#Collaborative post
The cost of living increases is hitting everyone’s budget and it is not looking like 2023 is going to get any easier yet. For me, this year is all about looking at ways to make our money go further and getting the best value for our pounds.
If you are feeling the pinch like us, the most important thing is not to panic. Although there is no magic answer to make everything feel a little less stretched straight away, there are a few ways to start reducing your outgoings to help in the long run.
Cutting our food budget –
Food prices are probably the one thing that is hitting us all and there doesn’t seem to be a relief from this soon.
If your food budget is really pushing the limit at the minute, there are a few ways to reduce your costs every week.
- Change where you shop – Some supermarkets are a little more expensive than others, so it may be an option to change where you are shopping from and save on the weekly budget.
- Step down on brands – Start switching out some of your more expensive brands for supermarket-own brands. We regularly do this and don’t really notice the difference on most items.
- Don’t be put off by supermarket saving brands – Asda has recently just realised their new brand and there was lots of press around this, we have tried some of the new products and really like them. Things such as cheese, sausage rolls and garlic bread have all been swapped for this brand and they are just as tasty.
I am also starting to run down the supplies that we have in the house too. It may feel a little extreme but if it means we can get away with not buying a few items over the next few weeks it will start to save us a few pounds too.
We are also going to look at the options for dinners that we have, there may be a few nights where we decide to go for something simple such as eggs, chips and beans or even pasta using up the bits we have leftover. It won’t be every night but a few meals that are cheaper will also help keep the costs down.
Reduce car usage –
The cost of topping up our tank is just eye-watering now and we don’t use it as often as some people, so those reliant on their cars for work and everyday life must really be feeling the pinch
To try and curb the car costs, we will be using the car as minimally as possible. We are fortunate enough to be able to walk to work but for those who don’t, is there the option to maybe car share with someone so you drive one week and they drive the next?
It might not save lots of money but for most people, saving half a tank of petrol a month is likely to save about £45-£50.
Shop around for contracts such as our TV package and insurance –
We have a couple of our current contracts coming up that we will be looking to get the best deals we can with and many of us feel like we are tied to a company by loyalty. Don’t be!
Their renewal quote will not be the best deal you can get. If you are unsure of how to get a better deal, make sure you check out this post.
Things that you may be able to get a better deal on include:
- Mobile phones
- TV/Broadband
- House insurance
- Pet insurance
- Car insurance
- Roadside assistance
Don’t forget to make sure you shop around and take advantage of things such as cashback sites like Quidco!
Make the most of discount sites –
If you are looking to make a big purchase, make sure you take time to look at discount sites and get yourself some money off!
Things such as white goods and electrical products can be expensive to replace, so where possible I try not to pay full price. There are great discounts out there such as this appliances direct promo code which will help you either save money on the item itself or even on the delivery.
This is a great post on how to get free cash or freebies, from things such as new bank accounts, vouchers from apps and many more. Well worth a read if you don’t know where to start!
Use cashback sites and apps –
There are a number of sites out there now to help you save cash or earn money back on your shopping, these might not seem like they are going to save you much but every little bit helps. Personally I always check them out before I make a purchase just to see what I can potentially get back.
If you have not used these before but would like to check them out, they include:
- Quidco – My favourite one and over the years I have earned £2231 back in cashback! They have a little nifty plugin for your browser which you can use too, so you don’t forget to make your purchases.
- Topcashback – The same as Quidco, just a different site.
- Shopmium – Another shopping app, this one gets you most items discounted by cashback. If you sign up using AEHHCCUT you will get a pot of Pringles!
Don’t forget that you can use your loyalty cards too, make sure you are getting those points from any purchases you are making. The new Asda Reward Card is really good and gives more cashback than the other supermarket cards from what I can see.