tastecard.
As the unofficial saying goes: ‘Who actually pays full price for Pizza Express?’
45) Have a pre-Valentine’s day
My partner and I don’t really care for Valentine’s Day.
So we have a pre or ‘anti’ Valentine’s Day either the day before or the day after.
It also means we don’t fork out on overpriced and unappealing set menus to confirm our love for each other.
46) Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB)
Alcohol is often the most expensive part of eating out.
So going to a BYOB restaurant can cut the cost of your bill substantially.
47) Host dinner parties and movie nights
If you can’t afford to go out all the time, then bring the entertainment inside.
While a dinner party could get costly, go for a simple one-pot dish, a crumble for pudding and ask the guests to bring a bottle. Affordable fun.
For even cheaper options, why not have a movie night or drinks and games.
48) Brew your own alcohol
Investing in home brew kits can be great fun and save your considerable money on your tipple.
49) Don’t get into rounds at the pub
Keep your own drinks separate, which makes it easier to stick to my next tip.
50) Alternate alcohol with water
An easy way to cut your alcohol costs on a night out is to have a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have.
You’ll save money and you won’t crave the fast food at the end of the night.
51) Always get water for the table when eating out
When you’re ordering drinks get ‘tap water for the table’ too. Unless you particularly want to pay for bottled water.
52) Try cancelling subscriptions even if you don’t want to leave
It’s usually quite easy to cancel a subscription online.
You may find that at the point of cancellation, you’re offered something to stay.
It could be a discount or a freebie. It’s worth seeing what happens. It only takes a minute and you won’t actually be cancelling.
53) Take your own snacks to the movies
Cinema popcorn is one of the most marked-up products in the world.
And nachos just annoy everybody else in the cinema.
Take your own snacks and a drink. But no sweets in wrappers, please.
Cinemas don’t mind you taking your own refreshments, as long its not hot food or alcohol.
How to save money on transport
54) Split-fare your train tickets
It can sometimes be cheaper to buy more than one train ticket to get you from A – B.
Let’s say you’re going from London to Manchester and the train calls at Birmingham.
It could be cheaper to get two tickets from London to Birmingham and Birmingham to Manchester, than just one ticket for the whole journey. You travel on exactly the same train, just with two tickets.
55) Keep it at 60mph
If you’re in a hurry, literally, just skip this one.
But if you’re happy to cruise along in the slow lane, then it’s great for fuel efficiency.
Drive at 60pmh to make your tank of fuel last longer.
56) Use an app called Hopper for cheaper flights
Hopper is a flight price tracking app.
While it doesn’t knock lots of money off flights, it regularly runs flash sales and vouchers for money off flights.
57) Get the cheapest petrol price near you
Use a petrol price finder to get the cheapest petrol near you. Saving on a few pence per litre every time you fill up your car could save you over £100 a year.
And always make sure you’re not going out of your way to get to that particular petrol station.
58) Keep your car as light as possible
It’s easy to keep odds and ends in the boot of your car.
But try keeping your car as clean as possible to maximise your fuel efficiency.
59) Regularly check your tyre pressure
Deflated tyres are basically like pouring fuel straight out of them.
Get your car serviced once a year and check your tyre pressure every couple of months and before a long trip.
60) Buy your breakdown cover through a comparison website
Many of us use the AA or RAC for our breakdown cover.
But you can get it far cheaper through a comparison website.
Key things I recommend to include in a quote are:
Unlimited callouts
Home start – usually costs a couple of quid extra but worth it
61) Time railcard purchases to get discounts for more years
16-25 and 26-30 railcards are available to people who fall into those age brackets.
But these cards last for 3 years, so if you buy the card just before turn 30, you can bag more discounts into your early 30s.
62) Get car insurance quotes from 3 comparison websites
This tip takes a bit of effort, but is worth it given that car insurance is one of the most expensive yearly payments we make.
1) Get car insurance quotes from 3 insurance comparison websites. Make sure to use exactly the same details on each website.
2) Cross check any cashback available for going via the comparison website or through the insurance provider directly.
3) If cashback is greater directly from the insurance provider, get a separate quote directly.
Example:
Your 3 comparison websites tell you that Admiral is the cheapest overall - £300.
You look up Admiral and the price comparison website on a cashback website.
Admiral offers you £40 cashback. The comparison website offers you £20.
Now get a separate insurance quote directly from Admiral. Admiral quote you £310.
With the cashback, that works out at £270. With the price comparison website its £280.
It’s up to you if you include the cashback option. If you do, remember it will take a few months before you get your cashback and make sure you’ve understood the terms and conditions.
63) Pay for car insurance up front
Hopefully some of the tips in this guide will put you in a position to have enough to pay for a lump sum like car insurance.
This is a prime example of why having no savings can put you in even more debt.
If you pay for your car insurance in monthly instalments, like many drivers do, you will pay more than if you paid up front.
64) Get your car serviced every year
Don’t skimp on car maintenance as it could cost you in the long run.
A yearly service will keep your car running as efficiently as possible. It will also help you get the best price for your car should you want to sell it, as you’ll have a complete service history.
65) Carpool to work or even the school run
Good for the bank balance and the planet.
If you and a colleague take turns to drive each other to work, you can cut your commuting costs by 50%
And if you’re not sure how to carpool, why not contact your HR department and see if they could set up a carpool club.
66) Add a second driver to your car insurance
This is a clever little trick than can knock money off your car insurance.
Adding a more experienced driver to your car insurance effectively reduces your risk, so you get a cheaper policy. But the second driver doesn’t ever need to actually drive the car.
So if your partner, parents or best friend have a better driver’s history than you, ask them if you can add them to your policy as a second driver.
67) Take your car to a trusted garage
Do your research and check reviews, or get a recommendation from friends or family.
Going for the cheapest garage could leave with you extra work to pay for.
And if you are told you need extra work doing, if it’s not essential then it’s worth getting a second opinion if you can.
68) Make use of free vehicle checks at Halfords
Halfords offer several basic but valuable free health checks for your car.
Most of us know nothing about our cars, so the option of a freebie for peace of mind is always good.
69) Use supermarket vouchers for petrol discounts
You can usually get 5p or even 10p off a litre of fuel with supermarket vouchers.
You’ll need to spend around £40-60 in one shop to get the voucher.
So don’t do an expensive shop if you weren’t going to already.
You could even use it as an opportunity to stock up on non-perishable offers that won’t go to waste.
How to save money on your holiday
70) Double check flight prices
Flight price comparison websites are commonly used these days.
But always use at least 2 different comparison websites to make sure you’re getting the best flight price.
71) Try booking package holidays independently
Lots of us save money for our yearly big holiday. So why not save even more on the holiday itself?
Don’t assume that package holidays work out the cheapest. Use my guide to booking your holiday independently and see if you can save hundreds of pounds!
72) Buy foreign currency in advance
Fail to plan ahead and it’ll cost you. Buying your holiday money at the airport will mean you get a really bad exchange rate.
Get the best exchange rates by:
Buying in advance and collect your money at the airport
Getting a pre-load currency card that works like a debit card when you’re abroad
73) Use a ‘no-fees abroad’ card
These cards effectively give you the daily exchange rates that banks work with – the best rate there is.
Plus you won’t get charged any transaction fees for making purchases abroad.
I recommend Halifax Clarity credit card or Chase UK debit card as your go-to bank cards for purchases abroad.
You can even withdraw cash abroad too – but make sure you pay off the bill on a daily basis as interest is accrued straight away on cash withdrawals abroad.
74) Be flexible with flight times
The most inconvenient times to fly are usually the cheapest.
75) Consider a last-minute holiday
If you’re not too fussy and can grab your suitcase and go, then waiting until the last minute can sometimes bag you a bargain holiday.
How to save money at work
76) Make sure you know about all your employee benefits
Many of us overlook the little freebies we get through our workplace.
You might get free eye tests, vouchers for work equipment at home and discounts on entertainment and eating out.
A simple email to your HR department asking:
‘I was just wondering if employees get any benefits like eye care vouchers or shopping discounts?’
77) Ask your boss if you can work from home
Of course, many of us are working from home at the moment.
But in the future, whatever it looks like, home working can save you lots in the long run.
Even 1 or 2 days working from home can save you on commuting costs, coffees, lunches, even childcare.
78) Max out your employer pension contributions
Employers are required to pay a minimum of 3% of your salary towards your pension.
But some employers will pay more if you also pay more. It’s called matched pension contributions.
It can feel difficult losing more of your take-home pay, but you’re effectively automatically saving for the long term instead. Think of it like a deferred pay rise.
Plus, you’re getting free money from your employer.
79) Make use of all the facilities
Take a packed lunch
Use the shower
Make free tea and coffee
Charge devices
How to save money being thrifty
80) Grow multiple plants from just 1
This is a great money-saving tip that garden centres often use.
Buy a potted plant and divide it up into 3 or 4 smaller ones at the root.
As long as each new plant has some of the roots, it will easily establish as a new plant.
Effectively you’re getting a few plants for the price of 1.
81) Make your own household cleaner
You just need 3 cheap and eco-friendly ingredients:
Bicarbonate of soda
Lemon juice
Water
Mix it all up to form a liquid and store in spray bottles. Fresh.
82) Batch cook meals
This is a really effective way of saving money on your food bill.
Plan your meals and make several portions of the same dish so you’ve got a freezer full of meals for later in the week.
Easy examples:
Chilli
Bolognese
Stew
Vegetable curry
Sausage casserole
83) Give old trainers a face lift
Before you fork out on a new pair of trainers, see if you can revive a tired pair.
Wash with a stain remover
Get a new pair of laces
Get some deodorising insoles for extra comfort and freshness
Future-proof from dirt and stains with some protector spray
84) Keep unused condiment sachets from takeaways or the café
They can be really useful for one off meals. How often do you need a whole bottle of tartar sauce?
General money-saving tips and rules
85) Try a day without spending
If you struggle to simply not spend all the time, try a day without spending.
Saving more money comes down to changing your relationship with money. And sometimes if the relationship isn’t working, it’s time for a break.
Baby steps first – make use of everything you already have for 24 hours. Sacrifice your daily takeaway coffee, make a sandwich at home instead of buying lunch, don’t browse online shops when you’re bored.
The idea is not to deprive yourself in the long term, but to get a feel for what you think you could cut back on and feel fine.
86) Try a week using just cash
Plastic encourages debt. Look no further than the invention of the credit card.
Once you’ve paid for any absolute essentials, try giving yourself a cash allowance for a week.
This is your spending money for anything you want to buy.
While there are lots of apps to save money digitally, there’s something quite simple about drawing cash out and relying on nothing else.
87) Save on pay day
A successful budget means knowing how much you can put into savings once you’ve covered all the essential bills.
Don’t leave money hanging around in your main bank account. Move it into your savings account straight away so you’re not tempted to spend it.
88) Learn to say NO
Most of what we buy we don’t actually need. We live in a world of excess.
Learn to say no to things and your brain will start to realise which things are actually important to you and worth spending your money on.
89) Give it time
A lot of these tips don’t bring in savings overnight. They involve making lifestyle changes which will help you save significant amounts of cash over time.
Remember you’re on a journey to that feeling of financial comfort.
90) Shift your debt to a 0% credit card
The worst thing about debt is that it makes you get into even more debt.
0% credit cards are a great way of cutting down on interest payments. You can even move your debt from an existing credit card over to a 0% credit card – effectively stopping anymore interest building up.
These cards can also be useful for buying things that normally you wouldn’t be able to afford.
For example, with our car insurance scenario, you could pay up front for the insurance, then pay off the credit card every month for a year instead of paying extra money to the insurance provider.
Always check the terms though – each 0% credit card has a limited period where you’re not charged interest, so make sure you’ll pay everything off before that period ends.
91) Get organised
Saving money means putting a plan together, planning ahead, planning and more planning.
Eventually it becomes habit.
92) Set a goal
When you have a savings goal, it makes you accountable and gives you something to aim for.
It could be a fixed amount or saving for a specific thing.
But don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Goals can be adjusted for unforeseen circumstances.
In general, short-term goals are within the next 12 months. Medium goals are 1-5 years.
And long-term goals are more than 5 years away. Putting timeframes to goals can help you decide the best place to put the money your saving.
93) Learn from costly mistakes
We’re all human. And you often must make mistakes with your money to learn to manage it better.
94) Keep a change jar
For the more tech-friendly, there are plenty of apps that will round up your spending and stick the spare change into online savings.
For the more traditional, get an old jar and fill it with your pennies.
95) Budget so there’s nothing left
Don’t leave anything accounted for. Give every single pound and penny a job, whether it’s for essentials, extras or savings. I call this zero-budgeting and it can be a great way of taking the guess work out of budgeting.
96) Talk to somebody
If you’re really struggling with your money, there are some amazing organisations that can give you free, friendly and professional support.
Try the Citizens Advice Bureau or Step Change. Many employers offer access to the Employee Assistance Programme for free.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
97) Join online groups
There’s a bit of a stigma around being frugal. A lot of people who have no concept of money management just think you’re cheap and boring.
But online there are lots of groups and forums where you can share tips and support likeminded people.
Surround yourself with people in a similar situation and you’re more likely to succeed.
98) Over 55? Get a free will in March or October
Every March and October is Free Will Month for the over 55s. You can book an appointment with an approved solicitor who will help you create your will.
Alternatively, you might be able to create your own Will for free.
99) Get the best interest rate on your savings
Right now, interest rates are better than they have been for years.
So, if your cash is just sat in your current account earning diddly squat, you only have yourself to blame.
Opening a new online savings account takes 15 minutes and could give you hundreds of pounds interest a year.
Summary
There are lots of tips here to help you save money. Implementing just a handful could help you save towards a goal or even help you change your spending habits for the better.
