20 other ways to save fast in 2020
1 SWAP the gym for free alternatives. Ditch often wasted gym membership fees by going for a run on the streets or in the park, or exercising at home.
2 DUMP contactless cards. Try sticking to cold, hard cash for small purchases like you did in the good old days. This will allow you to keep better track of personal finances.
3 GET smart to stay warm. Save on heating costs by keeping an extra jumper on at home, plugging any little gaps around the house to draft-proof, closing curtains to hold warmth indoors and moving furniture to unblock radiators.
4 START a loose change jar Instead of letting coppers collect dust down the back of the sofa. Place an empty jar in the kitchen for all of the family to throw their 1p, 2p and 5p coins into.
5 TURN your electrics off when not in use. Stop leaving electrical gadgets on standby when they’re not in use and always turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms.
6 FAVOUR showers over baths. Water usage and costs can also be reduced by taking a quick shower instead of a long bath and using sink or cooking water to quench plants’ thirst.
7 CUT out your takeaway coffee. Skip grabbing a coffee on the way into work every morning and instead make one at home in a reusable cup to save money on a daily basis.
8 WALK more. Vehicles are expensive to own, fuel and maintain. Also most public transport is not as affordable as it used to be.
9 LOOK for supermarket discounts. Scout for items that have been marked with a yellow sticker because of their use by or best before date – or the condition of packaging.
10 CONSIDER going vegan. In addition to the ethical and moral considerations, meat and fish prices have risen significantly in recent years. So even adopting part-time veganism or vegetarianism – such as meat-free Mondays – could benefit your bank balances.
11 FOR TV, stick to Freeview. You can get most of your favourite shows for nothing on Freeview. So it is time for budgeting Brits to cut out the monthly costs of bloated packaged cable subscriptions.
12 GET a better mobile phone deal. With thousands of mobile deals out there, it can be difficult to find the right one for you. Providers can often be unhelpful when it comes to offering existing customers a better deal. But if you tell them you are considering leaving they may be able to find a better deal straight away.
13 GET rewarded for your spending. When shopping for treats, choose retailers that offer good reward schemes.
14 BOOK your night out online. Websites such as Opentable, Lastminute and 5pm specialise in 2-for-1 deals, 50 per cent off offers and promotions where wine is included with your meal.
15 FIND the cheapest fuel prices in your area. Get to know the garage with the best rates or look at cheap fuel price apps for comparisons.
16 CUT the cost of your MOT. There is a maximum test fee of £54.85 set by the Government for car Mots but a lot of service centres often run half-price deals. Check what’s on offer in your area before you book.
17 YOU might be able to make money from your parking space. There are plenty of websites that allow you to rent out your empty driveway or garage to motorists needing a place to park.
18 ENSURE your boiler is efficient. Installing a more efficient boiler will – after the initial expense – lower your heating costs, particularly if you buy a condensing boiler. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a condensing boiler could save you as much as £310 a year over an older model.
19 CANCEL unnecessary direct debits. A quick browse of your monthly statement can help prevent any unnecessary payments lasting for months or even years.
20 GET an energy audit. Carry out a free, online home-energy check from the Energy Saving Trust website. You can book it via their website at energysavingtrust. org.uk.