Pass on your top money tip to youngsters

pandora205

Put your loose change in a money box or pot. It soon mounts up.

Buy wardrobe basics that will last. Update with cheap accessories.

Magazines can eat up your money - £2 per week is over £100 a year. Read online instead.

Clairsdad

Don't be a sheep and buy whatever your friends buy... be a trend setting original, being cool can save you money too.

RedGoose

Some more ideas:

If you're taking out a credit card, set up a direct debit to pay it off in full at the end of each month.

Direct debits are an easy way to avoid trouble with forgotten bills- just make a note of when they're due and make sure you've got the money to cover them.

onlyroz

Start a pension or retirement savings plan as soon as you can.

Caroline73_2

Try and spread your weekly food shop over 8 days. It's like a weeks free food every two months.

If you need money for bus fare or car parks, withdraw it from the bank on payday and keep it safe, taking what you need as and when. You won't be scrimping for it at the end of the month.

barbiedoll

You don't need an expensive mobile contract. Get a sim only deal and buy a basic smartphone for around £70, you'll save yourself a fortune!

the_cat

Just because an organisation is prepared to lend you money, it doesn't make it a bright move to do so.

If you can't afford to pay cash, you can't afford it! Save up until you can.

tiff

If you need to raise some money, sell your old console games, DVDs, CDs etc on Gumtree, Facebook etc

Took me many years to do this, used to give everything away to the charity shop but now I try and sell as much as I can and raise cash. Has been a lifesaver at times!

caeler

*Find and register with an NHS dentist, you'll pay alot less for appointment and treatments in the long run, but not every clinc registers new patients they are like gold dust in some areas!

*Don't live beyond your means. You don't have to learn the hard way, take advice from others so you don't have to suffer hopeless debt first hand.

*If you think you can handle a credit card or a loan then before you sign up, read through some of the posts in this part of the forum http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=136 , you will hear saddening stories from people just like you and me about when things go really wrong.

*If you do get a credit card don't plan on just making the minimum payments, the debt will never get repaid.

*Save for Christmas. Work out how much you typically spend, divide by 11 and save that amount each month into a basic account without conveninent access so you can have a debt free Christmas.

*If you borrow from your family, make sure you pay them back first before any other indulgences or commitments.

*Always pay your Council Tax - getting into Council Tax arrears is not an option, the county will slap you with CCJs very quickly and it will ruin your life.

*Set yourself a spending budget each month, of money you can spend on whatever you want (provided bills are paid and a modest sum is put aside for savings), this way you won't feel guilty about spending on the incidentals yet will stick to your budget and not overspend.

*Save Martin's Money Saving Expert website to your favourites!

Ravenlady_2

Put a hat on it, there is nothing more painful than a STI and handing over 20% minimum of your income for the next 18 years.

They're free from your doctors.