Top 21 simple hacks to help you save cash
The thrifty experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have looked at clever ways to reduce spending without having to make massive changes.
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Hide AdSome of these genius hacks include having a labeled cash envelope, freezing your food and creating a monthly budget chart.
Others featured include adopting the 50:30:20 rule and having a no spend weekend.
John Stirzaker from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting most of us hard.
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Hide Ad“It’s unrealistic to think we’re going to save hundreds of pounds over the coming months, but a few simple changes will see you save a few pounds here and there. That cash soon starts to add up.
“These are simple solutions on how to save those extra pennies, such as freezing food before it goes out of date, creating a monthly budget and batch cooking.
“Even little stuff such as turning off all the plug sockets when you leave the house can make a massive difference.”
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Hide AdHere are NetVoucherCodes’s 21 simple hacks to help save money:
1 Create a monthly budget chart
Get creative when budgeting by making a monthly budgeting chart using different colours and illustrations to balance out spending habits.
2 Make a labeled cash envelope
Have a labeled cash envelope for certain purchases and don’t go over it. For example, snack allowances could contain a tenner which has to last all week.
3 Fill up at the cheapest petrol station
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Hide AdThe petrol crisis continues to cripple driver’s bank accounts. Searching up the cheapest local fuel prices online can help save you pounds per month when filling up the tank.
4 Get a cash lockbox
Lock cash away and keep it in a safe place in your room. Only open the box in an emergency.
5 Transfer money between bank accounts
Having two bank accounts is better than one, this way you can send an allocated amount of money, depending on how much you want to spend in the day. If that’s all the account has in, it should stop you from overspending.
6 Try a ‘no spend’ weekend
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Hide AdUse the weekend to enjoy cost-effective activities, from playing board games, seeking out new walks with beautiful scenery, to starting a new TV series.
7 Freeze batch cooking
Prepare cost-effective meals for the week by freezing your food to save the weekly food shopping allowance. To further save, take these meals to work for lunch instead of buying a meal deal.
8 Use resale clothing platforms
Using resale clothing apps will let you sell your unwanted clothes to help clear your wardrobe, but also add to the piggy bank.
9 Allocate times to spend
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Hide AdIt’s easy to do late night buying out of boredom, so to stop this, allocate time where you can and can’t spend. Make a simple rule such as no spending past 6pm when at home.
10 Use the 50/30/20 saving strategy
Divide your income into three simple categories: 50% on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings – watch and see as the savings start to add up.
11 Late night trip to the reduced section
If you live locally, head down to the supermarket at different late times to check out the exciting deals on offer in the reduced section. A 50p sushi selection? – Bargain!
12 Trade takeaway for ‘fakeaway’
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Hide AdGet inventive with special treat meals. Instead of splashing £30 on a Saturday night Chinese, get the ingredients needed and make it from scratch to save cash.
13 Meal plan for the week
Think about what you want to make, write a list and stick it to the fridge. Simple as that.
14 Sell unwanted items
Getting rid of that old chair by selling on a popular selling site or taking it to a cat boot can help you make a decent profit.
15 Use non-branded food and drinks
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Hide AdWhile it’s tempting to buy items such as branded juice drinks, swap them out for non-branded versions which taste the same, just with a different look.
16 Use company saving points
Many shops and supermarkets have introduced point saving schemes to help stack up those rewards for buying.
17 Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
If you don’t use a streaming service or magazine subscription as much as you used to, simply cut it out and make the one-off purchase instead.
19 DIY presents
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Hide AdPresent buying is one of the biggest worries, but sometimes materialistic gifts don’t always have the most thought put into them. A DIY gift can mean so much more to both receiver and maker.
19 Calculate special offers
Not all offers are as good as they seem, sit back and calculate whether the two for £1.50 offer may be a simple marketing ploy rather than a viable way to save spending.
20 Use the stop and think method
Before buying another drink at the bar or looking at a new top in a shop, just stop and think “Do I need this?” before making unnecessary purchases.
21 Turn off all the plug sockets in the house
A classic hack, but one which benefits the most. It’s not just about turning off your lights, it’s also turning off your TV, gaming console, toaster at the socket when you’re not using them.
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