With the increased cost of living, how do you keep costs down?
One of the lasting effects of the recession is that those purse-tightening years taught us how to look after our money more wisely - and even though the economy may be in recovery, that's no reason to abandon these frugal measures. Cutting unnecessary expenditure can begin in your own home, and there are many ways you can reduce your outgoings significantly by following a few simple steps.
It may sound overly simplistic, but remembering to spend less is key to saving money on everything from large investments to your weekly grocery shop. Analyzing your current spending habits is a great starting point, and looking over receipts could help you identify areas where your spending needs to improve - such as avoiding buying DVDs you may never watch, or buying too much food that could end up in the trash. Setting a budget and sticking to it will ensure you don't spend more than you can comfortably afford to, and keeping an eye out for bargains and multi-buy discounts could help your money stretch further.
Investigating alternative options can lead to big cost savings too, particularly when heading online to buy goods through internet auctions or finding the best deals through price comparison websites. Everything from renewing your car insurance to buying a new TV could be a great deal cheaper online than in the high street, so the little time it takes to research the cheapest sites could be well worth it.
The internet can be handy for reducing your phone bills too, as you'll be able to make cheap calls using internet phone software that allows you to call mobiles and landlines at lower rates. If you're chatting to someone else who's using the same software, your conversations could even be completely free - cutting a large part out of your phone bills.
It's not just your phone bills that can be reduced substantially each month either, as implementing energy-saving measures can lower both your electricity bills and your carbon footprint. While installing solar PV panels may be an overly expensive long-term measure to reduce your environmental impact, simply replacing your standard light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs giving off the same level of light at a lower wattage won't cost you very much - and the savings will soon add up. Similarly, remembering to switch off lights and other electronics when you leave the room could help you avoid paying too much for your utilities.
It may sound overly simplistic, but remembering to spend less is key to saving money on everything from large investments to your weekly grocery shop. Analyzing your current spending habits is a great starting point, and looking over receipts could help you identify areas where your spending needs to improve - such as avoiding buying DVDs you may never watch, or buying too much food that could end up in the trash. Setting a budget and sticking to it will ensure you don't spend more than you can comfortably afford to, and keeping an eye out for bargains and multi-buy discounts could help your money stretch further.
Investigating alternative options can lead to big cost savings too, particularly when heading online to buy goods through internet auctions or finding the best deals through price comparison websites. Everything from renewing your car insurance to buying a new TV could be a great deal cheaper online than in the high street, so the little time it takes to research the cheapest sites could be well worth it.
The internet can be handy for reducing your phone bills too, as you'll be able to make cheap calls using internet phone software that allows you to call mobiles and landlines at lower rates. If you're chatting to someone else who's using the same software, your conversations could even be completely free - cutting a large part out of your phone bills.
It's not just your phone bills that can be reduced substantially each month either, as implementing energy-saving measures can lower both your electricity bills and your carbon footprint. While installing solar PV panels may be an overly expensive long-term measure to reduce your environmental impact, simply replacing your standard light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs giving off the same level of light at a lower wattage won't cost you very much - and the savings will soon add up. Similarly, remembering to switch off lights and other electronics when you leave the room could help you avoid paying too much for your utilities.
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