It is no secret that for many, payday just can’t come quickly enough.

Families are struggling with wage rises frozen, but the cost of living on the up, and many are turning to payday loans or credit as a way to deal with essential payments. At the end of last year, almost £60 billion of unpaid consumer debt had been passed to debt collection agencies according to Credit Services Association.

As of March this year, it was calculated that the average household debt, excluding mortgages, is just under £8,000 but including the mortgage is approximately £56,000, according to Credit Action.

It’s fair to say that most households could benefit from making a few changes to reduce their monthly outgoings. Alterations to your spending can more often than not be the difference between paying the bills on time and spiralling into debt.

To help inspire you and make some positive changes, we asked the voices of social media for their best money saving tips and advice on how to reduce outgoings.

Twitter Followers of @Payplan certainly had some creative ideas on how to avoid wasting money. See how many you could adopt to your lifestyle.

  • I’d suggest they buy own-brand food from supermarkets. This can save up to £15 on a typical monthly shop – @FANewsdesk
  • My advice is to barter! We got 50% off AA breakdown cover that way – @Demystifyadvice
  • Learn to darn and make soup. Mending clothes and using leftovers are money-saving investments with immediate returns – @CashQuestions
  • Leave your debit/credit card at home. Just take a bit of cash with you when shopping. This should help reduce overall spending – @DeniseB_102
  • Salary exchange on your pension is a good start whether you’re an employer or employee – @PensionsGuru
  • Do your research and book holidays in advance. The first price you find for travel is not necessarily going to be the best – @Travelzoo_UK
  • Fill in a budget planner. It’s the first step to controlling your finances – @HelenIFA
  • Focus on the big things. A few less Starbucks won’t save you as much as switching car insurance or energy supplier –
  • Grow your own vegetables and walk to as many places as you can, saving on petrol and gym fees – @AllotmentAli
  • Step 1: Record everything spent for a month. Step 2: Formulate a spending plan cutting all the fat. Step 3: Live it out – @MattJabs
  • Hang out with friends and split more stuff! – @BudgetsAreSexy
  • Reviewing a mortgage or life insurance is always a good idea – @Mortgage_Stu
  • Online banking = time and money. Sometimes you forget to pay the bills. Set up automatic payments in order to avoid potential late fees – @RealtyRegina
  • Try a vegetarian diet! Meat is expensive. Replace with cheaper veggies to save money and get healthier! – @MrsEnergySaving
  • Brown bag your lunch! Save money by not going out to eat and preparing lunch before work – @JamesWileycpa
  • Try to focus your spending on items that gain value, not lose value, or on items that have deep meaning for you – @WomenMoneyMag
  • Look at buying second hand for a whole range of items, from clothes to cars. It helps to recycle too! @PrelovedUK
  • We could not survive without the monthly spreadsheet. We always know where we stand at all times – @Shaunkirtly
  • Take public transport instead of the car. Don’t mix them as you’re paying for both. If possible, cycle – @evmarnel
  • Learn how to cook to avoid the cost of regular takeaways – @phlegmian
  • Avoid buying the latest fashion and technology – @phlegmian
  • On a purely selfish level, I’d say stay with friends that live away to get an instant babysitter! @stevendhewitt
  • Switch to free or cheaper hobbies – @QueenThrift
  • Ask your mobile, TV or energy providers for a better deal. Don’t wait until the end of the contract, do it now! @AnnGSP
  • When you get unexpected cash, do one thing with it that saves money in the long run – @MonroeOnABudget
  • Shop online! You’ll stick to a list easier and it’s more time efficient – @clarethinkmoney
  • You can cancel obsolete recurring payments. Don’t let your bank tell you otherwise – @AnnGSP
  • Stop using your tumble dryer. It eats up electricity – @AnnGSP
  • Do a weekly shop instead of going every day to reduce temptation – @AcornFinancial

Facebook:Our frugal Facebook users gave some family orientated tips on how to keep within budgets.

  • Don’t go for brand names unless you have to. The cheaper ones are just as good these days – Nicola Barnett
  • Work out ‘offers’ carefully. If you stop to look at individual prices, you are not always saving as much as you think, and often the second lot gets wasted as it goes out of date before you get to it! – Michael James Hamlyn
  • Do a ‘reduced-to-clear’ run around the supermarkets. Around 7pm is a good time as they massively reduce prices then. Much of it can be frozen on the day of purchase so it’s okay to eat past its date – Sharon Matthews
  • Before you buy something, try and see if you can find vouchers first – Victoria Bayford
  • Have a money-free day each week – Ceredigion CAB
  • Give meter readings online. This will save on having a paper bill, plus giving the actual reading saves a lot – Emma Collins Dunbar

On the web:  Some of our trusty Twitter followers pointed us in the direction of some fantastic websites dedicated to money saving tips. Here are some of our favourites from various sites. Wikihow

  • Give up smoking. On top of the benefits to your health by quitting, you could also save thousands a year depending on how much you smoke. It’s a filthy, and expensive, habit.
  • Visit free resources. If you love to read, get down to your local library.
  • Try to eliminate bad routines. It may be avoiding your daily coffee on the way to work, or a vending machine snack in the office. These amounts soon build up. Buy in bulk from a supermarket to significantly reduce costs without sacrificing your treats.
  • Free texts are not free. Mobile phone contracts can make a huge impact on your outgoings. If you don’t need all those minutes and texts, reduce your monthly tariff.
  • Quit doing the lottery. You are statistically more likely to be hit by lightning than hit the jackpot. Why not put that weekly pound in the savings jar instead.
  • Don’t be too shy to use coupons. But make sure you use them on items you would only normally purchase, or else you’re filling up cupboards for nothing.
  • Debt Consolidation
  • Don’t automatically renew anything! This is where companies make big bucks. Just by calling and asking why it’s higher than you expected, more often than not they will offer you a better deal if you threaten to go elsewhere.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It doesn’t have to be cold hard cash but you may be able to get a free babysitter from time to time, easing your childcare costs.
  • You may be entitled to tax credits without even knowing it! Check with the HMRC. What have you got to lose?
  • Pay off your most expensive credit cards first. This should help avoid any high charges.
  • Check on eBay before you purchase anything. You may find a bargain.

This is Money

  • Try going to your local market instead of the supermarket. Reduced overheads mean more savings for you.
  • Appearance isn’t everything. Don’t buy stuff just to impress others. It is a complete waste of money. If they’re doing the same, you could both end up in debt for nothing.
  • Stop drinking in the week. Not only does this have health benefits, but a few pints a week can really raise your weekly outgoings.
  • Downgrade your car. Motoring is a huge outgoing for most households and with the rising cost of fuel, saving to a more fuel-efficient motor could save you hundreds of pounds a year.
  • Or perhaps you should scrap the car altogether and walk or cycle to work. If you live near enough to your workplace, ditching the car could save you money and help you get healthier, even giving you good reason to cancel your gym membership as well. Double savings.