Cash advice

1

ON EATING OUT

Everyone loves eating out, and it’s a great way to support local restaurants, cafes, pubs and diners that may have struggled during the pandemic. However, the cost of meals out can soon add up. Fortunately, there are ways to save money. VoucherCodes has tons of discounts that you can use at your favourite restaurants – or even on takeaways. If you buy an insurance policy through Compare the Market, you can sign up for Meerkat Meals to get two-for-one meals every Sunday to Thursday.

2

ON HAIR AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Whether haircuts are a necessity or a treat is open to debate! Most of our haircuts from April have grown out by now, so it might be time to give them the chop. If you’re looking for a new hairdresser, or a haircut or beauty treatment at short notice, try Treatwell. It offers discounts at selected salons, especially last-minute. You can also ‘refer a friend’ at some salons for money off.

3

ON CLOTHES

Though most shops opted to have sales in June, some are still ongoing, so keep an eye out for a bargain. H&M, New Look and River Island all have sales on now – and don’t forget to check VoucherCodes for discounts. Alternatively, try shopping second-hand. This can be better for your purse and the environment. While online sites like eBay and Depop offer a huge range of secondhand clothes, it’s worth a trip to the High Street to check out local charity shops, too.

4

EVERY DAY!

Set a budget for every event and purchase. Put money aside at the start of the month for essentials, such as bills. Look for offers before you shop. Get online and search for all the best discounts before you set off for the High Street. Steph McGovern, journalist and television presenter, says: ‘Take stock of your spending habits and think about how you could spend more wisely by taking advantage of offers, discounts and benefits.’ Track spending by using free budgeting apps such as Yolt or Money Dashboard. Alternatively, digital banks like Monzo and Starling are great at helping you manage your spending with budgeting tools within their apps.

5

ON LOYALTY CARDS

If you need something from a store you have a loyalty card with, make sure to use it to collect points. You may also have points accumulated on your card already that you forgot about during lockdown, so make sure you spend them!

Now that ‘freedom day’ has been and gone, we’re all out and about more. Here’s how to treat yourself without splurging too much of that hard-saved cash…