#Collaborative post
As a parent with many commitments to a career or household maintenance, cost cutting can be very important for helping to keep a good bank balance, but not all money-saving exercises need to be impactful on your lifestyle.
If you want to save money effectively without impacting your daily treats and indulgences, here are four top tips for improving your everyday spending with minimal effort.
1. Start Couponing
Considered an extreme sport in some places, couponing is a fun and innovative way to keep on top of your penny pinching, and grab some bargains at the same time!
If you team up with a few friends, you could even hold mini-competitions with each other to see who can save the most.
While some supermarket loyalty cards will occasionally allow you to obtain money off, or discounted specific items, you can also collect coupons from websites like Wowcher that will give you discounted or free items from online codes.
2. Enter a Competition
If you’re saving money for a house deposit, or find your income being swallowed by rent, why not enter a competition to win a house, or cash equivalent?
Companies like Raffle House are the designers of competitions that allow you to win a huge prize whilst also donating to charity. Whether you opt to buy a new house, or simply secure the prize funds to make some important renovations, Raffle House can help you make your savings go further.
3. Check Prices By Weight
Supermarket discounts can be confusing, and with food continuing to climb in costs, it’s not surprising that more people than ever are searching for ways to save money on their food shopping.
Although big discounts on branded items can be tempting, it might be wise to check the cost of items by weight, as this can reveal some surprising discrepancies.
You may also want to consider seeking out items that are price-matched to the cheaper supermarkets – staples like bread, butter and milk are often a very similar price without much of a change in quality.
Consider bulk buying if you can; bulk buys will last longer, and are often discounted more favourably than buying individually packaged items. For store cupboard items that are less perishable, this can help you stay stocked up without needing to be mindful of expiry dates.
4. Shop Weekly
Shopping weekly has many benefits. Doing one big grocery shop at the beginning or end of the week can help to reduce the likelihood of impulse buying, and help you set a fixed budget for each week.
For foods that have a more reduced shelf life like fresh fruit and vegetables, you could opt for frozen varieties instead. You may find that you can then purchase in a larger volume and store over a longer period, thereby reducing your monthly spend.
Some supermarkets like Sainsburys also offer a “scan as you shop” option using a Nectar card. Not only will this instantly apply potential savings to your shop as you go, but it will help you keep track of your spending and enable you to make wiser decisions about your purchases.
Do you have any tips for saving money as a busy parent? Share your top tips and tricks in the comments section below!