Small changes can make a huge difference to your bank balance. Change something you do regularly and you could spend less, here are our top tips:
- Give up drinking coffee or cut back on alcohol – it will help you save money and may have health benefits.
- Borrow books and DVDs in the library.
- Lock up your charge card for a month and just pay for things with money.
- Set a limit for birthday and Christmas gifts or give homemade gifts.
Save on clothing
- If you are buying clothes, check whether you’re able to wash them to prevent dry cleaning bills. MyMoneyHouse lists this as a great money saving tip.
- Make certain whatever you purchase goes with at least two other things in your wardrobe so you can find a few different outfits from one thing.
- Assess op-shops and local markets for bargains.
- Use end-of-season clearances to pay less for the things you require.
Cut your grocery bill
- Have a shopping list to the supermarket and just buy what is on the list.
- Plan meals beforehand and include the ingredients to your shopping list.
- If you have really young children, ask a friend to obey them while you go shopping. You will have more time to compare costs and won’t fall prey to’pester power’.
- Establish a budget for your shopping excursion, withdraw the money from an ATM and just take this money with you when you go shopping.
Try growing your own food in your home.
- Eat a snack or meal before going to the supermarket. When you are not hungry, you tend to buy less food.
- In the event you usually shop each week, try shopping once a fortnight to get in the habit of using all of the food in your pantry before purchasing more.
- Check the’use by’ and’best before’ dates on food so that you don’t waste money buying things you won’t use before you must throw them out.
- Supermarkets usually foster the things at eye-level, so check the shelves below and above for more economical options.
- Meat can be costly, so purchase less of it and try making more meals without using it.