Ways to save money blog

Make Money by SAVING Money
"Remember that a pound saved is a pound made"


Save money on supermarket shopping

One of the largest household bills is groceries, so here are some tips to help you start saving.
  • If you shop at either Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's or Ocado, then a good website is mySupermarket.co.uk this allows you to choose you items on-line as normal but then suggests some simple changes or alternative options/brands that allow you to make good savings and even calories if you want!  You will also collect their loyalty 'ipoints' as well as any usual loyalty points from your chosen supermarket such as Tesco club card or Sainsbury's nectar points.
  • Register at more than one on-line supermarket and alternate using them. Generally a supermarket will send you discount vouchers to tempt you back if you have not shopped with them for a while.
  • Check special offers like 2 for 1, BOGOF and stock up on any items that you use often and consider swapping from your usual brand to take advantage of the offer.
  • Try 'down branding' for a selection of items. If you usually buy a named brand then choose the supermarkets own band or if you usually buy supermarkets brand then try their value brand.  The likelihood is that you will not tell much difference if at all and anyway it is easy to revert back to the same product as before.
  •  Plan your meals for the week ahead - this way you will not buy surplus food that will go to waste - It is estimated that the average household throws out about £400 worth of food a year!
  • If you do visit the store then make a list and stick to it. - If you just turn up and choose your shopping as you walk around then you will buy more than you really need. Supermarket displays are cleverly designed to persuade you into lots of 'impulse buys' .

 Save energy and money on gas and electric



Never leave electrical items on stand by.

Use energy efficient light bulbs as these use 80% less energy than conventional old fashioned bulbs.

Switch off your mobile charge once fully charged, otherwise it will still use up energy.

Turn down your thermostat by one degree, and you could save £50 a year.

Ensure radiators have their own thermostat valves fitted and are not covered by curtains.

Draught proof all external doors, letter box and windows.

Use a lid when cooking with a saucepan.

Defrost the freezer regularly so that it works efficiently. Check the energy efficiency rating when buying new electrical appliances.

Wash clothes at 30°C rather than at 40°C.

Draw your curtains at night to keep in the warmth.

Ensure that your loft is well insulated, the initial outlay will save you money in the long term.

Make full use of Economy 7 or 10 if you have it.

Dry your washing outside for free.

Consider cavity wall insulation. You may even be able to get a grant to help towards the cost.

With the dramatic rise in the cost of gas and electricity, it has never been more important a time to regularly review both your current tariff and supplier.


With the dramatic rise in the cost of gas and electricity, it has never been more important a time to regularly review both your current tariff and supplier.

However with there being so many suppliers and tariffs available, the choice can be bewildering.   An excellent way to simplify the process is to use a utility comparison site listed here to help make the process a lot easier. 

By answering a few questions about your current usage, it will search through the tariffs available to you and provide a list of possible savings that you could make. It will even manage the process of changing supplier for you.

Remember that being loyal does not pay - the best option is to shop around!

 

So take 5 minutes to get a quote now and see how much you could save.




Save money on pertol and motoring costs

With the price of petrol and diesel rising at levels well above inflation, why not try and save money by actually reducing the amount of fuel you use. This can be achieved by a few simple steps below:

 

Remove unnecessary items

 

Remove any unnecessary clutter in the boot and back seats. The lighter the load, the more miles per gallon (MPG) you will achieve.

 

Be a smooth driver!

 

By diving in a smooth manner and trying to avoid fast acceleration and heavy braking, you will use less fuel and hence improve you MPG.

 

Tyre pressure

 

Ensure that you tyres are inflated to the correct level as recommended by the manufacturer and regularly check their level. Tyres that are not inflated correctly will reduce your fuel efficiency.

 

Do not speed excessively

 

Drive at the recommended speed limit. It is said that the optimal speed for fuel consumption is approximately 56 MPH.   This means that speeds in excess of this will result in less fuel efficiency by approximately 10% for each additional 5MPH in excess of this optimal speed.

 

Insurance

Insurance is a major   cost when running a car, however many people simply do not shop around and/or research different quote options before their next renewal.   There are many factors that can help reduce your premium such as   the   level of   excess that you are willing to pay in the event of a claim.   Also most companies will offer you a reduced   premium if you will be   parking your car in a garage overnight, or have a specific car alarm or immobilizer. So go ahead and get a non obligation quote now and see what savings you can make on you next renewal

Correct gear

Improve fuel efficiency by always driving in the highest gear possible.

 

No need to “Warm up” the car

 

There is no need to “warm up” the engine before driving – it simply wastes fuel!   Instead, drive off as gently as you can for the first five minutes of the trip.

 

Find cheap petrol near you

 

 wwww.petrolprices.com searches around 9,690 petrol stations in the UK to find cheap petrol.

 

Get fit, save money and help save the environment, all in one go!

Think! – do you really need to use the car to go for a short trip? Why not walk where possible. It will help you stay fit, save you money and also help reduce pollution levels.   
 

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