101 Quick Ways To Save Money

It may not seem like it, but little expenses here and there can really add up over time. Luckily, however, even the smallest changes to your lifestyle could really make a difference. Here are 101 great tips for saving money, in many areas of life!

Make a budget.

How to save on food:

Make a shopping list.
Stick to that list!
Avoid shopping for food when you're hungry.
Go shopping when you're in a hurry; you'll be more likely to stick to your list.
If there's a great deal on your favourite non-perishable items, stock up.
If there's a great deal on your favourite perishable items, carefully consider whether you'll use them all in time.
Have a few meat-free meals each week. Meat is often expensive.
Buy a freezer so you can store food for longer and buy frozen foods in bulk.
Buy 'own brands' - sometimes you can't tell the difference, so give it a try!
Grow your own vegetables.
Buy pieces of fruit/vegetables instead of pre-prepared salads.
Take your own coffee/drinks to work.
Pack your lunch (and your family's lunches) instead of buying them each day.
Don't buy bottled water unless completely necessary. Tap water is often much more strictly regulated than bottled mineral water.
Cook in bulk, and freeze the leftovers in meal-sized portions.
Use a slow cooker, as you can buy lower-quality cuts of meat and it can still taste great.
Don't buy a cookbook; use recipes online!

You can find more ways to save money on food here.

Save on bills

Dry your clothes on the washing line whenever possible - or hang them around your house.
Buy more underwear. May sound like a weird tip, but many people put the laundry on because they've run out of underwear.
Only wash clothes when they're actually dirty.
Wash your clothes in colder water than you usually would. See how cold you can go and still get a good wash!
Invest in energy-efficient appliances, if you can.
Avoid opening the oven door while cooking.
After cooking, leave the oven door open for a while for the leftover hot air to warm the room.
Try to avoid using the cooker altogether. Instead try the next three tips:
Boil water using the kettle.
Warm food up using the microwave.
Cook stews etc. in a slow cooker.
Only boil as much water as you need.
Turn lights off when you're not using them.
Close doors to rooms that you're not using.
Replace old light bulbs with energy-saving ones.
When you're not using electronics, unplug them at the wall.
Turn the thermostat down a couple of degrees.
Consider installing a programmable thermostat, so you can control when the heating goes on and off.
If you get cold, put on more clothing instead of cranking up the heat.
Make sure your home is properly insulated.
Make sure your boiler and hot water pipes are properly insulated.
Invest in double glazing if you can.
Turn your heating off at night.
If you're cold at night, consider using an electric blanket.
Or, you could use a hot water bottle.
To save water, fill the hot water bottle with hot water from a pan you've been boiling vegetables in, or leftover bathwater.
Shower for less time.
Invest in a low-flow shower head.
While you're waiting for your bath or shower to warm up, use a bucket to collect the cold water. Use this water to clean, cook or water the garden.
If you can bear it, don't water your garden as much during the summer.
If you get late payment fees for a bill, ask for them to be waived (it's worth asking).
Pay bills online by Direct Debit. This could get you a discount.
Compare one bill each week or month, to see if you could get a better deal.

Save on your shopping

Buy online instead of in-store. That way you can compare prices and reviews.
If you see something you like in-store, remember it so you can search it online.
Before you check out online, do a quick search for ' discount codes'. Check out our voucher section for more!
Whatever you need, check if you could get it for free first. http://uk.freecycle.org/
Websites like HotUKDeals.com aggregate all the best ongoing deals and discounts.
Instead of buying new clothes, buy new accessories to spice things up a bit.
Embrace free loyalty cards.
Avoid 'store cards' if they tempt you to overspend and/or cost you a lot of interest.
Before you buy something, wait a day, a week or a month to see if you really need it after that time has passed.
Buy off season: Christmas presents in January, bikinis in November, coats in July, etc.
In the supermarket, buy sponges and cloths instead of paper towels.
Stock up on items like toilet rolls, which run out quickly. This could save you money on petrol (having to 'pop to the shop' just for one thing).
Instead of buying soda and fizzy drinks, try drinking more tap water.
Make your own cleaning products instead of buying them.
For example, to unclog a drain, pour a cup of baking soda down followed by a cup of vinegar, then flush out with hot water.

Save on fun

Borrow books, DVDs and CDs from the library.
Instead of buying new books, buy used on Amazon, eBay, etc.
Swap books with others - you could visit Read It Swap It.
Before you buy a 'classic' novel, bear in mind that you can get them for free on many e-readers and smartphones.
Cancel your newspaper and magazine subscription. Look online instead.
Stream music for free (legally) instead of buying it - you could try Grooveshark.
Get rid of your TV/cable package. You may be able to survive on Freeview and services like iPlayer, 4od, TVCatchup and Netflix.
Get rid of your landline and just use your mobile, or:
Get rid of your mobile and just use your landline.
Use Skype to make phone calls.
Go out for a picnic in the park instead of lunch at a café.
Many museums are free in the UK. Go to one!
Before you go out anywhere, see if there's a voucher for it.
Use sites like Groupon.co.uk to inspire you if you're not sure what to do. You can get discounts on some great local activities, and even holidays!
Instead of going out for a meal at a restaurant, invite friends round for dinner. To make things a bit more exciting, see if anyone would be willing to bring their own signature dish.
If you do go out for a meal, go to the local place with the best voucher that day.
Ask for tap water for the table during a meal.
Keep an eye on what's happening in your local area, such as free fairs and festivals.
If you visit the cinema, go on discounted days such as Orange Wednesdays.
Or, get an Unlimited Cineworld card for £14.99 cineworld.co.uk.
Get into Geocaching! It's a GPS treasure hunt you can do with your smartphone or sat-nav, almost anywhere in the world, for free!
When you go out, only take as much as you're willing to spend that day. Leave your debit / credit cards at home.
Instead of going to the gym, take up running, cycling or walking.
If you want to tone up your muscles, there are objects around your house that could work - for example, tins of beans for arm-curls.
Use holiday photos and other good shots you've taken to decorate your home. You can get them framed or put on canvas! They also make great gifts.

Save money on travel