*This is a collaborative post.
Wondering how to save money? I’ve put together my top tips to help you save on everything from household bills to clothing and electronics.
Save money with voucher codes
Whenever you’re purchasing anything online it’s worth checking if there are any voucher codes available. Often you will receive a voucher code in return for signing up to a retailers newsletter but you can also search the retailers name and the terms ‘voucher code’ or ‘discount code’ to find any that are available. Alternatively there are browser extensions such as Honey* that will do the work for you and automatically find and apply discounts when you shop online.
Save money with cashback sites
Cashback sites like TopCashback* and Quidco* are an excellent way to save money on both every day and one off purchases. Whenever you’re going to buy something online check both sites to see if there is cashback available. Simply go to the cashback site and search for the retailers name to see what’s on offer. If there is cashback available simply choose the site with the higher cashback amount, go to the retailer page on that site and click through to the retailer. Complete your purchase as usual and you should be able to see the tracked cashback in your TopCashback or Quidco account. It really is a no brainer and I’ve made almost £600 on TopCashback and just over £300 on Quidco since I started using them.
Save money by making things last
There’s nothing wrong with spending money, but unnecessary expenses due to negligence is an issue. When making purchases, you should always consider whether paying a little extra for a luxury item may be better in the long run. After all, an inferior item might not last long, resulting in an additional purchase far sooner. It’s all about cost per use!
We also live in a world where it is very easy to view assets as disposal when, in many cases, repairs are the better choice. A luxury watch battery replacement can restore your timepiece, saving you from having to replace it. Similarly, having links added or removed after a change in weight can prevent unnecessary large costs.
On a similar note, repairing household goods rather than jumping straight to new appliances can work wonders.
Save money on your household bills
If your bills feel like they’re spiralling out of control there are things you can do to try to bring them down.
Water bill
- If you have more bedrooms than people in your household you may be able to save money by installing a water meter. United Utilities have a water usage calculator that will help you find out if you could make a saving.
- Many water companies offer their customers water saving devices like shower heads, timers, tap inserts and more. It’s worth checking out your provider’s website to see what they have on offer; some of these may even be free!
Energy bill
- Comparison sites like Uswitch enable you to search tariffs and see if there are any cheaper options available. Be sure to check TopCashback* and Quidco* as you can often get cashback for switching using comparison sites. When I last switched I saved money on my tariff and made £36 through TopCashback.
- Many energy firms offer discounts if you choose paperless billing and manage your account online.
- Paying by direct debit can be cheaper than waiting until you receive a bill.
Mobile phone bill
- Again using comparison sites like Compare the Market makes it easy to compare mobile phone deals and see if you could make a saving by choosing a new plan. Buying a second hand handset and choosing a SIM only plan may provide you with the biggest saving.
- Airtime Rewards allows you to save money on your mobile bill by linking your debit or credit card and receiving cashback every time you shop. It’s available on both iPhone and Android and you can earn cashback by shopping with over 80 popular brands.
Save money with meal planning
Meal planning is a fantastic way to save money and make sure food doesn’t go to waste. To get started you can grab a free 7 day meal planning template from Reduced Grub. Next select some tasty low cost recipes and write a shopping list. Be sure to include all the ingredients you’ll need to make the meals on your plan and try to avoid buying too many extras when you do your shopping.
Save money by buying second-hand
There’s no denying that second-hand items are often much more affordable than their brand-new counterparts. Consequently, committing to second-hand shopping can save you a significant amount of cash. Many people are concerned about receiving faulty products or dealing with shady sellers when shopping for used products but nowadays when purchasing online many sites offer buyer protection and even product guarantees. One purchase that could mean saving big is cars. It rarely makes sense to buy a new car over an old one since automobiles rapidly depreciate. As such, used Ford vehicles and other second-hand options are worth considering over brand-new cars to save money.
Save money with sinking funds
Putting money aside each month into separate sinking funds is a great way to save for large expenses. Insurance premiums and other big outgoings are often cheaper when paid in full so paying for these with money saved in sinking funds could save you hundreds of pounds.
Saving money is a great idea but you may also want to look at increasing your income. If that’s something you’re interested in take a look at the make money section of my blog.