3 TOP TIPS TO SAVE CASH

WE asked some money-saving experts to share their top tips to help families stay in the best financial shape…

1

WALK, OR GET THE BUS

It might seem simple, but ditching the car could make a massive difference.

“Petrol is insanely expensive right now, as are trains. But there are great deals on railcards. It is £30 for a family and friends railcard and that’s for a whole year and a third off of tickets,” says Jasmine Birtles, founder of MoneyMagpie.com.

Buses, generally, are the cheapest mode of public transport. And if you do still need a car for some things, it might be possible to keep costs as low as possible.

“Check out websites like petrolprices.com to see where you can get fuel the cheapest,” suggests Birtles.

2

IF YOU DIDN’T MISS SOMETHING DURING THE PANDEMIC, DON’T SPEND MONEY ON IT NOW

The start of the pandemic in early 2020 meant that for some people, who could no longer spend on socialising and travel, opportunities to save money grew.

Richard Dana, co-founder and CEO of ‘family-focused mortgage broker’ Tembo (tembomoney. com), says he was able to save more than usual during the lockdowns, as travel, little luxuries and days out were put on hold.

“We haven’t done any travelling or been out much, so we have focused on enforced saving. We are now much more conscious of what we spent, and don’t miss certain things,” Dana explains.

3

BE SAVVY WITH FOOD SHOPPING

Birtles says the first way to save money on your food shopping and groceries is to go down a brand. “If you are used to buying Heinz beans, try the Lidl or Aldi alternative,” she says. It might just look like a 30p or £1 difference here and there but those savings can make a big difference over the course of a month or year.