There are thousands of saving tips across the internet, with some guidance feeling overwhelming, and some as simple as creating a budget. For the savers who’ve tried it all before, we’ve pulled together a list of alternative savings tips to make the most out your money:
1. Buy a coffee machine – If you are a coffee fanatic, making an investment into better coffee at home will reduce the temptation to buy coffee when out and about. Replacing a shop-bought latte (£3.50) each working morning with machine pods (£0.25) and a £100 machine will see this initial expense paid off in just six weeks! Many suppliers subsidise the price of their coffee machines in favour of premium pods, but we suggest switching out expensive pods for supermarket-brand compatible alternatives. One of the core principles of sticking to savings habits is making them appealing – it’s a sentiment not just for coffee, but a morning cuppa is a great place to start. With Christmas just three months away, our 95-day saver could be a great way to start a New Year’s resolution to make coffee at home!
2. Cook with the seasons – Since modern technology allows for food grown all around the world to be transported to our fingertips, the natural harvest cycle of our local climate has less relevance to our diet. Yet transporting food quickly before it spoils is both damaging for the environment and expensive, resulting in higher prices for foods sold out-of-season in the UK. For example, we checked a popular UK supermarket, and found British Strawberries for £1.65, compared to the same volume of Moroccan raspberries for £2.90. Adapt your menu to a more local diet, which will likely be cheaper and better for our planet.
3. Something borrowed, something blue – The ease and immediacy of modern commerce has meant the items we buy have become increasingly disposable. However, putting the extra bit of effort into borrowing an item you may need only for a short period is good for saving money in the long run and reducing waste.
4. Negotiate bills – Since the days of market haggling are less common today, we often take all prices as non-negotiable. Whilst it would be a faux pas to barter with a supermarket assistant, there are many businesses such as mobile phone or internet providers who will often let you take a discount if it means keeping your custom. Keep it classy, but don’t be afraid to be firm.
5. Say no - Talking about money amongst friends and family is often taboo, making it difficult to justify skipping a plan in favour of your wallet. This is especially true of events with more emotional currency such as weddings, which can be particularly expensive to attend. Whilst we don’t want to encourage our customers to do less to save money, we think everyone should have the right to speak out against a plan if it makes them uncomfortable financially, or damages progress towards a financial goal. We recommend suggesting a separate, more budget-friendly alternative if you can’t make the main event!
