How are you saving money this year?

philgee

Well, what are you doing? We've never been able to save much before, but have finally got my OH to see the error of our ways...

We have started buying our weekly grocery shop online. We have so far spent around £70 a week for a family of 4 (plus pets!). Prior to this, we were spending £100+ in the supermarket, even after making a shopping list.

I use public transport to get to work and have started buying a monthly ticket (£83 per month). Prior to this was spending £5.80 a day on a return ticket. This also means that I am not withdrawing money all the time to buy the tickets, meaning I'm not spending all the change in my pocket of God knows what.

We have both been taking packed lunches to work, meaning we are saving probably £4-5 a day between us not buying lunch.

So we should be able to save about £250 a month, or £3000 this year!

We have just opened another savings account, and at the end of each month anything left over in our current account above the balance at the start of the month will be transferred across.

I doubt the balance will be £3000 at the end of the year, as we will be using this to pay for extra expense in the year, such as car servicing and holidays & treats and anything unexpected, but at least we hopefully won't have to resort to using plastic!

:money:

Cinny91

You've done really well there philgee, good luck with the rest of the year! :beer:

This year I'm going to eat better, I can get a healthy meal for about 50% of the cost of junk food. I'm also going to open a savings account and any extra money i make this year in the way of online sales, cashback ect will go straight into there rather than my bank account where they'll get spent!

Simon_B_2

I've cut down on direct debits for gym membership, moved to a cheaper electricity supplier and reduced my mobile phone bill to £18 a month.
Also just got a company car so sold the old and no more servicing or insurance to pay :j

lilac_lady

I've joined the £4000 in 2009 challenge here. If I stick to my version of the challenge I'll be able to save quite a bit.

Simon_B_2

lilac_lady wrote: »

I've joined the £4000 in 2009 challenge here. If I stick to my version of the challenge I'll be able to save quite a bit.

I like the sound of the £4000 in 2009 challenge is there a thread ?

Also quicken sounds useful, i'll be taking a look at it later thanks

sodamnfunky

We are hoping to save a fair bit this year, looking at 6-8k if possible, should be attainable and be able to still have a couple of decent holidays.

We both earn decent money, and over the past few years, spent a fair bit on enjoying it.

Mrs SDF has started taking lunch to work, and did so for a month before xmas, she can really see how much she used to spend a day. If I could get her to give up smoking that would be another £50 per month. Will cut back on meals out, which should save us around £150 per month.

I have a book, that I write down everything we spend to the penny. I can always see exactly how much we have, and where we can cut back.

jessicamb

I will hopefully be doing more of the same and better!

Quidco to get cashback on all the insurances when they fall due later this year and shopping bargains

Trying to stick to a budget and pay off the slightly increasing credit card balances!

Continuing to make regular payments into my regular saver accounts and shares ISA - every little helps!

Batch cooking to save money, stop me eating takeaways and wasting food (eg cooking a big meal then throwing half of it away as there was too much)

Mystery shopping and matched betting to increase my income


Have a search for discount vouchers when I want to buy things online

Go back to uni which should help - firstly I can get student places and then hopefully what I will learn will help me get a better job by the time I have finished it.

Scubamartin

For me its all about realizing that my things work fine and I do not need new ones. Cellular phone, tv, computer etc.

teedy23

I have the knowledge to save but sometimes I lack impetus. I get fed up and blow it, just staying focused is the big thing for me

Squish_21

We now car share! OH is trying to sell his car (Fiesta ST) so that we just have the one car and can save more.

jamie_brummet

i'm not buying any more dvds and going to get rid of all my old dvds (advice in the last mse email. sorry can't find the link)