Money has been really tight lately (for loads of us). Thankfully I am ADHD and once I become obsessed with something (saving money) I can make big impact without feeling too deprived. Using savvy little things to save a bit is now my obsession! I wanted to pass on some top tips and advice I've learned in case they help. Please be kind and there is no need to abuse me, I realise I'm not on the breadline and these tips are to try to help and so please take them in the way they are intended;
Prolific estimated saving £240 per year
I've joined this survey site and do online surveys and make a tiny bit of cash on it although not much - maybe £5 a week or so.
Jam Doughnut estimated saving £187 per year
I got thjs tip off another mumsnetter and it's bloody brilliant! Before you do your shopping and instead of paying cash for your shopping (either online or instore) buy a voucher from JamDoughnut to pay for your shopping rather than paying by card for it. The savings in the form are fantastic and way way better than any of the cashback cards you can get or nectar/tesco club card etc.
For example. If you shop at Tesco then the cash back at the moment on that store is 3.9%. Let's say you spend £400 per month in Tesco. You buy the vouchers online and over a year you would build cashback in that account of 3.9% or £400x12 = £189!! That is £189 of free money for doing nothing. It's so bloody easy to do.
Similar cash back amounts are available for Sainsbury’s Waitrose & Asda. There is no catch.
What's more I think you can also still use your nectar/tesco club card at the til so you won't loose those points anyway but to put it in perspective that's worth about 1% value of what you spend only so the Jam doughnut is pretty valuable!
I have a code I think for you to get a bit of free cashback i think if anyone wants it let me know and I will share. Ask me any questions if you don't understand it.
Coffees out estimated saving £4.55 x 2 x 52 = £473!! (Not including any heating saving on tha)
I used to spend a lot of money on coffees out when I was more well off than I am now and so I really missed this. I did like Pret's subscription of £30 for almost as many as I could possibly drink but now that's changed What's more I find in the winter I would work from a cafe (Pret) and get as many coffees for the £30 per month and not pay for my heating in the house. Unfortunately pret's subscription has changed so I had to get my thinking cap on. I've currently got 2 routes;
1 I get 1 free coffee per week with Octopus energy who I love
2 I have health insurance at work with vitality and as long as I get my steps in then I get one free coffee per week with that
Both of those coffees are with Cafe Nero.
You can have any coffee you want so I get a massive latte with a double shot. It's huge and lasts me for about 1.5 hours (I drink it slowly) and this means I can have a good few hours in cafe Nero a week for free!
More about Octopus; based on 2 referrals £100 per year
I also get cheap cinema tickets with them and if I refer a friend which I always do because the fixed tarriff is so good then the new person gets £50 off their first bill and I get a referral fee of £50. If you want this it's;
Your Octopus Energy Referral code
Use this link to sign up to Octopus - share.octopus.energy/taupe-gale-131
Walking not driving; £58 x 12 = £698 per year
I've cancelled my gym membership and I walk everywhere! My steps are high (helps my vitality status) and I save on the gym but I also save on petrol a lot.
When I do drive I drive more economically and watch the miles per gallon - OMG I used to drive badly! I reckon I save a fair bit with this!
Olio free food - savings depends on what you find
I use this a lot now. So much food goes to waste I signed up and keep an eye out. I'm always polite and say if someone else wants it I won't but often people tell me it's going to go in the bin if I don't take it! Lots of the stuff is past its best but it's free and I honestly don't really care! It goes straight in my freezer often and it's making a big difference to my monthly food shopping.
Using less meat - difficult to put a price on
I know a lot of people do this but writing it as a reminder. We have meat free meals and when we do have meat I bulk it out with lentils, beans etc. makes a huge difference. You can still eat well like this and it can be more nutritious.
Buying clothes on Vinted - no amount placed on it but it's kind of obvious
I know loads of people are on to this - My new obsession! Shopping on Vinted has given me a new love for shopping you can buy things and wear for a few months and sell it on for almost what you paid for it and feel guilt free about sustainability as well as your wallet. I bloody LOVE Vinted!
Bank switches
I just do these always when they are available! If you haven't then just do it - it's free cash!
Finally
Just don't bloody buy it! I think some of us have had the luxury of feeling like in life we 'need' when actually we don't we just want. I'll give you some examples which I know I was privileged to have and think I needed - gym membership, eye brow threading, Amazon prime (which I now pause when not needed incidentally).
Of course I never bloody needed them but over time they had become a need and not a want any more. I cast my mind back to my grandmother in the 70's & 80's who would of course never have had any of those as needs. I now assess everything in this way and it's mind blowing! Yes I do still get my hair done and coloured by a professional but I'm really mindful that this is not a need but I am choosing to do so! I do this with everything single thing and it's changed my life.
Some of the best books I've read on this sort of thing;
Get rich lucky bitch
The no spending year
I would also strongly advice Money Saving expert - I read it every week religiously and I also love the Ramsey show podcast.