We all want to save money – whether it’s to save for something special like a holiday or just to add to your savings account, and here are a few ideas to help you save those pennies…..
1 Ditch the Coffee Shop
Save money and the environment by making yourself a cup of coffee at home. Invite your friends around to your house for coffee instead of meeting in town – they will probably bring the cakes and biscuits and you can chat for longer in a more relaxed environment.
2 Find a Home Hairdresser
Hairdressers who visit you at home normally charge much cheaper prices that High Street salons. True, you need to factor in the cost of using your own electricity and washing your own hair but, as a rough guide, a typical home hairdresser charges around a third less than the price of a cut and blow dry in a salon.
3 Own Brand Products
Try shop’s own brand products; they are much cheaper and chances are that you won’t be able to tell the difference.
4 Shop at the end of the day
Supermarkets often reduce their prices at the end of the day so get into the habit of doing your weekly shop at this time and see how much you can save by picking up the bargains.
5 Make Meals from Scratch
Rather than buy expensive pre-packed ready meals, buy the raw ingredients and make the meals from scratch yourself. They’ll be more nutritious and tasty. If you’re pressed for time, there are plenty of websites which give you ideas for making meals in bulk and freezing them for later.
6 Buy All Your Clothes in the Sales
Never pay full price. Think ahead and buy your sandals for next year in this year’s end of season sale. There are many bargains to be had by thinking ahead and planning your wardrobe for next year.
7 Give up the Gym
No, I don’t mean give up exercising, I mean give up exercising at the gym. Consider if you get your money’s worth from that expensive gym membership or do you spend more time making excuses to avoid going than you do actually exercising? A simple brisk walk in the local park will help to keep you fit. And it’s free. Vigorous housework or gardening will strengthen muscles. Invest in your own gym equipment – look at the second hand sites to pick up unwanted equipment cheaply. Walk everywhere whenever possible – this will cut down your spending on petrol as well.
8 Don’t Call that Decorator
Do you own decorating and simple DIY tasks. Don’t pay for someone else to do it. If your house needs sprucing up, buy a can of paint and some paintbrushes and do it yourself. Wallpapering isn’t that difficult – there are may YouTube videos which will teach you how to do it. It’s cheaper and much more satisfying if you have decorated your home yourself.
9 Don’t Buy Bottled Water
Save the environment and your money simply by getting your water from the tap!
10 Use Your Local Library
Don’t buy books – use your local library. Again, if you are short on time, you can order and reserve books online for easy collection at your library, but if you have the time to browse the shelves you will find more books that you will enjoy.
These are just a few ways you can cut your costs. Remember to make a spreadsheet, set a time frame and record how much money you have saved. Go on, saving money can be addictive and doesn’t have to radically change your lifestyle!
© Michelle@5pmFriday
Out Of The Office 