50 easy ways to save money

If you're thinking about getting frugal, read our 50 easy ways to save money on everything from your debts to your holiday. The best thing of all is that there are ways to save money without giving up the things you love!

Lifestyle

1. Negotiate prices whenever you can, and be prepared to walk away if you don't get the price you want.
2. Some people find they spend less money when they leave their debit or credit card at home and take cash with them instead.
3. If there's somewhere that you know you always overspend, avoid that place and do something else / go somewhere else instead.
4. Before you buy something, price-check it online. You might find it cheaper elsewhere.
5. Try cheaper brands and see whether you really can tell the difference.
6. If you eat meat regularly, try to add vegetarian days to your diet, which can work out cheaper.
7. Try bartering, the oldest form of currency. If someone has something you want, offer them something they want in return.
8. Pause for thought - wait before you buy something. If you decide you still need it a few days later, then by all means go back and get it.
9. If possible, consider getting rid of your home phone and live with just your mobile instead.
10. Add the word 'no' to your vocabulary. Don't give in to a screaming child who wants something they don't need. Don't accept invitations to places where you don't want to go.

Personal finances

1. Clear the debt with the highest interest first. Keep making the required payments to all debts, but if you can overpay the most expensive ones first you'll save the most money.
2. Only withdraw from free ATMs. Paying to withdraw your cash often means you're just paying for the convenience.
3. Set up Direct Debits and standing orders to pay your regular bills so you (hopefully) never have to pay a late fee again.
4. If possible, put some savings into an account that you cannot touch for a while. These savings are for your long-term goals, and give you something to look forward to.
5. Always try to pay your bills in full and on time, aiming to avoid late fees altogether.
6. Buy your petrol at supermarkets and not at independent garages, because supermarkets are generally cheaper.
7. Check that you are not 'doubling up' on insurance policies like your contents insurance. Sometimes two different policies cover the same things.
8. If you must borrow money, shop around for the best interest rates before signing up to anything. Your credit record will also affect any interest rate you'll be offered.
9. On the subject of credit ratings, check your report and look for any inaccuracies. If necessary, ask for your records to be updated / corrected.
10. Start a personal budget (if you don't have one already) so you have a better understanding of where your money goes every month. If you can cut back on anything, the money you save could go into savings or overpaying expensive debts instead.

Domestic

1. Find a cheaper energy deal. Go to a price comparison site, type in a few details (location, number of occupants and rooms in your home, details of your current tariff) and see what comes up. If you could save money, then switch.
2. Consider getting a water meter fitted in your home if you know your usage is less than average.
3. If you rent your home from a private landlord, ask them whether they could reduce the rent (or at least postpone any increases).
4. If you have a mortgage, compare the best deals, even if you're tied in at the moment - if another deal's good enough, it may be worth paying an Early Repayment Charge.
5. Hire a carpet cleaner and clean carpets instead of replacing them, or if your floorboards are in good condition, pull back old carpets and sand and varnish floorboards instead of investing in a carpet.
6. Fit draft excluders in your home and keep windows and doors closed (as far as possible!) to keep heating in, which should help you to avoid turning up the thermostat.
7. Don't turn the heating up to heat up a room more quickly - it doesn't work and you're more likely to overheat the room, wasting energy.
8. Some bills are unavoidable, like Council Tax, but you may be entitled to reductions, Housing Benefit or Working Tax Credits if you're on a low income / retired / have dependants, so find out what you're entitled to.
9. Do you really need to update your kitchen? According to HSBC, the only home improvements that add more value to your property than they used to are conservatories.
10. Buy domestic items second hand or take unwanted furniture off other people's hands for free.

Entertainment

1. Entertain at home and invite friends and family to your house. They bring the drinks; you supply the food and the entertainment.
2. If there are any musical instruments in your house that you can use for free, learn how to play them. (You could give lessons to earn some cash - and the more ambitious can start a band and produce a best-selling album!)
3. Learn to cook from scratch; it's cheaper and you can get free recipes and lessons online.
4. Grow your own vegetables. Salad vegetables are really simple to grow and you can pick up seeds for a few pence.
5. Rather than buying a pet, give a homeless animal a home. Visit your local animal shelter, although be warned - you might not be able to leave empty handed.
6. Join a DVD rental club if you watch a lot of films, rather than buying them.
7. Get free tickets to events by writing reviews for online magazines. Look for ones in your area. You could get free gig, theatre, cinema tickets books or DVDs depending on your skills and interests.
8. Go to free events in your area. During the summer you'll find most local authorities put on some sort of event for the community - anything from a village fete to the Notting Hill festival. Go along and show your support.
9. Visit the library for free books / music / newspapers / magazines / internet.
10. Many sport activities cost money, so find one in your price range. Some employers and local community groups run teams.

Holiday

1. Unless you have a holiday booked, don't automatically renew your holiday insurance. Take out a new policy when you do have a holiday booked.
2. Create your own holiday by shopping around online for the best deals and buying each part of your holiday separately.
3. Make sure you have the best insurance deal; shop around for the cheapest one that covers your needs.
4. When things are tight, a holiday might be a luxury you cannot afford, so consider what you could do as a cheaper alternative.
5. An alternative to an overseas holiday is a 'staycation' where you remain in the UK for your holiday.
6. Another cheaper alternative is to stay with friends or family that live away.
7. Booking a holiday well in advance can save money, or you can sometimes get late deal bargains if you're flexible about when you travel.
8. Don't try to keep up with the Joneses - you don't know how they paid for their holiday to Mauritius or how much debt they have; just focus on your own finances.
9. Buy holiday clothes at the end-of-season sales. They'll be fine for next year's holiday.
10. Self-catering accommodation on holiday can work out cheaper than eating at restaurants.

Tags: debt, savings, bills, frugal, advice, insurance, loans, credit, credit rating, shopping, money saving, tips, money saving tips, list

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