If you’re feeling the pinch, the first thing you can do is look at cutting back on your monthly outgoings. Here are a few tips to help you free up a bit of extra cash.
TV Subscriptions
Do you pay a hefty monthly fee for a TV package?
If you really need to cut back then cancelling
Energy Bills
Keep an eye on what you are paying. Regularly submit meter readings.
I manage my Gas and Electric online and have just managed to save approximately £8 per month by going online and checking my usage.
With Eon, you can calculate a monthly figure automatically and I was in credit, so I lowered my payments.
Broadband
If you are nearing the end of your contract it’s a good idea to go onto comparison sites and see if there are any better deals. It’s not as hard as it used to be changing your broadband provider. You don’t have to obtain a PAC code anymore and it can be all done online.
Three now have Home Fi unlimited mobile broadband without the need of a landline so you could ditch the landline altogether.
Phone
Do you pay extra to have free calls with your landline phone provider? This is not needed if you have a mobile phone because most mobile phone packages have a monthly free call allowance. All you really need is just the landline charge for your broadband service and no extras.
Food Bills
Your weekly shopping bill can be reduced significantly if you stop buying the top brands and replace them with the Supermarket brand.
Rather than buying ready meals, try and cook fresh batches of food that can be frozen easily. Spaghetti bolognese is great for this and can be bulked up by adding chopped up vegetables and split red lentils.
Don’t buy bottled water, drink from the tap. Stop buying fizzy drinks and use squash instead if you don’t like plain water.
Stop buying takeaways every week. Make a batch of curry and freeze it.
If you have your shopping delivered, consider taking out a delivery saving plan, this is what I do and I save a lot of money this way.
Turn off Power
Remembering to turn off lights and the Tv when you leave the room. It all adds up. How many of us go off to another room leaving the tv on with nobody watching it? We’ve all done it.
The Little things add up such as not boiling the kettle again a few minutes after it’s been boiled when you’re making a cuppa.
Don’t leave devices on standby turn off at the plug.
Just by changing a few things and being aware of what you’re doing that wastes money or energy will help you to achieve a healthier bank balance.
I’m linking up with
Emma and
Becky in this week’s ‘Five Fabulously Frugal things I’ve done this week linky.
You have a bonus of one extra money saving tip here!
