How Do I Start Saving Money at Home?
You don’t need us to tell you there is a cost of living crisis happening at the moment, and with summer on the horizon, you might have additional worries about extra costs over the next few months. What with school holidays, days out and extra entertainment often needed, all these things soon add up. But did you know that making just a few changes to your household spending means you could save more than £2400 a year? Spread across the 12 months, this could well give you a bit more spending money so you don’t have to cut back too much on those family activities.
How Can I Reduce My Broadband Bill?
You might not associate haggling with your wifi, but did you know that, as a customer, you’re in quite a powerful position? The providers don’t hold all the cards here, and if they want your custom then don’t be afraid of haggling and renegotiation. But to make sure you get the best deal, do your research first. Use price comparison sites to find out the details of current packages similar to yours so you can present the best info whilst you’re negotiating. Other factors that could help your position include how far you are into your contract, if you have had any issues with their service and what add-ons you already have with your provider. So what have you got to lose? If you’re not happy with what they offer you, you still have the option to switch to a cheaper service. Or you could end up sticking with the one you’re happy with at a lower price, maybe with some extras thrown in too! On average, customers end up saving £85 a year thanks to broadband haggling, so why not give it a try?
Cut Back on Subscription Boxes
We’ve all been there - you see a special offer for a subscription box free trial. You sign up, but you forget to cancel after the grace period so end up paying for ongoing deliveries you don’t really want or need anymore. Or even if you do make use of your monthly subscription box delivery, is it something you could go without for the time being? You might not think subscription boxes add up to much in terms of household expenses, but we certainly do love them in the UK - research has shown that the average household spends a whopping £552 a year (£46 a month) on them. So cancelling your subscriptions for now means potentially huge savings can be made.
How Can I Save Money with Voucher Codes?
Online shopping is jam packed full of savings, but some of them are more obvious than others. So we’re here to tell you about the hidden discounts that you sometimes have to dig a little deeper to find. Voucher codes can be used for so many different things, including clothing, household appliances, holidays and gifts from companies like Joules and The Body Shop, and all you need to do is have a quick search before you buy or book. Secret voucher codes can often get you as much as 30% off your purchases, with research showing that the average UK household can save just under £226 a year when using voucher codes for online shopping.
Can I Still Claim Tax Relief For Working From Home?
If you are required to work from home by your employer, then you can still claim tax relief. In fact, you have until 5th April 2025 to claim for the 2020/2021 period, and even if you only had to work from home for one single day, then you may still be entitled to some tax relief. This is only available to those who had to work from home, rather than those who chose to themselves, but you could get as much as £420 back if you are eligible. Just see the HMRC site for more details and how to claim.
Can I Consolidate My Credit Cards On My Own?
You certainly can. Doing your research and finding a credit card that can save you money on interest charges means the average saving is approximately £126 a year. But this also has the advantage of making your debt much more manageable and less overwhelming too, and you can’t really put a price on that. As with all our money saving tips, do as much research as you can - check out balance transfer interest rates, whether any extra fees apply and how long any interest free periods run for - this way you ca get the best deal possible.
What is the Best Way to Save Money on Groceries?
We’re going to assume you don’t have the time to grow everything yourself in your back garden, so instead let’s concentrate on how to cut your supermarket shopping expenses. They may be chock-full of deals as soon as you walk through their doors, but they really want you to spend as much money as possible, whether it’s through lower prices to entice you to stock up, or all those lovely multi-buy deals. So what we recommend, as always, is planning in advance. Set your budget, write a list of exactly what you need and don’t be tempted by all those extras. And as well as switching to own brand labels, always check the price per 100g/100ml (or equivalent) on the shelf labelling. Because different products come in different sized packaging, this comparison can often give you a much better saving when comparing price. In short, sometimes the cheapest isn’t always the best value. These small changes might not seem like much, but they could potentially save you £1000 in your annual shop!
If you prefer online shopping, then you probably find it easier to stick to your budget and moderate your spending with all the figures in front of you. But did you know that you can now order your shopping online from budget supermarkets like Aldi? Just check out their site to see if you can arrange click and collect in your area.
So when totting up all these numbers, the potential annual savings you could make come to a huge £2408.82, meaning you could be able to afford to put a bit of money aside for a few treats this summer. So even though bills and prices are going up, there are still lots of small changes you can make to your spending habits that might help ease the pressure.
By Anna Scott, 25th May 2022