Money Saving Tips

Reduce your outgoings

If you are in debt or are just struggling to pay for your basic cost of living you could save on day-to-day items by using the following ways and websites to reduce your outgoings.

When renewing your car insurance
Always shop around, don't just go with your current insurer when your car insurance is due. There are many websites on the Internet that can give you quotes from hundreds of insurers in a couple of minutes. Why not try them to see if you can save money, it's only a couple of clicks away.

www.confused.com

www.insurancenow.co.uk

Save on electricity by switching off the light
It may sound obvious but when you aren't in the room switching the lights off can save you money. In the average UK home 10-15% of the electricity bill goes towards lighting. Massive savings can be made if you just flick a switch when you leave a room.

Save on all of your utility bills
Using the uSwitch website can give you comparisons on all utility suppliers and can give advice on other ways to help you save money. uSwitch could help you save up to £170 a year on your gas or electricity bill and can also give you tips on how to make yourself more efficient with water and other resources.

Compare gas and electricity suppliers in the UK and save money on your energy bills.

Ways to save on fuel costs
If going on long journeys you should fill up your car before you leave home. It is usually cheaper for you to fill up at your local rather than on the main roads and motorways during your journey. Petrolprices.com can give you a list of the cheapest places to fill up in your local area.

www.petrolprices.com

Another way to make savings on your fuel is to register for a pipeline card. Pipeline has launched a new scheme to get fuel prices down by using bulk-buying power. They are asking people to only use one major forecourt chain, by supporting them you become eligible for purchasing discounted fuel. You can apply for a Pipeline card via their website, giving its supports discounts at the

www.pipelinecard.org

Make your own lunch
There is money to be saved by making your own lunch and taking it to work. Many of us grab a sandwich or eat out in our lunch hour, which can result in wasting more than £10 each week when compared to preparing your own lunch. A bought sandwich can typically cost anything from £1.30 - £3.00 with many of the pre-pack sandwiches having many additives and preservative, which wouldn't necessarily be in the ones you make. To illustrate how much of a money saving tip this is, the following example has been devised. You can buy a loaf of bread, butter and filling for around £3 and it can make your sandwiches for at least 3-4 days. So you could spend £3 over a few days rather than that same amount each day. Also depending on your facilities at work, you can have a wider variety of lunches available rather than the usual pre-packaged sandwich. Well worth it, wouldn't you agree

Organise your finances
Organising yourself can save you money, arranging your finances can avoid late payment fees or overdraft charges. Missing just one payment can cost around £20. These charges can be prevented by writing down in a diary, on a calendar or on an excel spreadsheet the deadlines for paying bills (if no direct debits are set up). Alternatively setting up direct debits can save money through discounts offered by companies, according to BACS setting up a direct debit can save the average person £130 per year. So if you don't have direct debits in place it may be worth getting them set up.

Organising your finances by monitoring your monthly spending habits can be another money saving tip. Keeping a list of how much you spend each day, week and month can give you extra ideas on how to cut back as well as stopping you going into your overdraft. Another way to monitor your expenditure is to bank on the Internet; it allows you to view your transactions, your current balance and direct debits whenever you want.

Save water
May saw the first drought order in England and Wales in 11 years. There has been a ban for non-essential water use, with many regions suffering its driest period for over 70 years. Shockingly on average a person uses 200 gallons of water a day! Even the smallest drip can add up to 25 gallons a day. So it makes sense for all of us to cut back on our water usage for both the environment and our pockets. Here are just a few ways to save water and money:

Use a watering can instead of a hose for your plants - it's more accurate.
Don't leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. Only turn the tap on when you want to rinse.
Wait until you have enough clothes for a full load before you use your washing machine.
Fix any leaking taps and make sure they are turned off completely when not in use.

Other useful websites to reduce your outgoings

This advert-free site provides every possible way to tighten the purse strings, with all the latest offers and discounts with classic housewives tips to help stretch your housekeeping budget as far as possible.