How are you saving money this year?

Bob_the_Saver

The best way to save money (does not apply to us MSE fans of course) is to STOP BUYING ALL OF THAT OVERPRICED STUFF YOU DON'T NEED. Want, slightly fancy and NEED are different!!

minerva_windsong

Mine are:

- Enter competitions for stuff I want and try to win as much as I can

- Use vouchers won/discount codes to buy things

- Sell stuff I don't want/need on eBay

- Set a weekly budget and stick to it

- Use cashback sites wherever possible

- Save as much money as possible in a well-paying ISA for future big events (wedding, flat deposit etc) - I *hope* that when I'm earning money I'll be putting about a quarter of my net wages into my savings.

I have a target of saving £365 for the year, which on a student/new graduate's budget I don't think is a particularly difficult amount. I'm also hoping to clear my student overdraft (currently £800) by the time it stops being interest free in July next year, and I'd like to earn a little over 1000 Boots points by Christmas so I can have a small treat for myself at the end of the year. I am a demon for spending my points on daft stuff like a lunch so a 'big' treat would feel like much more of a reward for being good all year.

Eric_Pisch

Moving both our mobiles over to sim only (buy the handsets unlocked on ebay if we need to change them) will save £40ppm straight off

looking to see if i can VT my car, its unregulated but apparently some VW unreg contracts still have the 50% VT clause in them, this would save me 7-8k over the next 10 months

cut another £20ppw from food shopping

cancelled just about all luxury expenditure apart from a couple of blu rays a month

switched to own brand mulit vits £2.50 instead of £10 for 100!

oh got my meds from chemist 4 u, was paying 29p per Zantac in sainsburys 17p each for the multi packs !!!

running out of ideas thou

luke05

I have put my old CDs and DVDs on ebay. It's really great to have that website and helping me to look for good buyers interested on the things I've decided to put on sale.

AmberTorquay

we decided to down-size our car.
previously owned a grand scenic 2.0L auto petrol, costing us £215 per year tax, and approx £1200 a year petrol (only managed 21mpg)

now own a vauxhall corsa 1.3L auto diesel, costing £35 per year tax, and approx £600 a year diesel (because it does nearly 50mpg!!! yessss!!!)

money saved per year: £780!!!

having read this thread will now get hubby to read it and take on some more ideas!

and the kids have a penny jar, anything from a pound to a penny goes in, (and notes from kind grandparents!). a quarter full and nearly £60 saved!! and they know it has to go into their bank accounts for university. they are only 8 & 7, but you have to start young!!