How to Save Money Fast – Our Ten Top Tips

You’d probably find it hard locating someone who doesn’t want to save money. Chances are, everyone wants more left over between their paychecks. Fortunately, the idea of keeping back a few hundred here and there isn’t as farfetched as it sounds.

If you want to start saving money today, then we’ve detailed our top ten tips below. With any luck, you could cut your costs within 24 hours:

01. Start budgeting now

If you’re not already budgeting, now’s the time to do so. You can’t make any sizable changes to your financial situation without knowing exactly where the money is coming and going. It’s also a good idea at this point to work out how much you want to save. This will give you a good target to aim for.

02. Cut unnecessary spending

Now you’ve got a budget sorted, you can see just what’s dominating your outgoings. There are usually plenty of opportunities for cutting back on a few things here. For example, on average, we spend almost £700 a year just eating out at our favourite restaurants.

However, you can also cut the cost when it comes to cinema trips, pub visits, socials, or going to the gym. Depending on how much money you want to save, all of this might have to go on the back burner until your finances are sorted.

03. Shop around for the best deals

Now we’ve cut the unnecessary spending, it’s time to look at the essentials. Investigate your phone contract and broadband supplier, for example, and see if you can get a better offer. In the case of your energy provider, there are usually opportunities to switch onto a cheaper deal.

In just one month, at least half a million Brits switched energy supplier – potentially tempted by some of the offers available through small and medium-sized companies. Commenting on this, a spokesperson from Energy UK stated:

Therefore, if you think you’re paying too much for your energy, shop around – you might be able to secure a better deal.

04. Claiming all the benefits you can?

Let’s take a quick look at what you’re bringing in. You may be able to supplement this through benefits such as universal credit or by claiming potential discounts on your council tax. It’s always worth taking time out to see if you’re receiving everything you’re entitled to. One report estimates the total amount in unclaimed benefits sits at around £16billion.

Go and see if you can grab some of that.

05. Can you stop the TV licence?

You need a television licence if you’re watching shows as they’re being broadcast or anything through the iPlayer. If you don’t tick these boxes – or think you can make do – then you might be able to cancel the licence and save yourself £157.50 per year.

While we’re on the subject, if you’re watching shows on multiple streaming services – for example, Disney Plus, Netflix, and Now TV – then you may wish to put a couple of these on pause. We get there’s a lot of TV available, but there’s no possible way you can watch all of it – right?

06. Do you know where your direct debits are going?

Do you know everything which goes on in your bank account? According to one report, probably not. Allegedly, the average Brit will lose more than £30,000 in a lifetime through direct debits which they either don’t use or have just completely forgotten about.

07. Got any clutter or items you’re not using?

If you’re looking to bring in more cash, dive into the wardrobe and see if there any clothes you aren’t using. It might also be worth having a clear out of the attic or storage rooms to find things which are just gathering dust.

If any of them aren’t useful to you anymore, consider listing them on eBay or taking them to an old-fashioned car boot sale.

08. Can you reorganise the food shop?

Perhaps one of the best ways to save money is to rethink your grocery shop. For example, you can switch out the premium brands for the supermarket’s labels. Although this change might seem to save just a few pounds here and there, it’s been estimated this action could leave you better off by around £520 a year.

Speaking of the food shop…

09. Buy in bulk

Buying meals is all well and good but batch cooking can really help you save costs on food. Furthermore, if you manage to buy ingredients in bulk, you can start making meals which could keep you going for weeks.

Speaking of which, we’d heartily recommend slow cookers for turning leftovers into something worth eating.

10. Got an unused parking space?

If you live in a building with space for a car but you’ve never used it, then consider renting out the parking to a neighbour. This could be especially useful if a resident struggles to park their car within several streets of their house.

Failing that, there are always websites where you can advertise spaces available online.