Whilst saving for a house and a wedding, money has never been more important in my household. Therefore we decided to cut back to allow us a few extra pounds to spend on what we really want or to save. This is how we have done it below.
Switched our Supermarket
I used to shop in the one of the big four but then decided to switch to Aldi and see if there was a difference in price. In the past few months on average we save around £40 per month on food. We find that by planning all our meals in advance we shop in one of the big four once a month to get the items that we cannot get in Aldi and then shop in Aldi for the rest.
Using the Library
I read an awful lot and used to buy second hand books however that was starting to get pricey. By using the library I reckon I have saved around £200 (and space) in books. Libraries these days are not just about physical books there is also a selection of audio and online books.
Also my local train station has a book shelf where passengers leave and pick up unwanted books. I have picked up and dropped off many books myself.
Using Charity Shops
Charity Shops are brilliant for second hand bargains. I have brought books but also clothes, I got a set of fashionable and hardly used black boots for £8 once which would have easily been £15- 20 first hand.
Using eBay and Amazon
When we moved into our flat we had a small budget for buying furniture. On eBay we brought a coffee table and TV stand for £50. Which if we had brought this in a shop would have cost £50 each. This applies also for selling. I am a great believer in reusing as much as possible so any unwanted items are either sold on ebay or Gumtree or go straight to a charity shop. Just be mindful of sellers fees.
Borrowing Movies and Boxsets
What originally started as a friend lending us a box set to try out a TV programme has ended up us borrowing the entire series. Hence £50 worth of TV entertainment we have watched for free.
Using Voucher Codes
Before buying online I usually browse voucher code sites looking for any discounts. If you are a student I recommend buying a NUS Extra card because the amount of discounts available are phenomenal and you easy make your £12.00 the price the card costs back.
Delay Repay Scheme
I commute so spend an awful lot of time on the train. If my train is over 30 minutes late I always claim back. I reckon I have claimed in total about £50 back from the train companies so far this year. I email a picture of my train tickets to customer services so it is not costing me anything in postage.
Checking My Receipts
I always match up my receipts against my bank statements to check that all money coming in and out my bank account as it should be. I don't want any money leaving my account when it shouldn't be.
This concludes my money saving tips, does anybody have any they would like to share below?
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