What 3 things would you do if you needed £5,000?

[dandelion246]

Just that really! I need a safety net fund and have dwindled my existing one whilst on mat leave. I'm working again but don't have anything left to save at the end of the month. Hopefully the ideas will be helpful for others too...

1 - Earn more
2 - Spend less
3 - Save the difference

That sounds very trite, but that's exactly what you need to do.

Earn more by: selling some of your stuff, taking surveys, getting a new/extra job.

Spend less by: cutting out discretionary spend (coffees, magazines, subscriptions, anything you want but don't need), shop around when you need to buy necessities, switch providers for electricity/gas/insurances/broadband etc., cut down on treats, drive or take public transport less and walk/cycle more).

Save the difference: use round ups if your bank has them, save a set amount in a regular saver account which gives high interest.

The effort you put into all those things will determine how quickly you can get to your £5k target.

Basically what @DroopyTulipssaid.

Often the best thing to do is work more hours / get a pay rise or better paying job.

Sometimes easier said than done I know, but don’t arse about selling stuff on Vinted for buttons if there’s a more lucrative solution.

I guess it depends on your circumstances/other obligations but I've taken on a second job, working from home doing call centre work on saturdays/sundays. It's not what I'd like to be doing with my weekends but for now I need the additional income!

It depends what the 5k is for. A very low ransom for my baby? I’d rob banks, sell my body, mug old ladies if I really had to.

Fancy a new bag that’s 5k? I’d probably work harder, save more and search for a good deal.

Ask the other parent to take more of the financial hit?