Ways to save? What small things make a difference

[GymNewbie]

Shop tesco / aldi.
Rarely brands.
Don't have coffees out. Although i do often buy a cold drink in a shop like a small bottle so obviously this can change.

One car between us. Dh has a work vehicle so doesn't cost us

Like to try save 100pm min

I currently do this now - lots of side hustles - are you on Instagram?
So cashback sites are good

CHEDDAR Is my favourite! I earn cashback automatically at Sainsbury's, Co-op, McDonald's, Greggs and more.

get.cheddar.me/app/BPSENCT

Also only replace clothes when absolutely needed and then its supermarket mainly.

another to is loyalbe which is suddenly becoming a top fav!

Join it and earn rewards when you shop with brands like Boots, Greggs, Primark and more. Use this link to get a sign up bonus:

loyalbe.app/g1FWN8qhtb7778jA7

Finally one that’s brilliant is influence - this is a survey app! I’ve made over £100 on this and used it for Amazon vouchers!

bit.ly/3RiT7sH

There's so many fab ones - using cashback and survey sites I managed to get £550 for a summer holiday paid for in just 2 months just by side hustles! Xx any questions just ask xx

Last one

I earn with the MSR app by sharing data and completing surveys. Use this link to DOUBLE your welcome bonus!
https://contributor.measureprotocol.com/i/FhJCkTYP

I’ve got £14 in less than a week by doing surveys and I can use it on soooo many vouchers (see my stories and highlights) I am really impressed xx

I carry water on longer car journeys or days out, pack a sandwich/fruit/nuts for a hike. I never buy food or drinks when I am out alone, only for occasional social reasons.

Cook from scratch, no prepackaged snacks or convenience food.

Don't go to the shops. It is really easy to buy things you don't need when you are wandering around a shop. Even if you plan to 'just look'. I try to go to the shops as little as possible. Avoid temptation.

Yes that's a good one.
I rarely go to browse. Maybe twice a year.. I do tend to pop to tesco aldi 3x a week to top up fresh

Sorry but no time for surveys etc

Yes to taking a drink. I will invest in a bottle

We've started to get our groceries delivered so that I don't buy more than I need! X

Use your library for free books/audiobooks/magazine downloads etc

Buy clothes when there are sales on - only if you need them or will need them and actually like them, but I have saved a lot by doing that. Use sites like quidco. It's taken a few years but I've had more than 1000 cashback. Scrutinise grocery shopping and see what you can chop back. Don't buy name brand cleaning and toiletries, get a moon cup to save on period products. Get wine when it's on special if you're going to drink it anyway. Get cheap oodie and put it on rather than turn the heating on. Choose car which is lower insurance bracket and fuel cost. Dry clothes outside even when it's freezing. Agree not to exchange presents with friends. Don't give valentines and anniversary friends to SO (agree with them first!). Get books from library rather than buy them. Sell things you no longer use. Those are some of the ideas we use to make ends meet.

Thanks.
Don't drink or read so no expense there.
I probably only spend 100 a year on clothes i always make do because i hate shopping for me.

Definitely go own brand.
Already meal plan but often need top up fruit etc

Having groceries delivered. I can use low to high and find out what the cheapest item is and not buy things I don’t need and no nasty surprises when you get to the checkout and you’ve spent more than you thought.

Gave up my car - I am a single parent and earn 1885 a month - now use public transport hate it but helps me out hugely not forking out for repairs, insurance and what not.

We need the car that's a must. 4dcs all at 4 different education settings only 1 is walkable. The other 3 miles away. One 4 miles but can bus and the other 8 miles away. So it's basically a taxi 2/3 times a day plus after school activities.

Great idea re home delivery or click collect

Batch cook
Veggie, cut out or reduce meat and fish

It's hard to make specific suggestions without knowing your starting point, ie is there scope for you to save £100 pm.

The Moneysaving Expert money makeover will systematically guide you through all aspects of income and outgoings so you can see where you can make savings and a few little things can add up to a significant amount - don't think 'oh it's only a fiver saved, it's not worth bothering' if you find 20 ways to save a fiver a month (or ten ways to save a tenner) etc, then there's your £100 right there.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help/

There's three ways to look at it

increase income/money coming in. Can you work more, are you entitled to any benefits? Plus little things like if you switch your bank account, you can get money for doing that. It can be worth keeping a second account with a couple of direct debits going out of it that you can switch regularly to get the offers.

Then can you get any of your regular spending/bills etc cheaper. Eg mobile phones, broadband, pay TV etc. Food and drink out of the house is a potential big saving. You've already identified the drinks swap from one at a time from a convenience shop to taking water with you. Also if you get takeaways, can you swap to supermarket meal deals instead - that can be a big saver.

Then what can you cut out - is there anything you buy or do that you don't really want/need that you could just cancel?

On the savings front, if you put it away when you get paid then try to manage with what you have left. If you don't touch the £100 you've put away, you've achieved your goal.

Do you have save the change with your bank? It rounds up every pound you spend on your card and puts the extra in savings. So if you spent £1.50 on a drink 50p transfers to savings account. I save about £30 a month without even realising. Only small but over the year it mounts up..

"Top up fruit"

Carrot or celery sticks can be cheaper especially at this time of year

I save pound coins in a box. Counted them the other day and had nearly 400 quid!!
It took a while mind you, but now every pound coin i get goes in there. So, it " pays" to use cash now and then.

I love this thread and thanks for the sign up links. I am going to use them to try to earn an extra £100 a month, and save £100 a month.

Other ways I earn:

I dog sit one dog at a time in my home for £35 a night. Most weeks I am booked 5 of 7 nights.

2 weeks a month I host girl exchange students from Italy. It’s £170 a week per student. I have to provide a continental breakfast (they all have just wanted cookies and coffee and I’ve been doing this 10 months) and then whatever I make for dinner they eat but their favourite is pasta. I have 4 girls at a time. So £1360 extra a month. Then the dog sitting on top of my salary. I was made redundant before covid and it took me 19 months to find a new role so I slammed through all my savings so just trying to get back to flat now.

I don't understand suggestions like this. Surely if you don't 'save the change' the money just remains in your current account?

True but mine gets moved automatically to a separate pot and gets 3.1% interest a month on it.

So the round up amount gets taken out at the same time and you can pause the round ups if you want.

Cut back on disposable items. No kitchen roll. No cotton wool for removing makeup. Switching to washable cloths and bamboo squares has saved ££.

Meal plans to make sure as little food waste as possible.

Buy yellow sticker items and put in freezer.

Zero brand loyalty. Just buy the one that's on offer.

Only do food shopping once a week. When it's gone it's gone. No topping up.

Don't use dishwasher or tumble dryer. And don't wash clothes after one wear.

Use coupons, loyalty cards and cashback credit cards.