With the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills, you may be looking for ways to save money at home. From what you do in the home to potential purchases you need to make, here are a few ways that you can go about saving some money which may be especially important for the festive period.
Large Purchases
Unfortunately, you can’t plan for the unexpected and sometimes large purchases need to be made without prior warning. One example of this is a new car. If your car breaks down or you get into an accident and the cost of repair is more than the value of the car, you may find yourself in a position of needing another vehicle. Rather than buying a brand new one outright, you could look for a second-hand car like a used Vauxhall Corsa for a fraction of the price of a new one, with many dealerships offering finance which can be a lifesaver with a large purchase.
Generally, any second-hand item will be cheaper than a new one so you should always try to shop around before committing to a big purchase if you want to save money.
Shopping
When it comes to shopping, if you are savvy there are always ways to save money. If you are looking for new clothes, sites like Vinted and eBay are great places to grab a bargain or head down to your local charity shop to pad out your wardrobe.
There are also many ways to save money when it comes to the weekly food shop. Recently, Asda released their ‘just essentials’ range which offers essentials from as little as 16p and may be a great option for those looking to save some money.
Shopping at a certain time of day can also be a great way to bag a bargain. Many supermarkets will begin to ‘yellow sticker’ their products during the evening, meaning that they may be reduced by as much as 75% due to being close to their best-before date. Don’t be put off if you find a short best-before date though, the food will be fine until its use-by date and many foods can be frozen and used later on.
In The Home
With energy bills on the rise, saving money at home is top of the priority list for many of us. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to save money on your energy usage is by draught-proofing your home. By covering up any gaps in your home such as your letterbox flap, spaces near doors and windows and cracks in the wall, you can save around £60 a year plus extra if you end up needing to turn your thermostat down.
Being savvy in your home and turning lights and appliances off is really easy to do and in the long run, can result in more money in your pocket – even just ensuring that you only run your dishwasher when it is full can save you £17 a year!
