What are your thrifty money-saving tips? Share with Scottish Friendly to win a £300 voucher NOW CLOSED

[AmeliaMumsnet]

Scottish Friendly are launching the Great British Savings Challenge to encourage people to think about their saving habits and financial security. For young people in the future, saving for a financially secure family is going to get tougher, so Scottish Friendly want to encourage a positive discussion on the subject, by asking you for your top thrifty money-saving tips.

Here’s what Scottish Friendly have to say: ‘The Great British Savings Challenge will follow 2 families from across the UK spanning a range of family and financial circumstances. Each family will take on a series of challenges; ranging from only using cash for a month to see if they keep track of expenditure more closely, to swapping the brand they buy at the supermarket.

Each family will produce blogs and vlogs each month to be hosted on the Scottish Friendly website. Readers will able to keep track of their progress, the problems each family faces along the way and how they work through these.’

So, whether you put aside percentage of your wages, or just rifle around the sofa cushions every few months for small change.. Maybe you plan all of your lunchtime packed lunches to avoid expensive coffee shop sandwiches or have a cheaper home-made alternative to branded cleaning products.. Share your top thrifty tips for saving money on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

For another chance to win, add your money saving tips to Scottish Friendly's Facebook post to be entered into a prize draw for a £10 gift card.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[Theimpossiblegirl]

I like to shop around to get the best prices for things (goods, utilities, holidays, you name it), always go through Topcashback and am a frequent visitor to the Mumsnet Chrismas bargain threads (all year round).

That said, I won't drive extra miles to get a few pennies off milk, or scrimp on binbags, some bargains can be a false economy.

[theresamustgo]

Rotate the supermarket for my daily lunch of soup. At any one time there is a social offer on soups somewhere! Even better of course would be to make it myself...but I don't get round to it!

[SerialReJoiner]

We've saved a lot of money by dramatically cutting out our meat and dairy consumption. We aren't vegan, but we are nearly so. I've been very surprised at how well we're eating without spending all that much. I can keep our weekly shopping bill hovering around £75/week for seven of us!

[LuxuryWoman2017]

I check MySupermarket to see who has my more expensive items on offer (Coffee, dishwasher tablets, laundry products etc.) then stock up a bit.
I use my freezer for everything, even half an onion gets frozen for another time. I do surveys for extra cash, vouchers and loyalty points.
We use cashback sites whenever we buy anything online too.

[sharond101]

I visit the supermarket at mark down time. Got an enormous free range chicken for 50p last night!

[GoodyGoodyGumdrops]

Sew. Not necessarily dressmaking. It saves a lots of money being able to repair worn clothes, or modify garments for another child or purpose. Ditto soft furnishings, bags, towels, bedding, etc.

[Wilma55]

Don't be loyal to any one supermarket. If you don't go for a while they send money off coupons.

[TinfoilHattie]

For me it's all about shopping around. Not assuming that the price offered online is better than the price you can get in the high street.

In terms of supermarket shopping, I'm a huge fan of the reduced to clear section, buy meat and fish and then freeze it for later use. I'm also open to trying supermarket own label products and am not loyal to an expensive branded range.

[asuwere]

I am not brand loyal so buy whatever is on offer. I do try to shop around to get cheapest but won't go out my way to save a tiny amount; you've got to be sensible. I do always use cashback sites when shopping online and always do a quick search for codes or vouchers before making a purchase.

Biggest tip is to never go food shopping when hungry or with a really grumpy toddler as you'll end up spending much more than planned!

[CopperPan]

I make the most of offers and stock up when an offer is on. I keep an eye out for the on Hotukdeals and the Moneysavingexpert websites. I buy reduced items that I can freeze, and I'm not worried about buying some products with a short use-by date, e.g. yoghurts taste fine.

I keep a stock of snacks like cereal bars and drinks in cartons for snacks when going out. We never stop in coffee shops just for convenience.

I generally go for cheap toiletries and cosmetics - there are plenty of cheaper brands that are cult classics and last just as well as the more expensive ones. I also shop in places like Poundland, Savers and Home Bargains which often have good brands for cheap prices.

For clothes, I always buy in the sales and stock up for next year's summer in the autumn sales. I can sew well enough to mend holes and sew on buttons, and take up trouser hems.

[mrsglowglow]

Before ordering anything online I do a google search of the store name and 'discount code' . quite often I manage to get between 10 and 25% off plus free delivery so well worth checking.

[Silvertap]

I pay myself first. £50 of my salary every month into a stocks and shares isa.

I would just fritter that money away but as it's allocated to an isa I don't think it's there to spend.

Other money saving tip - marry someone tight. I've saved a LOT more since meeting my DH!

[Vonklump]

I meal plan weekly, and write else what i need on a list throughout the week. It avoids buying food which is then wasted, and buying essentials at the local supermarket which is more expensive.

I bulk buy offers, especially products like laundry detergent and look roll.

We take packed lunches to work, and don't buy canteen or café tea/coffee whilst at work. Similarly we take packed lunches, snacks and drinks when we go on day trips.

When money was tight I cut back on the little purchases, such as my habit of buying a bag of sweets when i filled up with petrol. Once you stop doing it you get out of the habit.

[IToldYouIWasFreaky]

"I pay myself first. £50 of my salary every month into a stocks and shares isa."

I was just coming on to say that! Set up a standing order to your savings account right after payday...don't wait until the end of the month to see what's left, chances are nothing will be!

Review all of your utilities regularly to make sure you are getting best value for money. And haggle! I got a reduction on my broadband just by phoning and asking for their best deal (and suggesting I might look elsewhere...)

[WowOoo]

I used to always have plenty of cash on me, just in case. But of course I spend it all! So, I'll let myself have a smaller set amount and not get anymore out.

I also shop around and get lots of meat etc when it's reduced and freeze it.

[EasterRobin]

I pay a little extra off the mortgage as soon as I'm paid.

I stock upon expensive items like laundry products, pet food and personal care items when they are on offer.

I try to have at least 1 meal for less than £1 a head each week.

[SillySongsWithLarry]

I pay money into savings before anything else is spent.

I live cash only. Withdraw a set amount each week and when it's gone, it's gone.

Separate bank accounts for bills, savings and spending. Never mix the accounts so never go overdrawn.

[UpOnDown]

I keep a spreadsheet of all my incomings and outgoings, so I can always see where I am.

[Sierra259]

Check your current account balances every day, so you know exactly where you are with things.
Get cash out for the week and try to stick to only spending that amount, rather than just using the debut card.
Online food shop and meal planning - the old MN favourites But doing it really does save you a fortune!
Compare prices online and use cashback sites when you get a good % back, especially for larger purchases.
Definitely take packed lunches to work and for day trips out.
Cheap/veggie dinners once or twice a week. Jacket potato, omelette, using up stuff from the fridge/freezer etc

[travelmad]

I check my online banking daily and whatever the pence is on my current account balance is, I move to my savings account. So if I have £52.45 I save the 45p. I don't miss those pennies, and the round figure they leave make working out my finances easier. Pennies may not seem much they soon add up!

[foxessocks]

Meal planning and writing a shopping list helps keep my food bill down , as well as shopping online so I can take things out of my "basket" if I go over budget!

[healthyheart]

I buy most of my clothes from EBay. 95% of the time I'm pleased with my buys; they cost around one fifth ( sometimes 10%!) of what they cost in the shops and I love receiving my packages in the post! Sometimes when I'm feeling extra thrifty I recsell them a year or so later on EBay! Other times I donate them to the charity shop.

[healthyheart]

Another tip, don't always buy leading brands at the supermarket, try their own brand lines e.g. Ketchup, washing powder, cereals, etc, saves a fortune 'every little helps!'

[Fanciedachange17]

I've found having a milkman has helped enormously. I've never been able to "pop" into a supermarket for milk and come out with just that. Also, our milk is lovely and creamy and comes in glass bottles which are washed and returned. I avoid plastic packaging as much as possible and now only need to put out my bin every other month or so which saves on time and bin bags. All kitchen waste and paper/ cardboard goes in my compost bin.

[Fanciedachange17]

I don't buy expensive beauty products. TBH using coconut oil, sugar and maple syrup or honey gives much better results anyway. I brush my teeth with Bicarb. They are healthy and white and my dentist comments on how good they are compared to previously.