We all have busy lives, full of different expenses and things to pay for. So when you think about saving money, it can be really hard to think of any money that you have spare each month to put aside. I think we’ve all been there at some point. Luckily for any of us in that situation, there is a lot that you can do. There are some surprisingly simple and easy ways to save when you just do things at home differently. We can all do with some extra money saved up. It could be used towards some home repairs, to fix a car or even just save for a luxury treat that you’ve always wanted. I don’t know many people that can survive without some kind of savings. So now is the time to get saving.
If you’re not sure where to start, then why not give these simple ideas a try? You do need to make sure that you are disciplined with it, though. So it could be worth thinking about setting up a new savings account to send the money right to. Out of sight, out of mind! You’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
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One of the biggest ways that we waste money is when we buy and food, drink and household items for the week. We often just grab things that we like the look of or things that are on offer, even if we don’t necessarily need them. We can quite often buy things that we think we might need, rather than things that we do actually need. Having a notepad in the kitchen, or a small blackboard to write things down on, can make such a difference. You could make a new note on your smartphone too. Just use whatever you will remember to update and look at. Then when you’re cooking or in the fridge, you can write down things that you come across that you actually need to get more of. Then just take it shopping, and you won’t come back with things that will just clutter up the place. It will stop you having to go to the supermarket every couple of days which saves you plenty of time and money at the same time.
Switch Energy Providers
If you have watched any money saving program before, you will know that a common thread that they have, is that loyalty gets you nowhere when it comes to your money. Whether that is with a bank or your energy provider; you need to switch it up from time to time. If you are paying more and more for your energy, then it is time to make changes. You might need to be on a better energy tariff or just switch to a provider that has lower rates or better tariff lock in deals. Just check the terms on your previous contract and then switch it over. You could try online, or you might find it easier when it is explained by an actual person. So just look up the British Gas or EDF phone number online, for example.
Drink Water
If you want to save a significant amount of money each week, then think about what you drink. Do you grab a coffee on your way to work every morning, or do you drink a fizzy drink with each meal? Buying these kinds of things can not only have a detrimental effect on your health, but they really do add up. If you stopped hitting Starbucks every day on your way to work, you could save yourself over £12 a week. Added up, that is over £650 a year! If you can make it at home and take it with you, then that would be cheaper. Even cheaper would be taking a water bottle with you and hydrating on that instead.
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So much money can be wasted when you think about the laundry. If you have an energy provider that is costing a lot of money, then it can go through the roof when you’re doing multiple loads of washing a week. We still need to wash our clothes, though, right? But a cheaper and more energy efficient way is to wash your clothes on cold. You don’t have to pay to heat up water to really hot temperatures which is where the saving comes from. So many cleaning detergents work on low temperatures now too, so you don’t need to worry that your clothes aren’t getting clean.
One other thing to change when it comes to laundry is how you dry your clothes. It can be hard to just leave them out to dry at this time of year in the UK. But if you have got a dry day, make sure that you air dry clothes, rather than using the tumble dryer. Dryers use so much energy, costing you a fortune each time you want to dry your clothes.
Make Your Own
There are so many things that are better to make yourself. They can be better for you, but also better for the environment. Think about cleaning products, for instance. Getting some cleaning wipes or surface cleaner can be quite expensive. But something like white vinegar can clean just as well. Plus, when you buy it, you get so much more for your money. You can even make your own laundry detergent when you buy some soap flakes. The chances are that you will have the rest of the ingredients in the house already. There are plenty of ‘recipes’ for this kind of thing on Pinterest.
The same goes for food, snacks, and treats. Have you ever bought a slice of cake or brownie alongside a coffee at a coffee shop? You can pay over £2 for a slice. But when you break it down, an entire cake or brownie mix can cost less than £3. So for things like that, it is totally worth making your own. You’ll see the savings in no time at all.
