5 of the Best Money Saving Tips Around
It can’t just be me that finds that everything comes at once, and all of a sudden you need to pay for a silly amount of things. This week has seen Sally’s meds run out and the car tires needing to be fixed and while thankfully I’ve got some savings to cover, it is always good to think about long-term ways you can build up savings for those moments when you suddenly need it.
So here are a few ways I’ve come up with saving a few pennies, ready for that rainy day when they are needed.
Shop Around for Deals on Your Bills.
It might seem like an arduous task shopping around for the best deals on your bills, but it really can be worth it in the long run. These days you don’t even need to do all the legwork yourself with comparison websites, giving you a good start on how much you could be saving and with whom.
It isn’t just your gas and electric you could be saving on either, for instance, if you are a Sky customer, they often offer deals if you renew your contract with them, bringing the price you pay down to a more affordable rate. What’s more, you can often do this via their website, I just looked at cancelling our broadband with them and they offered me it at 50% off for 12 months.
Another good idea is to think about if you really need to upgrade your phone when your contract ends. A sim-only deal can save you a lot of money and shopping around can make switching simple.
Give Something Up.
This can be as big or small as you would like, I once spoke about how I put myself on a week-long spending ban, of a drink from McDonald’s, which I would buy on the way to pick Ash up from work. From doing this I worked out that if I gave up getting myself a drink I could save £286.08 per year while switching Ash to shop-bought drinks would save another £101.92. That is quite some saving.
If you aren’t sure how much you could save by giving something up from a takeaway, to a gym membership or eating out, then this great checker from The Money Advice Service, will quickly show you how much you could save per year by giving something you don’t really need up.
Try Own Brands.
Now I’m not going to tell you to suddenly go and buy the cheapest brand in the shop for everything, after all, we all know the cheapest loo roll is absolutely rubbish and as you need to use so many sheets you are just going to end up spending more in the long run. However, some items are pretty comparable and you might just find you like the cheaper own brand, just as much as the branded item you are used to.
I have found the easiest way to bring this into your shop, is to try and switch one or two items at a time, this way you don’t end up with a useless shop. However, over time you will be able to bring down your weekly shopping price down while making sure you are buying only items you will enjoy.
Do You Really Need It?
The sales have arrived, there is so much you would like, but stop and think to yourself, do I really need this item? After all, it is all too easy to get caught up in sales fever and end up spending a whole bunch of money you didn’t really have to spare, on things you didn’t really need.
Sell Your Unwanted Items.
I don’t think there are many of us who don’t have items hanging around we either don’t use anymore or worse still have never used. So why not spend some time sorting them out and getting them up for sale. These days there are so many avenues for selling items, from eBay, to Facebook, and Shpock to a local car boot, the most important thing is making sure you pick the best place to sell the items you have, to bring in the most profit possible.
Of course, these are just a few ideas, but it is worth remembering whatever you do look for savings, after all, you can find them everywhere, even when you are moving. You could even check out this post for 75 ways to make extra cash!
What is your top tip for money-saving, do you have any great hints that should be known by all?
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Great tips these
All very sensible suggestions…you’d make a great financial adviser. x
Great post 🙂 I also oopsie shop for groceries, my freezer is a sea of yellow stickers 🙂
I love money saving idea’s
Impulse buying when shopping is my downfall! Now though I plan meals in advance, so I can write a more definite shopping list and sticking to it definitely saves me money in the longrun.
I love money saving tips as Im always trying to save money including whoopsie buying and couponing when I can find them.
I think it’s really bets to sell unused or unwanted things and turn it into savings rather than have them accumulate dust and take up space at home.
Walk away from something you want to buy and give yourself a few minutes, the urge usually subsides !
We really need to cut back on our spending at the mo. Some great ideas here I’ll be giving a try
As I have a clear out about once a month, I tend to Ebay a lot, which really helps with saving money x
I only buy what is only needed, which saves me a lot. If I want to watch movies, I asked my friends for their Dvds instead of going to the cinema or renting.
Do you really need it? That is my best and most used technique. I usually wait about 24 hours before buying anything. Sure, I would miss on some deals, but I am sure it saved me lots of money!
Yeah, they show up in droves just when you hand a wad of cash over for such nonsense items… sigh. Always save for a rainy day!
In the last few years I have become very proactive about trying to save money, it’s amazing how much you can save with just a few simple changes
That’s cool that that money advice service exists. I need that for sure. I need to be better with money in general. Thanks for these tips.
I can be a bit naughty sometimes J do spend on my little 3 year old grandson. Must admit I’ve had some bargains from ebay for him. I’m wanting a break somewhere so I’m going to sell some unwanted bits on there so could save that. I don’t spend much on myself just try to get what I need . Thanks for sharing your tips and Aldi do have some bargains also there’s everything a fiver for clothes and they are quite good.
Giving something up is a great tip. We gave up takeaways last year and we have saved ourselves a fortune. Not to mention it is better for our health too.
I am with you on that, I need to try and give them up completely as well.
This is a great reminder for myself! I spend too much money on foods. I need to control my spending.
We are the same Ash could eat for England
Currently exercising the “selling unwanted stuff”. We have so much but we don’t use it. Instead of having a guilty conscious I am de-cluttering.
Good luck I hope you make a nice amount doing it 🙂
These are really good tips on saving money. My husband recently left his job to start his own business, so I’m keeping “Do I really need this?” at top of mind when I am feeling the need to impulse shop!
Good luck to your husband on his new venture I hope it goes so well.
Asking if you need it is probably the most important question you can ask. There are also great apps to help you save.
It really can make all the difference, can’t it.
I should ban myself from spending too, that would be great. My biggest expenditure during summer is gardening stuff.
I’m trying not to spend much at the moment as I need so much – like a new laptop.
The thing I most need to work on is do I need it? I have a hard time resisting clothing deals.
I went mad on Everything Five Pound last month, whoops!
These are great tips! I think my favorite is giving something up. We’ve saved a ton on bills just by cutting unnecessary costs.
It is amazing how quickly those costs do add up.
These are all brilliant money saving tips, Sarah. I very rarely buy branded food and drink. I shop at Aldi a lot, and their own brand stuff tends to be made by the same companies as the stuff people pay a LOT of money for 😉
Louise x
Aldi is somewhere I must try shopping more I have heard so many good things about it.
I’ve found that sometimes investing a little money up front can save loads more in the long run. For example, I bought an espresso machine on sale and, even though it cost more upfront, I’ve ended up saving a lot of money by making my own lattes at home instead of going to Starbucks.
That is so true certain things can really make all the difference.
I need to ask my self “do I really need this?” more often! Thanks for the great tips!
These are great tips. I think I need to give up gym membership. A quick run around our neighborhood’s block is way cheaper.
Practical tips for saving money. Either one needs to save money or increase earnings, it is as simple as that. As you mention, resisting the temptation to go for unwanted things contributes greatly to increased savings.
My kids and I always organize a garage sale, like once every quarter of the year. It does hep bring in some cash which we save towards our Year-end vacation. I will try your other tips too!
I am always looking for ways to save extra money. I always use coupons and price match when I can. I have been saving the money I used to spend on a coffee every morning. I already have $200 saved.
What fabulous tips! I do sell a lot of things on eBay, so that helps. But I still need to get better about things. I do love to save money.
I never have the patience to sell our unwanted stuff. I always just donate it. I should work harder to sell it! It would be a pretty penny for sure!
Fantastic tips. I definitely could do with clearing out what we don’t need and selling unwanted items! 🙂
These are some great money saving tips – I really should put myself on a spending ban haha
I am all about finding good deals to save money. I rarely buy anything full price!
I’m terrible when it comes to this stuff! I never ever sell things I don’t want anymore! xxx
Since embracing a minimalist lifestyle, I buy more of what I need and will use, rather than things I feel I might use one day or buy because it is on sale. I have saved a ton of money doing that. Love your tips.
Every time I am in town I am like “do i really need it” but even though I know I don’t, i’ll still get it. I am so bad at saving so these tips will come in very handy! xx corinne
We use some shop brands and I can’t even tell the difference. Not every shop brand is the same but the ones that we use are just like the big brands…or better.
It is amazing how similar they can be, definitely worth just switching around a few things and trying I think.
Thanks so much for the tips, I’m going to put them to use. I throw away or give away so much stuff, I could be making money from it instead.
I am so pleased they might have helped someone, I hope you save a few bob!
These are all really great tips on how to try and save money! Especially trying own brands. I have found that store brand verses name brand are almost exactly alike with the exception of price. Thanks for the great tips!
I think quite often they are made by the same companies, and often it’s just a packaging difference or sometimes they do use lower quality ingredients of course.
We used to have 2 takeaways a week – now we just have one. It’s saved us almost £100 a month! x
It is crazy how quickly it add up isn’t it, it doesn’t feel like much at the time but added together it can be astonishing.
I recommend shopping secondhand. Most of the clothes that my kids and I wear are from thrift shops. Why spend full price when you can get clothes for a few dollars used?
It is amazing what you can find second hand isn’t it, I actually find it great fun trying to find a bargain.
Trying own brands is a great way to save money. We have switched them up before and barely even noticed, and the kids definitely didn’t! Asking whether you really need it is a great way to save money too, more often than not the answer is no!
It is crazy isn’t it, I think it’s often in our heads that it should taste worse when really it doesn’t.
I try to sell unwanted items as often as possible. I am a hoarder, so I have tons of crap that I don’t need.
I’m the same I’m awful for collecting bits, I have to get brutal sometimes though.
I think we overestimate how much we need. We’re all living beyond our means and sometimes we need to learn to give things up for our own good.
Yes I totally agree, it can be hard knowing when to stop and take a step back sometimes.
These are some very good tips. I find that when I want to save cash the own brand products are a good way to save, and often more than not the own brands come out on top of the big names 🙂
Exactly, it’s something so simple to do and honestly most of the time you just won’t notice.
We swear by own brands these days! They are so much cheaper, and generally as good (if not better) than major brands!
Most definitely it is amazing just how similar they really are. I don’t think twice about picking up an own brand now.
It makes me feel good to know that what I am doing is would you suggest here. I am currently going through stuff and selling stuff we don’t use anymore. Everything you mentioned in here I do.
Good luck with selling the bits you don’t lose anymore, I hope you manage to make a pretty penny 🙂
First I try to stay out of the stores. Second I ask myself, do I really need this and what do I need it for. Works for me.
Yes I do the same, and if I’m not sure I try and think on it over night, if I still need it the next day I’m more likely to buy it.
I do all of these
Surprising how much you can save with REALLY minimal effort especially on electric gas and telephone bills
It really is quite surprising, I need to go through all our Sky bits and try and get them down now I think.
Before I make a major purchase, I always ask myself if I really need it and if I have to room in my house for it. I do need to cut back on spending and all of these tips are awesome.
Yes that is such a good thing to do, I always sleep on it for a night or two as well to give myself time.
These are all great tips on saving money! I save money by shopping online for my groceries. That way I don’t impulse spend!!
I do the same with groceries, it makes it so much easier I find.
I call certain providers (landline, cell and tv) twice per year. I check my package and ask if there’s one that will save me any more money.
That’s such a good idea to do, it is surprising what they can bring down for you.