Money Saving Tips

Whether times are good or bad financially speaking, there is rarely any valid reason to waste money by paying more than is necessary for products and services. It is equally unnecessary to have money tied up uselessly.

Many people are surprised at how much money they can save, and how much money they can ‘free up’ by progressing a few basic ideas that are both good for the pocket and in some cases, good for the environment also.

Manage the consumption of heating energy.
Whatever the fuel source is, fuel is expensive. The advantages of insulation and energy efficient boilers are well known, but is it necessary to heat the house to T-shirt level? Turn the thermostat down a degree or two and put on a jumper – the savings will be significant over a winter.

Shop Around.
There is something to be said for convenience but don’t give in to the siren-like calls of that one big shop just down the road. Be prepared to walk around a little to compare prices. Even easier, use the Internet or phone to compare prices on those slightly bigger purchases. The savings can be dramatic.

Negotiate!
Many people in the UK find haggling and asking for discounts to be something of an embarrassment. This is completely different to many other European countries where the first asking or ticket price is rarely paid. Sometimes asking for that deal or reduction can save a small fortune. Be prepared to haggle and if necessary, to walk-away and go elsewhere.

Buy through the Internet
The Internet is not only useful for comparing prices of products on the high street, but purchasing items through the Internet can also save large amounts of money. Many retailers will offer significant discounts for on-line purchases, as it is far cheaper for them to sell online than through a normal store.

Make more food.
The cost of ready-made meals (lunches, take-aways etc) can be very high when checked against what is actually in the package. Convenience is fine, but buying fresh food and preparing more lunches and meals will save a lot of money each month and very possibly be healthier.

Throw Away Less.
Instead of having that quarterly ‘trip to the tip’ to clear out the garage or loft, consider instead how much of it could be sold. These days it is very easy to sell surplus items through websites such as Amazon or EBay etc. The prices received may not always be high, but again over a year they could mount up. Or why not do a boot fair?

Buy in Bulk.
In many areas of life such as foodstuffs, DIY materials and household goods, it is always possible to buy at huge discounts if buying in bulk quantities. Contact neighbours and families to form a ‘purchasing association’ and make these sorts of purchases in larger quantities. The savings for everyone will be very worth having.

Leave The Car At Home
Cars are VERY expensive to run and a massive cost component in the budget of many families. Statistics also show that the vast majority of car journeys are short hop ‘convenience’ journeys to the local shop etc. Try walking or using a bicycle. This will also be healthier.

Check Baseline Household Costs.
In the modern world there is ferocious competition between utility companies (phones, electricity etc) and as a result, some staggering deals to be had. This is also true in financial services covering things such as your household, car insurance or savings policies etc. Check around to see what these are and be prepared to change supplier – it is easy.

Increase DIY.
Many minor jobs around the home do not require a specialist tradesperson. Labour costs are expensive and if it can be safely done on a DIY basis then the purchase of a good DIY book and the liberal use of some elbow grease could save a lot of cash!

• Lots of money can be saved in day-to-day life
• Shop around
• Don’t throw things away but sell them instead
• Be prepared to do more yourself.