Easy Ways To Save Money

 

 Photographer

It's the New Year and during this time of year a lot of people begin to look for easy ways to save money.

I'm sharing some tips and simple changes that can help you to save money easily, without feeling like you're overstretching yourself and your funds.

Be more energy efficient

With an unfortunate cost of living crisis happening right now, it's natural to be overly conscious of how much electricity is being used in your home and it's also natural to look for ways in which you can be more energy efficient in order to keep your bills down.

 

You can save a lot of money on monthly electricity bills by simply taking more care about what appliances and lights you're using at one time. Simple changes such as switching off big lights in favour of lamps can make a big difference and a lamp, with a good energy saving bulb, still gives sufficient light to a room.

 

Unplug and switch off sockets when you are done using something and try not to have the television on standby as this can be a huge waste of electricity. 

 

Try to limit the use of appliances such as tumble dryers, as these can take a lot of power and cost a lot to run. However, if you do need to use the tumble dryer, invest in some dryer balls. I have four in my tumble dryer and they help to dry the clothes very quickly - within half an hour, meaning the tumble dryer is on for less time.

 

Use discount vouchers when you shop

Everyone loves a discount, especially when shopping for things such as clothes, appliances and gifts that you may not have budgeted for.

When shopping online, I always look to see if there is a discount code available before making a purchase, either on the shops/brands social media or on a discount voucher site such as Love Discount Vouchers.

If you have a big, essential purchase to make this year, such as a new appliance, searching for a discount code before buying can save you a lot of money. By using the likes of an appliance direct discount code you could save a huge percentage of the original cost and put that saving into your savings account or towards something else you need.

 

Sell items you no longer need

I have made a lot of money in recent years by decluttering my house and selling things we no longer need.

A lot of money has been made from reselling my sons' outgrown clothes. If you have good quality brands in your kids wardrobes - such as Scandi brands (the likes of Frugi, Villervalla, Maxomorra, Little Bird, Alba, etc. always have great resale value) that they have outgrown, get selling them! You'll be surprised at how much money you can make. Just make sure what you're selling is in good condition and a fair price - it is preloved afterall.

You may have baby items, appliances, homewares, etc. that you no longer need or want, selling hese can also make you some money that can be invested or saved.

Have a month-long spending ban

This is a great thing to do if you're in need of saving money in a short amount of time.

Try not to spend money on anything other than essentials. I find January can be a hard time to do this with all the great sales, but remember, it's not a bargain unless you actually need it!

 

I have bought myself a cash-stuffing wallet and plan to separate it into funds for different things. If someone gives me cash for something, the money will go straight into the cash-stuffing wallet and will not be spent, therefore, building up funds without very little effort. This is the cash-stuffing wallet I bought for less than €10. 

Make a weekly meal plan before going grocery shopping

Making a weekly meal plan is such a great thing to do before you go grocery shopping, as not only will it help you become more organised when it comes to preparing meals but it will also help you save money.

 

Having a list of dinners that you would like to make during the week can help you to focus on what you actually need to pick up, instead of buying things your family probably won't end up eating, therefore saving you money. 

 

Stay away from brand name products when you can as this can help to keep your weekly food cost down. Shop in discount stores such as Dealz, Poundland, EuroGiant, etc.