What’s your best tips for saving up (being frugal) and managing money?

[leftorrightnow]

Just that. I’m so fed up feeling my finances aren’t in control. I work full time and earn okay, DH is a freelancer currently without work (have posted about this situation in detail several times and am for now accepting this situation for various specific reasons, so please don’t comment on that).
We’re currently looking to get a mortgage (renting) but it’s hard with DH unstable work situation which is showing no promise of changing.
We’re now looking at getting a mortgage w much solely based on my income, it won’t be a lot and we will likely have to move from where we are. But for now, I’m focused on saving up as much as possible without living a miserable life and foregoing all holidays and fun completely.

What’a tor best tips for saving up, as well as in general managing money? I have a few shares (very few) but through the years I had them haven’t made anything on them.

I have a good pension plan.

We have an old car and bike as much as we can (have a cargo bike too and kids have bikes).

We don’t have expensive habits, except that we travel to DH’s home country once a year, and I spend a bit more than usual likely on my clothes as I have a job which involves a lot of representation.

Any tips?

Try Snoop app, the basic one is free

Totally hear you. It’s exhausting feeling like you’re doing all the right things and still feeling like the numbers aren’t moving fast enough. You’re definitely not alone in that.
A few things that have helped me or people I know in similar situations:

• Track recurring expenses ruthlessly: subscriptions, insurances, anything that flies under the radar. Sometimes it’s not about cutting everything, but about knowing exactly what’s worth keeping.
• Create a “no-decision budget” for a few things each month that bring joy like clothing for your job or that once-a-year trip. Removing guilt from those categories helps with long-term motivation.
• Automate savings, even if it's tiny amounts. A £10 weekly transfer to a “holiday fund” builds more momentum than waiting to save big chunks.

Also, might be a bit niche, but I recently came across a new UK platform where people can get some of their subscriptions (like Netflix/Spotify etc.) sponsored by brands if they’re happy to share proof they pay for it. They’ve just opened a waitlist if you’re curious: https://paidbydata.co.uk/waitlist Wishing you loads of strength as you navigate this phase. You're clearly thoughtful and intentional, and that already puts you ahead of most.

It sounds like you’re carrying a lot on your shoulders right now, especially with trying to manage everything on one stable income while preparing for a mortgage. You’re already doing many of the right things — biking, avoiding unnecessary expenses, keeping an old car, and maintaining a solid pension plan. The problem isn’t lack of discipline; it’s lack of visibility.
Once you can clearly see where every pound goes, control starts to return.
One thing that helped me massively was using a simple budget-tracking tool to break down spending into categories and see patterns I wasn’t aware of. When I started tracking properly, I realised small leaks (like convenience purchases, subscriptions, and irregular expenses) were adding up more than I expected. Once you identify those, you can reduce spending without feeling deprived or cutting out all joy from life.
You might find this helpful: https://trackiza.com/
It’s a clean and straightforward budget tracker that makes it easier to see monthly spending, plan savings goals, and stay on top of expenses without complicated spreadsheets.
A few practical tips that genuinely move the needle:
• Track every recurring payment — many subscriptions hide in the background
• Set a realistic weekly spending cap instead of a monthly one
• Create a “stress-free buffer” fund so unexpected costs don’t wreck your plans
• Automate savings the day your salary arrives
• Keep a separate account for yearly expenses like travel so they don’t feel like sudden hits
You’re doing hard work already, with the right structure, you’ll feel much more in control even before anything in your income situation changes. Let me know if you want tips on setting up categories or a sample savings plan.