25 Ways To Save Money- Part 3

I’m back again with part 3 of my ways to save money series, after part 1 and part 2 came out in the last few months.

Life continues to get expensive and we shouldn’t be paying more than we need to on anything. From household bills to recreational spending here are some ways you can save money.

51- Save money on meals and movies with compare the market

All you have to do is buy the cheapest insurance, like a days insurance from compare the market and you’ll be eligible for a years worth of savings. With this you get access to Meerkat meals and Meerkat movies. The movies gives you 2 for 1 on cinema tickets every Tuesday and Wednesday across loads of cinemas including Cineworld, Odean and Vue. You’ll also get at Meerkat meals with 25% off your whole bill or 2 for 1 on selected food at restaurants. You can even get money off takeaways during the week including 50% off at Pizza Hut Delivery and Papa John’s

52- Kids entertainment

The school holidays are in full swing and apps such as Kids Pass and websites like Little Bird can give you discounts on days out, meals and so much more. You can get a 30-day trial for £1 to use across the rest of the summer holidays. You can cancel your membership before the months over if you want. If not Little Bird is £3.49 per month, and Kids Pass is £39.99 a year.

53- Save money by overpaying on your mortgage

This won’t save you money to begin with as you’ll be spending more, but in the long run overpaying your mortgage can save you lots of money on interest. By just overpaying by £100 a month we could shave almost 4 and a half years off our mortgage length. I did a post about mortgage overpayments if you want to find out more.

54- Become a mystery shopper

If you sign up with a mystery shopping agency such as Mystery Shoppers or Store Checkers you can get rewards from free spending to cash. Each mystery shop will be different but you may have to fill in a survey afterwards or submit footage from the store/ restaurant you want to.

55- Save money by not going into your overdraft

I’ve mentioned using a budgeting app in an earlier tip, but by using something like Emma it can help you avoid going into your overdraft. The app helps track your spending and help you understand your spending. If you’re going into your overdraft, or getting close the app will alert you.

56- Get some extra cash with surveys

Not strictly a money saver, but a money giver, but surveys can help give you some extra cash. I’ve used YouGov before which gives you points per survey which equate to cash. And when you hit £50 you can cash out, although this can take a while. I’ve used Prolific before which is great as surveys can be super quick and the money mounts up pretty quickly. I have spent minimal time and cashed out £10-15 here and there.

57- Switch bank account to save money

Not only can you get a sweet sign up reward by switching bank account but you find an account to both make you and save you money. Look for an account with better overdraft fees or lower loan rates if you need them to save money. Or seek one with higher interest to make yourself some money.

58- Get paid to walk

Use apps such as Sweatcoin and BetterPoints which track your steps and then can be exchanged for store discounts and freebies.

59- Save money by being savvy with savings

Interest rates aren’t great at the moment, but if you’re prepared to leave your money untouched for a while look into bonds and your ISA allowance. With a bond you get a set interest rate but can’t touch your money for a set period of time. With ISA’s you get a £20,000 tax free allowance each year and you may get some alright interest rates.

60- Remortgage your home

If your mortgage deal is ending make sure you shop around for new mortgage deals to save yourself some money. It may be best to speak to a mortgage broker to help you find the best deal around. If you don’t look for a new deal you could go onto a high interest rate. Check out what you can see do when your fixed rate mortgage ends.

61- Save money on theatre shows

Going to the theatre can be expensive but there are a few ways to get cheaper tickets. I use Today Tix a lot for theatre tickets as they do great sales, and on the day rush tickets. Some theatres also run concessions including the National’s Friday Rush programme with £10 tickets across all three of its theatres. You can also become a seat-filler with Central Tickets where you can get tickets to all kinds of shows for little to no money.

62- Shop the sales responsibly

Things that are on the sale can look more appealing. But you’re only saving money if you were planning to buy that item anyway. Think hard about whether you really want or need the product before buying. And don’t just buy it because it’s on sale.

63- Save money by doing a job swap

Think about the skills that you have and trade your talent with someone else to save money. For example you may be able to help a local business with some social media help in exchange for a service they offer. Luke did some electrics in my brothers house and he’s giving us a door we need for super cheap as he works for a company who make them. Win-win.

64- Save money by being cautious online

Sadly it’s so easy to get scammed now by buying from dodgy websites, buying items from people on Facebook through friends and family PayPal, or clicking on a scam link in an email. Make sure you protect yourself by checking customer reviews on websites you’ve not bought from before. Use a credit card or PayPal for purchasing items, and only transfer money via Goods and Services on PayPal. Being cautious will save you from being conned or scammed.

65- Set up banking round ups

If you have a digital bank then look into setting up banking round ups. If you were to buy something for £2.40 you’d see £3 out of your account and the extra 60p would be added to a savings pot. It’s an easy way to save money without even noticing it

66- Save money on childcare

If you have kids aged 11 or under you can use your tax-free childcare allowance on any Oftsed-registered nursery or childminder. For every £8 you pay in, the government will top it up with an extra £2. Head to gov.uk for more information.

67- Avoid the pink tax

For you ladies out there you’ve probably seen that toiletries aimed at women tend to be more expensive than those aimed at men (especially razors). But they’re pretty much the same thing, so avoid the extra cost by buying the men’s product. This could be anything from razors to deodorants.

68- Save money by opting for click and collect

If like me you buy a lot of products online try and save on home delivery costs by choosing click and collect. Now this is actually only going to save you money if you live close by to a click and collect location so won’t need to pay for fuel/ parking to collect the item. Take a look at the click and collect options to save a few pounds, it might be a local store, Amazon/ In post locker, or a post office.

69- Check out any workplace benefits

Your employer may provide benefits such as local discounts, childcare support or a healthcare plan so explore what you can get. For example I can buy Curry’s vouchers for new tech through work and because it comes out pre-tax it saves me money. I can do the same with buying a car or annual travel ticket. You might have access to local and online discounts that could save you money on meals or days out for example. Make the most of it if you’re offered it.

70- Save money by being travel flexible

You can save so much money if you’re able to travel on weekdays. Research shows that the cheapest accomodation days are Sunday- Thursday. So many people only want to go away for the weekend which makes Friday’s and Saturday’s much more expensive. For example the spa stay I am doing for my hen is £40 cheaper per person as we’re going on a Sunday and staying until Monday.

71- Reassess your budget

A lot has changed in the past few months when it comes to the cost of living. And now is the time to reassess your budget and finances. Check out all of the direct debits and standing orders you’re paying for and make sure they’re all still needed. Now is the perfect time to reset.

72- Save money by leaving your card at home

Every taps their card for purchases, but if you find you do it too much try and take cash out and leave your card at home when you go out. The physicality of cash can make it harder to spend compared to just tapping your card. By withdrawing a set amount of cash you’ll be more likely to stick to your budget.

73- Ditch takeaways

If you love a good takeaway check out the other options available which can save you money. Iceland do a great range of branded items such as Wagamama and TGI Friday’s so you can get your kick without spending as much on a takeaway.

If there’s something in particular you’re craving search online to find a fakeaway recipe which may taste even better than the original.

74- Save money by reducing your meat consumption

Food is getting more and more expensive. And you can save money by reducing or ditching your meat consumption and using veggies and things like lentils and beans in your diet more. Don’t be sucked into the meat substitutes though as they can be just as expensive as the meat itself. You may only save a few pounds on a weekly shop but it can all add up.

75- Use loyalty cards to collect points

If you regularly shop in places with loyalty cards make sure you sign up and make the most of the offers. For example Waterstones give you a £5 voucher on your birthday as well as points collection which can save you money on your shop. The boots advantage card has a whole host of offers, at Nando’s you can earn chillis to exchange for free food, and many many more.

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