subject: Hold Onto Your Cash With These Money Saving Tips [print this page] As the UK economy plunges into a double-dip recession, its important to hold onto your hard earned cash. Moneys not easy to come by, so why not check out these useful saving tips?
Make the most of vouchers
Cutting out vouchers might be a little time consuming, but it could save you money. There are lots of discounts available in a whole array of places, so keep an eye out and know where to look. Check the web for money off in certain shops, flick through your favourite magazines for deals and hold onto complimentary coupons after making a purchase. Whats more, dont forget to scan your loyalty cards whenever you possible as you might be able to get something for free.
Buy in bulk
Sometimes, its better to buy in bulk so look out for those multi-pack deals and giant bags of pasta. Youll have food which will last and last and should be able to save a bob or two at checkout. Its also worth checking the price of items in different stores, so you can get the most for your money. It might not be worth going to ten different shops for ten items (considering the cost of fuel), but heading to one place for meat and another for vegetable could work especially if you live near to a fruit and veg market or a local butcher.
Prepare for a household emergency
Why do household catastrophes always occur when youve no money? The boiler never breaks down at a convenient time and the stove always stops working when youre skint so prepare for an emergency. Take out appliance insurance with a company like HomeServe and be financially prepared for when things dont go to plan. A decent policy will protect your bank balance and will give you the peace of mind you need to get through this tough economic situation.
Only drive when you have to
Cars are expensive to run, so why not lock the garage door and walk, cycle or run places instead? This might seem like a chore, but itll save you money and improve your fitness helping you to lead a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. Sure, you can drive to your Aunt Bessies house (if she lives 50 miles away), but try not to take the car to the shops if theyre only five minutes away. Itll be worth it in the long run and will decrease your carbon footprint.
Write down what you spend
Have you ever documented how much you spend each day? If not, jot down the price of everything you buy and add it all up at the end of the week you might be surprised at what you discover! Once youve digested the information, see if you can cut back on anything and decide where you can make savings. For instance, if you spend too much on shop bought lunches, try making your own and if youre a shopaholic, cut back simple!
The economy is in a fragile state at the moment, so hold onto your pennies in any way you can.
