How To Save Money

How To Save Money On Gas & Electric

This is a main spending sector for many households. Cooking, entertainment, work - all of these areas rely on gas and electricity to function, and they can creep up the cost ladder. Here's three things you could be doing to cut back on gas and electrics costs. Firstly, appliance swaps. If you want to make the switch, try an air fryer over a conventional oven, or break out the classic broom to clear up your home. Little changes to opting out of energy use are also found through manual labour vs automation. Opt for manually drying your clothes or dishes instead of turning to the dryer or washer. Some days it might not be practical, but where it is (given the rising heat levels we've been experiencing recently) it's definitely doable, and you'll see the savings pile up soon enough! Lastly, it's time to switch off & save. We're all guilty of falling asleep with a film running and the TV going into standby, or leaving the radio running for background noise. Make the plan this: if you're not actively using it, turn it off (via remote, but the power point is a bigger plus to ensure you'll only turn it back on if you'll really be using it!)

How To Save Money On Energy Bills

With prices on the rise, it's best to start planning how you'll save money. Here's three ways to save on your energy bills. First, invest in warm clothing. This is especially important for the colder months, where energy costs are bound to peak - a fluffy blanket to snuggle under or extra layers to wrap up in are very important to keep cosy and not feel the additional crunch. Plus, who doesn't love buying cute clothes and soft furnishings for the house? Pretty and practical! Secondly, you should run appliances during off peak times/days. Did you know the best time to run appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher are during the night? Peak times are considered 4PM-7PM throughout the week and at the weekends. With so many individuals now working hybrid/remotely, it's the best time to take advantage of being home to run the appliances during off peak sessions, instead of relying on weekend chore time to get it done. Lastly, you should consider using a smart meter. If you can't see the costs, they might not have as much of an effect on your thinking when it comes to spending. But if you possess a smart meter, and notice the odd usage popping up right there to monitor, you might think twice about boiling the kettle one too many times (only to let your tea go lukewarm during a meeting!)

How To Save Money On Petrol

If you own a car, you know about all the annoying extra spending that comes with it - MOTs, part replacements and more hidden costs included. But the main culprit that eats up your cash is fuel. With the highest price rise for fuel in the last decade happening right now, filling the tank is bound to set you back a pretty penny. Here5's three ways to save money on petrol costs. You could carpool or take public transport. The classic money saving solutions that don't go unmissed. Got a colleague who needs a ride? Carpool and split the cost for the journey (you were heading that way anyway, after all!) And public transport routes have great options for saving cards and off peak travel, without the added stress of journey planning, wondering if parking will be available etc. It's also a good idea to plan your journeys. Sometimes a 2 minute drive could be a 10/15 minute stroll. If you don't need to drive there, maybe plan to take a different method of transport, such as walking or biking. It's great exercise, helps your time keeping and you're not spending an extra penny on fuel, parking and additional car maintenance. Sweet! Finally, choose top up spots wisely. If you know you're bound to be running low on fuel during a longer journey, be sure to top up at local locations compared to motorway stops, who hike their prices due to lack of availability elsewhere. If you use a local supermarket's fuel point, you can also rack up loyalty points if you're a card holder, which can be put towards other costs such as groceries or entertainment. What's not to like?

How To Save Money On Groceries

Groceries: we all need them to survive. But that doesn't mean they come cheap, with food costs on the rise in our cost of living crisis. Here's three ways to save money on your groceries. Firstly, shop online. It's delivered to your door, (no additional fuel costs!), you can select a convenient slot and can just pick out only what you really need and plan meals, not be tempted by physical unnecessary extras in the shop (we're looking at you, tempting chocolate bar by the checkout!) It's also a good idea to look for price matches. A lot of branded items will often be price matched in your local supermarkets. Be on the lookout if you're a sucker for brands (who doesn't love some Heinz or Cadburys?) as you can get them for cheaper due to competing supermarket prices. Grab additional savings with no habits changed! Finally, meal prep! A lot is being said for meal prepping: preparing meals in advance that can be refrigerated/popped in the freezer for weeks and even months at a time. Turn to cooking in bigger amounts less often rather than smaller and daily. It's ideal for saving costs on gas and electricity. Give it a try and get experimental with fun new dishes that pack a punch, rather than your store bought meal deal from Tesco.