Summer Savings Challenge Wrap Up
Back in August, I spoke about the fact I was taking part in the Summer Savings Challenge.
It has now been 6 weeks and it is time to look back on how I did and think about how I can keep moving forward with saving.
What Was the Summer Savings Challenge?
For anyone who missed my original post on the summer saving challenge, I’ll give you a bit of a recap.
While in the name it is for summer, it is a challenge you could look to take on at any time.
Shepherds Friendly kindly produced some printables, which make keeping track of your savings from the challenge easy.
As well as offering up some ideas which you might like to follow for the challenge such as:
- Car Sharing with Friends or Work Colleagues.
- Cancelling SKY or premium TV apps.
- Swap the Gym for Home Workouts.
- Freeze Food to Make it Last Longer and Save on Waste.
- Make Packed Lunches Instead of Buying Out.
To name just a few.
How Did I Do?
For my 6 weeks I decided to take on the following challenges:
Week 1 and 2.
Check out those subscriptions – cancel those that aren’t used or wanted anymore.
Week 3 and 4.
Think about turning things off, a long-term goal to help bring the electric bill down.
Week 5 and 6.
Research before buying. Think about coupons, discounts and search for the cheapest price overall.
If you have been following my Facebook page, you may have seen my weekly updates on how I have been doing with this challenge.
For those of you who haven’t here is how I did.
Over the first fortnight, I managed to save £50 per month. Just by cancelling subscriptions which either we didn’t use anymore, or downgrading ones which perhaps we didn’t use to the fullest but we did on a smaller scale.
For me, I think this is something I am going to try and do every few months.
Most subscriptions go out on the 1st. So that will be a day to sit down and look them over.
The next fortnight was more a time to look at myself.
I am awful for not switching things off, be it lights, the radio or the shower and even taps seem to be an issue!
I have been trying to be more self-aware about the things I do. It is a slow process, I’m not going to lie and say, oh yes I’ve managed this 100% of the time. As I haven’t.
However, hopefully, I am starting to go along the right path when it comes to remembering to switch more things off.
For the final fortnight, it was all about remembering to look for discounts.
I have to admit I’ve not bought much this last fortnight, so it’s not been as positive as it could be.
That said I have added the TopCashBack* toolbar to chrome and I’ve started trying to dig out all the vouchers I’ve accumulated across the year, ready for Christmas shopping.
Final Thoughts.
I think for me this challenge has been a success, I have visible savings already.
While I also have things to keep working on. As well as ideas to help expand my saving channels as time goes on.
When it comes to what I am going to do with those pennies, I think I will definitely be looking to place them into something like a Stocks & Shares ISA.
Something which will allow me and push me to save long term, due to the rewards it offers.
Have you been taking part in the summer savings challenge, or been doing a savings challenge all of your own, how have you done?
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Some great money saving tips on this blog! It is definitely worth checking spendings and seeing where you can make cut backs especially on things your not using 🙂
Definitely, it can make all the difference can’t it – it’s crazy how much is out going sometimes!
Some great ideas here, I definitely need to cancel some subscriptions to save money, I am actually going to do this today! Including Sky, It’s far too expensive to have Sky. It has to go and today is the day!
Great tips. Thanks for sharing.
I really need to try this, especially cancelling subscriptions as I pay a stupid amount for them!! Great idea and I will certainly be trying these ideas.
Really helpful ways to save money & to live more sustainably. Thanks for sharing! It is certainly something we could all do! xx
Having been through financially tough times, savings are very important to me. Other than the points mentioned by you, I also invest in SIP
Oh what’s SIP I don’t think I’ve heard of that before?
That’s awesome, it’s feels amazing to be able to save up. You’ll feel more accomplished and content as well. Keep going, these are great tips for others!
These are all such good ideas! Simple things but some that we just forget about! I started a challenge with my electric company to use less power and so far it seems to be saving me some money!
Ohh that’s a good challenge as well – I hope it goes well for you.
This is a great idea. Well done on saving, it all adds up x
Love the tips! Especially freezing food for longer. I end up throwing so much food away and hate it.
It is a good idea, I always forget the great things about a freezer lol.
Saving is always great then later sorry. Wow, summer saving challenge sounds cool.
Most definitely and there are so many things you can do to try and make a few pennies.
We just canceled subscriptions. I had this realization of just how much we were paying every month in little chunks and it really added up.
It is crazy isn’t it – I’m sure it is so easy to just spend little bits without realising.
Congratulations on successfully finishing your challenge! Summers are great times for challenges like this, because you have so much more free time to remember to include them into your routine!
Thank you so much it was really good to manage to get through it!
Congratulations on your £50 saved so quickly! I definitely need to sort out my subscriptions! You’ve just reminded my I have a PlayStation store one to cancel!
Thank you so much! Ash hadn’t been on his Xbox in forever and that renewed on us, luckily they gave it back but I was like argh no!
Sounds like you have been doing pretty well. Every little thing really does add up. It’s amazing what you can save when you cut things out.
I think I have done OK! Just need to try and keep it up now! LOL
A wonderful list of ways to save.
My husband always tells me, “it all adds up!” ..because I’m the one that says “it’s fine it’s only $20” lol but I’m to realize that over time those small purchases or things you can cancel make a huge difference!
Haha it is so easy to say that though isn’t it as it does feel like it’s just 20 at time.
Fantastic! It just goes to show that saving a few pennies here and there doesn’t have to be difficult. I’ll have to give this a go too!
Most definitely it is silly how much it can add up to isn’t it!
I could really do with implementing some of these ideas myself 🙂 I much prefer saving for things and by making small changes it isn’t as difficult as you would think
It is so much easier to keep on track with them isn’t it when you do just a little at a time.
I have to take note of your techniques and tips. Definitely time to revisit all my expenses and see what should be taken out to save more and lessen expenses.
Good luck I hope you manage to bring down your spending just a little 🙂
I should start looking into my subscriptions as well, I bet I could save some money by cancelling some of them that I don’t use anymore. It’s funny how these tiny things can save so much money!
It is well worth doing it is so easy to just keep things running and forget about them.
I need to do this all year round! I’ve been spending way more money than I’ve actually wanted to and one of the things I should practice is researching a product more before purchasing – like couponing! You’re so right.
Oh no 🙁 I hope these tips help you a little to get back on saving tracks then!
These are some great tips, and I should definitely start following them. All those little things tend to gather up, and we don’t always see them!
Good luck if you do decide to give them a try – they are quite simple to bring in!
Sounds like you have some great ideas on saving money adn did pretty great at following your plan! Great job!!
Thank you! It has definitely been interesting working it all.
I just purchased Hulu with local channels and sports and saved $50 a month on my TV bill. I am so excited about it!
Oh wow that is amazing what a saving! I hope you enjoy your new TV!
This is awesome. I definitely accept this challenge. I already do most of these but it wouldn’t hurt to do them again.
Most definitely I think there is always something extra you can try doing as well.
I think you hit on the biggest point which is just keeping at it. Not getting overwhelmed and knowing that every little bit you save helps in the end.
Most definitely little steps at a time which aren’t big are the best way to go.
I love the concept of the Summer Savings Challenge. I have to get better at not wasting food and using what I have on hand.
Good luck with doing that I think we can all do with trying to be better with our food wastage.
Sounds like you did well over the summer. We cut the cord completely and just use Hulu and Netflix…that’s almost $100/month in savings.
That can make such a difference, I think so many people are going to ondemand only, of course over here it saves you your TV license costs too as long as you don’t watch BBC on demand.
It’s worth doing! It’s great what different cutting down on something can make in your life 🙂 x
Most definitely and I don’t miss those savings either which surprised me.
Wow £50 a month is impressive, especially just from cancelling subscriptions. I must look into ours tonight 🙂
Honestly, it was so bad! I have to admit some I cancelled as I have a backlog of items although I still liked getting them.
As I tell my kids, the little things add up. So keep up the good work on saving.
They really do – I was amazed how many pound coins I had amounted recently!
These are great tips to save money. Last year, we cut our cable bill by switching to Roku and Sling. Saves us so much money!
I think so many people are saving by moving their TV companies. It is amazing.
This is such a great post filled with great tips to save a ton of cash! I struggle to keep tracks on monthly direct debit of apps that don’t seem like much but all added up make a lot of money.
It is crazy how quickly they all add up isn’t it – sometimes it amazes me how much I pay on bills.
I have not been very good at saving this summer but sounds like you nailed it! These are great tips to get better at saving!
Hopefully a little bit haha! Good luck if you decide to do some winter savings.
These are all great ways to save. I do find that a gym membership helps me to actually work out. However with YouTube, there really is a lot out there on the Internet.
I think if you’re using it – it isn’t a bad thing, it’s when your not it becomes a problem.
Saving money can help you become financially secure and provide a safety net in case of an emergency. Here are a few reasons why we save: Emergency cushion – This could be any number of things: a new roof for your house, out-of-pocket medical expenses, or sudden loss of income.
Most definitely it is always good to have an emergency fund for when the worst happens.
These are great tips that I know my husband would love, he is the switch turner off in our house. Keeping the cable bill to a minimum usually makes so much sense.
My other half is the same, he’s always telling me Sarah you left X on again whoops!
That sounds like a great challenge! I’m glad it was a success for you! Thanks for sharing your journey.
Thank you so much! It was great to be able to take part and learn some new ways to save money for sure!
great tips and it is always the small things the pile up! mine is the daily visit to starbucks, cutting that out save me a lot
It really is, it is amazing to see how the small purchases can quickly mount up on you.
We have done some of the things you mentioned. We are saving more than a hundred on cable (we cut the plug) and also saved on cell phone by switching.
Ekk that is amazing – I think a lot of people are deciding to do that these days.
Majority of your list what I practice doing. For example carpooling with my husband to go to work everyday since we both working at the same time. We also bring our own lunch to make sure we stay in our diet. Aside from that we cancel our cable years ago not only to save up money also to give us reason to go outside and more active.
It is awesome to hear you already have most of it already down! That is awesome!
Thanks for the tips. I love savings challenge and we encourage our kids to do it as well. They also do savings challenge for things they want to purchase or if we’re going on a trip and they want some travel money for souvenirs etc.
That is awesome, I think the younger you learn the easier it is to keep going with it.
Congrats on the savings and I wish I had knew about the challenge as I would have joined in. But like you said we can do it at any time and with the Holidays around the corner now is the perfect time to get started.
Most definitely just because it has summer in the name doesn’t mean it needs doing over summer.
I try so hard to save and every time I get ahead, something comes up. I feel like I just can’t win.
It can be so hard can’t it – I always find the same, I manage to feel like I’m getting somewhere and bam it has gone.
It sounds like you are on the right track to save more money! I do a lot of stuff to try to save as much money as I can, but you have a few more ideas than what I thought of so I think I might try a few of your suggestions.
I hope so I would really like to get my savings up for sure!
With such great steps to more saving, I’m certain that you did save a lot especially when it comes to buying only want is necessary and also buying on sale.
Most definitely I have to admit I always buy on sale haha! I’m awful don’t like buying anything full price.
All of us need to stop and see where we can save money. We are down sizing the tv package. Big savings.
Most definitely I think it can be so easy to just let the money flow out when it comes in.
Glad to have picked up few of the tips you shared here in order to save money. I like car sharing with friend or work colleagues as it will also do the environment good.
I am so glad it has helped you pick up a few tips! That is great.
Interesting post I learned a lot, I just put my foot down now and insisted my kid turned my lights off, although my kid is responsible for keeping the lights on. Thank you.
Haha yeah I think if your often told as well it can become a habit to turn them off which is good!
This is super helpful. I use cash back websites and an app called Chip which stores money aside for you without you even realizing it! I’ve saved sooo much since installing it x
I use chip as well – it has to be one of my apps for 2018! I love that you don’t notice what it takes.
This is something I could do and I don’t mind trying it out. Saving is always a great thing to do.
It really is and their ideas are so simple to implement as well.
No challenge but I do try to save as much as I can every month but sadly this month I haven’t been able to due to it being a festival and travel kind of month!
Ever little helps doesn’t it at any time I think.
It is very helpful. Now i m accepting this summer challenge.
Good luck with doing your own summer challenge!
This is great!! A lot of them is what I do already – don’t forget buying a food saver vac pack ??. It’s amazing the amount you can save when you look at the little things in your daily routine
Ohh now that sounds like an interesting thing to buy! I am totally going to look into it now!