Like so many people these days I'm always looking for ways to save money. Prices are going up all the time, and sadly my wages have remained the same for the past 5 years. I've been very fortunate growing up as my parents have always taught me the value of money, make do, and, be happy with what I've got. Jane over at From Spending to Saving has just started up a money saving blog, and is running a competition where the winner will receive a whopping £400 worth of Amazon vouchers.
Here is my entry with my top money saving tips which I hope you'll find useful.
Recycle
We save a lot of money in our
household by simply re-using things. For example we cut up cereal boxes,
and Christmas cards to write shopping lists on. I keep back yogurt pots, and
tubs for planting. Old clothes have often been turned into cushion covers, and
many a time I've decorated jam jars to use as containers
Make Do and Mend
Over the years I've been guilty of throwing away garments, and shoes that were looking a bit worn. So this past year I set myself the challenge of when possible have a go at mending it myself. On the whole my efforts have been a success, but on the rare occasion where I've been unsuccessful my poor suffering mum has been lumbered with the task of breathing new life into a much loved item of clothing.
Grocery Shopping
One of my top tips when it comes to grocery shopping is don't be a brand snob. For example I recently switched from buying kelloggs cornflakes to my local store's own brand. None of my family could tell the difference, and it saved me just over a pound! There are some things however that won't be as good, but next time you do your weekly shop don't be too quick to write off the cheaper alternatives.
Discount cards/Coupons
If you use public
transport, shop or eat somewhere regularly then it’s worth finding out if
there’s a discount scheme. Most are free or are available for a small fee, and
can really save you a small fortune. I use public transport for work, and have
a yearly pass which I can use as many times as I wish for a fixed fee. I have
cards for my local supermarkets which I accumulate points and/or coupons to use
on future purchases. Make a habit of picking up free instore leaflets which
will often have money saving coupons in them, and always check magazines/papers
for them as well.
Energy Bills
These past few years all of us have seen our energy bills increase at an astronomical rate. One simple yet very effective way I have found at reducing our heating bill is by putting a piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminium foil behind all of our radiators. By doing this the heat which would normally be lost is reflected back into the radiator. Instead of cranking up the heat we simply wrap up warmer by wearing layers of clothes, and in my case a ridiculously looking, but very snugly onesie (Don't ask).
The sponsors of this competition are Which Offshore a site that offers advice for expats on offshore investments. As part of my entry Jane would like to know one reason why it's worth looking into an offshore pension. As I get older one thing that will always remain very important to me is that I have complete control over my pension. An offshore pension can offer exactly that as it acts like any other investment vehicle. You can freely move money around within it, change/adapt where your money is going when you wish, and best of all you'll be able to withdraw all of it upon maturity. When it comes to choosing a pension plan there's so many out there that it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs. As we get older a lot of things are out of our control, but this needn't be one of them.
