5 Ways You Can Be More Financially Savvy*

Did anyone make the resolution at the start of 2020 to be better with their money? I have a confession to make, I ALWAYS make this resolution and then by March when money is probably at it’s tightest I lose my head a bit and start spending. I don’t know why this happens.. maybe it’s because it’s my birthday month and I have my “treat yo self” head on, or maybe I just tire with the penny pinching. I guarantee you that by the time May hits I’ll regret the unnecessary spending, but I just can’t stop it.

THANKFULLY, since I left home originally at 18 I have developed some rather nifty little thrifty hacks that allow me to have big spend months. Yes, I do regularly pat myself on the back for this as it’s probably one of my best traits to have developed in adulthood (I don’t have many haha). These financially savvy ways of mine have allowed me to have a rather good life as a self employed single mother. And today I’m going to pass on 5 of the best to you;

Shop Around

I know, this can often be a difficult one for people with busy lives, but it saves money. In fact, it saves me a lot of money. It’s something I started doing when I went to University. On my walk home I’d visit different stores for different things. Remember, don’t be afraid of discount stores! So for groceries, Aldi or Lidl. For household cleaning I love Home Bargains or B&M. For personal care, Savers or Poundland are your friends, they often stock exactly the same as big brand store for a fraction of the price. Remember, you don’t need to always go for a name brand when it comes to food, especially the stuff in your cupboard. 20p spaghetti is really not that different to £1 spaghetti.

Use the Internet

The Internet is honestly your best resource for money saving. I actually never pay for anything before I search for a discount code. And my newest favourite thing to check is whether or not a website has sign up offers for new customers. We all know that when you first sign up for anything, be it a bank, a phone contract or even just to a mailing list for your favourite store you’ll be offered the best kind of discount or reward. Well this website consolidates all these offers into one place making it much easier to find what you’re looking for.

Download Shoppix

My family will all tell you that I’m completely obsessed with the app, Shoppix. It’s so easy to use and I love that I can get a monthly Amazon voucher (that I then spend on a new book, my biggest vice). You download the app and earn points by scanning your receipts and doing surveys. You also get weekly scratch cards to win points. It’s 30 per receipt (as long as you scan on the day, otherwise it drops to 25) and the first voucher you can get is at 3200. I just got my last voucher on the 13th February and I’m over half way to my next one. I love it because I have to shop anyway and then the vouchers I get is a treat I didn’t have to pay for. I actually saved up at Christmas so I had £20 worth of vouchers.

Keep An Eye On Your Utilities

By utilities I mean gas, electric, water and even broadband. The cost of all these can fluctuate heavily so it’s important to keep an eye on what you’re paying. Sometimes you can get fab bonuses by switching suppliers and it could save you money monthly. Websites like Compare the Market can do all the leg work for you too if it’s something you’re unsure about. In the last few years i’ve changed my gas & electricity supplier and my broadband supplier to save myself money.

Have a Clear Out

We all horde stuff we never use and you know the saying “one man’s trash, another man’s treasure” so get clearing out and sell some of it. There are so many places you can sell now. From car boot sales and personal ads, to the easy online methods such as eBay and Depop (thank you Depop, you have been a god send this year!). Facebook now has a marketplace to sell to locals in your area and there are so many specialist Facebook groups for collectors. And then there are apps for books, DVDs and games. This is a great way to pull money together to buy anything non essential. I’ve even got LM in on it. If she wants a new toy and it’s not where near her birthday and I encourage her to clear out and raise the money for it. Kids are really motivated by stuff, even if you say yours isn’t (sorry, but it’s true!)