Healthier
Find cheap and simple recipe ideas off the internet and don’t get carried away with weird and wacky ingredients. Generic, non-brand goods are often made by the same companies that provide the expensive ones, so aim cheaper.
Eat seasonal food and shop at your local market – you will get better deals. And frozen veg is a much cheaper alternative if cash is tight.
Check the science bits. Vitamins don’t magically make you healthy. Detoxes don’t really work and there’s no science behind many of the miracle pills and supplements in your local health food shop.
Be cynical, speak to your doctor and check to see what research has been done before handing over your hard-earned cash.
Watch free deals. Limited time trials for slimming pills, magazine and health subscription services, apps with ‘paid for content’.
All of these online or magazine offers can be ‘subscription traps’ – where you sign up for a free offer then end up paying hundreds of pounds for poor products or services. Remember, if something is really free, why do they need your card number?
Home gym it! You’ll save a packet by getting in to the habit of doing a few exercise plans at home. You can get things like skipping ropes, hula hoops, workout videos and more from resale websites or from friends and family for very little. There are free apps which help you get motivated (sofa to 5K is one example) or give you tips on technique. You can also find more detailed exercise plans online for zero pence too.
■ If your gym isn’t playing fair, a retailer has ripped you off or you think you’ve been misled don’t give up, Resolver can help you sort out complaints about pretty much anything for free. Check out resolver.co.uk