New Year, new me? It’s time to start afresh with the traditional health kick, but did you know you can also save along the way? We’ve got expert tips to help you stretch your pennies further and budget better to save ahead of Christmas 2018.
Avoid the meal deals
Preparing your lunch at home is probably the last thing you’ll want to schedule in while rushing around. However, bringing a sandwich from home instead of buying lunch on the go can save you a significant amount of money over time. Say, for example, you get the average Boots’ or Tesco’s meal deal for around £3. This averages at a weekly cost of £15, a monthly cost of around £60 and an overall yearly cost of £720. While on a day-to-day basis £3 may sound like nothing, the little things soon add up.
Related: 5 Meals You Can Make For The Same Price As A Big Mac Meal
Socialise cheaper
Meeting up with friends will usually mean a coffee, a meal out, drinks, or a combination of these. If you opt for the cheapest option of a coffee it would cost around £5 (for a coffee and obligatory cake). If you do this weekly, this equates to £20 per month and £240 a year for friendly catch ups. While a coffee a week may not exactly break the bank, there are cheaper alternatives you can try to save at least some of this £240. For example, pick a picturesque spot and meet for a walk; this can also help you with any resolutions to get more active. Or if the weather’s a bit chilly, simply pop to each other’s homes for a coffee instead.
Save the change
Banks like Lloyds or Bank of Scotland offer schemes which put your change in a separate account for you as it gradually builds up. This works by rounding your debit card spending up to the nearest pound, and the remaining pennies are then placed in a savings account or another account of your choice. This makes it easier to save money without doing anything, and the pennies soon add up.
Related: Would You Try Any OF These Unusual Ways To Save Money?
Exercise for free
Come the new year, the most common thing to do is pay for a gym membership that you swear you’ll use on a strict and regular basis. However, many of us have lost motivation after a couple of months, if not weeks! According to This Is Money, the average UK gym goer pays £32 a month for their membership. This is £384 per year that could go wasted in favour of nights on the sofa. If you want to save this money and take the pressure off, simply exercise at home. Fitness DVDs can tone every area of the body without the use of specialised equipment. On top of that, there are many fitness apps that do the same thing. Failing that, you could even get some fresh air and go for a run.
Budget with a shopping list
Last but not least is to save what you can at the supermarket. According to Lifehacker, most supermarkets place their staple food items, such as meat, vegetables and eggs, far apart from each other on purpose. This encourages shoppers to walk up and down each aisle as they shop. Naturally, it’s easy to succumb to temptation on various aisles of tasty looking things you don’t really need. If you come prepared with a list, you’re more likely to stick to what you need, and won’t waste money on the unnecessary.
We hope this helps you budget better! Good luck for 2018!
