Promising yourself you’ll be a better saver in the New Year? You’re not alone – money saving resolutions are one of the most common made promises we make to ourselves each January. But if you find that staying on top of your budget is a little tough, we’ve got some handy money saving tips to help keep you firmly on target. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can keep in your wallet through a little careful planning and shopping around!
Quit
Whether it’s smoking, that extra drink you could probably have done without, or a take-away caffeine addiction, those little bad habits we indulge in can all be extremely costly. That doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of all your favourite indulgences, but simply cut down on the little perks you rack up a small fortune on every day. Just to give you a very quick idea: cutting out one pack of cigarettes a day can save you over £2,000 a year – enough to fund that dream holiday in New Zealand you’ve always fantasied about! And that skinny latte you pick up on your way to work? Swapping that for a thermos of coffee from home (or just waiting until you get into the office) could save you another small fortune. Money saved – easily!
Shop for the best deals
It’s well worth shopping around a bit when you’re signing up for those everyday home essentials, like TV, broadband and your mobile phone package. Many providers will be vying to get you on board and have special promotions and offers with significant savings. Check out the broadband deals from Virgin Media – with a choice of different sized packages available, you can opt for the one that suits your lifestyle best, rather than simply going with the default option. It may take a little longer – but when you can save hundreds of pounds a year, you’ll agree it was time well spent.
Get yourself organised
A surprisingly large number of people waste money needlessly – on penalties and late payment charges that could easily be avoided. Get on top of your spending by taking a close look at credit card payments, store cards and direct debits. Set alerts on your calendar in advance to make sure your payments are made on time. With fees of £10 or more a month, these can easily add up to hundreds of pounds over the year. Wouldn’t you rather keep that for yourself?
Sign up for saving alerts
Coupon and voucher code websites have grown phenomenally in the past year – and this year we can look forward to more and more companies getting savvy about our love for a good saving. Sign up for the ones you are most likely to be interested in only, so that you don’t get swamped in a deluge of coupons for far-flung holidays (unless that’s what you want!) Many stores and chains will also have their own newsletters and emails, which promote exclusive online and in-store discounts.