As you were always told by your gran growing up, if you look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves. And as always, gran knows best. Just a few little lifestyle changes and tweaks you can make to how you run your household can see your bank balance shoot up and leave you free to spend your hard earned cash on fun stuff.
From purchasing home appliances that will save money in the long run, to cutting your sponges in half, here are 5 tips and tricks to get the most out of your money and save around the house.
Food prep
Food prepping isn’t just for health and fitness fanatics who clog up your instagram feed with their love of gym selfies and avocados. Forward planning and careful choices when tackling your weekly food shop can ensure you can save hundreds of pounds over the year. If you’re prone to impulse buying as you go from aisle to aisle in the supermarkets, it may be worth changing to online shopping – the cost of delivery will be a far smaller dent in your bank balance than everything that sneaks in your basket by the time you make it to the till. Set aside a couple of hours to plan your meals for the week and be strict with yourself – order only the ingredients you need and avoid temptation.
If you still prefer to shop in store, don’t restrict yourself to one store – literally shop around and take advantage of the different offers available at various supermarkets. You may discover one is best for cheap fruit and veg while another has the lowest prices for canned goods – playing the field can save you a fortune in the long run.
However you do your shop, the aim to spend less money on pricey coffee shop sandwiches and meals out by taking your lunch into work or school so, make sure you stick to your goal and you’ll soon notice a difference in your wallet.
Invest in your home appliances
While it may be tempting to ignore making purchases that don’t seem immediately necessary, investing in items like a Grundfos booster pump for your home will ensure you save in the long run.
It may not be the most glamorous or exciting shopping expenditure you’ll make for your house but it acts as a ‘one stop shop’ for all your boosting needs – ideal in homes where the existing mains water supply is insufficient to meet the demand requirements of pressurised hot and cold water systems.
Make your purchases last as long as possible
Get your future frugal self acquainted with sites like BuzzFeed and Pinterest and learn a few hacks to ensure you get every penny’s worth out of your purchases and stretch your cash out as far as possible. It can be a simple as cutting your sponges in half or storing your jars upside down in order to get every bit of produce possible. Simple, quick changes that prove to you that if you look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves.
Don’t be afraid to switch suppliers
If every month your bills come and every month you pay without questioning whether you could be getting a cheaper then this needs to change. Comparison websites exist to show you within seconds just how much you could be saving on utility bills if you simply switch suppliers – that’s extra money in your bank every month rather than in a gas company’s. You could save hundreds over a quarter from just a few researching and comparing competitors prices.
It’s not just household bills you can find cheaper deals for; life insurance, mobile phone contracts, current accounts, internet and TV subscriptions – all packages that can be negotiated. Many businesses will offer you a reduced payment at just the mere mention of you considering leaving, they’re that keen to keep custom, so it’s always worth a phone call to see what you can claim back.
Sell your junk on eBay
Your kid’s old bike that’s gathering dust in the shed? eBay it. Those dresses hanging at the back of the wardrobe that you haven’t worn in years? eBay them. That treadmill that is little more than a maiden for dirty laundry? You get the idea now – eBay! Get some additional income and rid your home of unwanted junk and clutter – win win.
And I’m tasting my own medicine at the moment by selling my girlfriend’s Radley bags right now on Ebay!
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