Money Saving Suggestions

Home Savings

1. Install double glazing.

2. Install draught excluders.

3. Use low energy light bulbs.

4. Increase loft insulation.

5. Turn off appliances and lights when not in use.

6. Check hot water tank insulation.

7. Consider cavity wall insulation.

Financial

1. Spend less money than you earn (reduce interest payments).

2. Be aware of the interest rate charged on your credit card (there may be cheaper ways to borrow money).

3. If you do use credit cards, think about paying them off each month.

4. If you have credit card debt look for a better credit card deal. (Interest rates for credit cards currently range from 8.9% to 29.9% per annum)

5. Put any money you save into interest bearing account or investment at the highest rate you can find.

6. Ensure that net savings interest rates are above the Retail Price Index (RPI) otherwise you are losing money.

7. Plan to save a set amount per month (or as much as you can). Try never to miss the monthly savings payments and try to find ways to increase them each year.

8. See if you can refinance your mortgage or debts at a lower rate.

9. See if you can refinance your car loan at a lower interest rate (remember there may be penalties for changing loan companies).

10. Shop around for cheaper motor, household, travel and life insurance rates.

11. Look critically at how you spend and save your money.

12. Don't try to compete with your friends and neighbours or with anyone else for that matter.

13. Don't ever spend money just because you have it.

14. Be patient.

15. Start saving money today!

16. Reward yourself for saving money by watching your savings grow and your financial position improving.

17. Budget and stick to it. Don't give up!

Utilities

1. Place bricks (or an "Elephant") in the loo cistern to save water on each flush.

2. Use washing machine balls (from Lakeland) to save on detergent.

3. Save rainwater for gardens or ponds to save water bills.

4. Check electricity and gas meters and monitor consumption.

5. Turn down heating and hot water thermostats.

6. If you have internet access send e-mails instead of letter post.

7. If you have broadband, read newspapers online instead of buying them (even crosswords are available).

8. Make less phone calls. Find a cheaper phone service provider.

Provisions & Shopping

1. Grow your own food.

2. Use bus-passes where practicable instead of the car.

3. Park in free spaces if possible - shop where parking is free.

4. Shop for basics at cut price supermarkets e.g. Lidl or Aldi.

5. Stop unnecessary or impulse purchases.

6. Shop with coupons cut out from offers.

7. Wait for prices to fall before buying (applies especially to electronics items - like DVD players).

8. Wait for things to go on sale before buying them.

9. Don't buy anything just because it is cheaper in the sales.

10. Don't buy ready meals - prepare cheaper home cooked food.

11. Buy unnamed or unknown branded merchandise - quality can be just as good.

12. Reclaim Money on faulty goods or service (especially warranty claims).

13. Use store discount cards e.g. Boots Advantage (but not store credit cards).

14. Haggle.

Motoring

1. Don't drive aggressively or accelerate hard - to save fuel.

2. Don't brake more than necessary - braking dissipates and wastes energy.

3. Change to a more economic car with lower Vehicle Excise Duty.

4. Use smaller non-aligned garages (if they do not invalidate your warranty).

Leisure

1. Enjoy more activities at home.

2. Don't eat out as much as you'd like to.

3. Support your local library instead of buying books.

4. Don't use pay TV channels (or be selective) - use Freeview.

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