New Year, new you? Whether you’re trying to lose weight or go sober, don’t let the drab of January stop you from achieving your goals. One thing we all promise ourselves is that we will be more sensible with our money and save up some £££s for that new car or summer holiday. So we’ve put together a simple guide on how really easy, small changes around your home can save you and your family money, without any drastic lifestyle changes.
1. Cook up a storm
If you’re cooking a meal for one, why not make a larger batch and store the leftovers for another day. Making large portions of food all at once means you’re less likely to leave food to go out of date and end up throwing it away. Divide portions into Tupperware boxes to freeze them and then bang them in the microwave when you’re hungry. It’ll also slash your bills as you’re only using your oven and dishwasher once for lots of meals!
2. Air your washing
Yes – air your dirty laundry in public! With this country’s climate, we understand that it’s very rare that the weather conditions are suitable for drying clothes outside. But when the chance does arrive in our short-lived summers, make the most of it! Besides, you don’t need to air-dry your clothes outside, it’s just a lot quicker. If the weather isn’t appropriate, find the room in the house that gets the most sunlight and erect a maiden for your wet clothes in front of it. Again, reducing the use of your tumble dryer will also reduce the bills you incur for doing so.
3. Time for a spring clean
Ok well it may not be time yet, but is there really a wrong time to give your home some well-deserved care and attention? Having a good old clear out not only significantly helps your mood and mentality, but there are also lots of drop-off places around the country that will buy your old stuff from you, if you don’t think it’s worth selling on eBay. Time to shove your 5 years old threadbare garments into a bin bag and get them weighed in!
4. Compare your cover
Now’s the chance to review your outgoings and finding out if you can cut back on your expenditure. To leave you with a bit more money at the end of the month, jot down the price you are paying for each of your monthly bills then search around for cheaper deals and enquire about refinancing your mortgage or switching your cover over to a new provider. If you don’t have cover, it’s probably worth investing in some – particularly for expensive repairs such as boilers and appliances. Click here to view the range of plans that we offer for boiler, appliance and home emergency cover.
5. Collect your coppers
This is nothing new or revolutionary, in fact it’s definitely old-school, but designate a large jar or container to collecting your spare change. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what emptying your pockets of any spare change at the end of each day can amount to. You can probably get it changed into notes at a post office or bank, but if you can’t find anyone that needs any change, you can always convert your money into groceries using a Coinstar machine in your local supermarket.
6. Unplug your leccy
This is probably the easiest way to save money and there’s absolutely no excuse for not doing it! Unplugging your electrics at night won’t save you an arm and a leg each month, but it will save you a significant amount come to the end of the year. If you’re not using them – get them unplugged. It’s a lot safer too if you have children AND it can stop electrical appliances from overheating!
7. Grow your own
Seeds cost next to nothing so why not grow your own fruit and veg? When they’re ripe, you’ll not only see a difference in your shopping bill but it’ll feel so much more rewarding and taste better. Having your own home-grown fruit, vegetables and even herbs are also likely to encourage you and your family to eat healthier – and it’s loads more fun to involve them if you have small children in the family.
