Consumers give tips on saving some money

As we have all started to realise it is vital to try and cut back on personal spending when the country is in the midst of a recession, especially in light of the fact that many people face real uncertainty with regards to their job security. Trying to conserve cash whilst in the middle of the type of financial crisis that the nation is in now is key to trying to weather the problems, and there are many different ways in which you can try and save some money each week or month.

Whilst you may think that saving any significant amount of money will be too difficult and time consuming there are actually many ways in which you can save money, and as many people have already realised every little helps, and saving small amounts of cash can quickly add up to leave you with considerably more cash in your pocket at the end of each month.

One way of trying to stop yourself from overspending is to try and avoid putting things on your credit card. It is all too easy to spend a fiver here and a tenner there when using your credit card because you don’t need to have cold hard cash on you. However, you need to remember that at some point you have to give the money back, and in some cases with interest on top. So, try to avoid putting things on your card here and there, as they can quickly add up, and you will feel far less tempted to waste your cash if you have to actually take real money from your pocket to pay for it.

We all like to indulge in a little shopping now and again, but there is nothing to say that we have to shop at the most expensive shops and boutiques around. In fact, if you try out some charity shops you can get some real bargains, from designer clothes and accessories from next to nothing, to books, DVDs, CDs, and much more for just pennies. One consumer said: “I recommend shopping in charity shops. You can really buy some bargains, if you look and get lucky. Go to posh areas, where they donate some good things. Or shop on eBay for the things you need it’s much cheaper than the high street.”

Another consumer offered tips on what to do with cast that you normally pay out each month via direct debit but have a couple of months’ break from, stating: “Most householders pay their water bill and council tax by direct debit. Council tax for 10 months and water for eight. When not due, be disciplined and move the payments to a savings account – such as a cash ISA.”

Another suggested that giving up smoking and drinking could save a fortune, and renting DVDs rather than paying money for expensive cinema trips could also help to save cash, stating: “Give up smoking, drinking or any other vice legal or otherwise. The cinemas are highly overpriced so rent DVDs instead. Oh and give up big label shopping: supermarket own brand stuff saves cash.”

With food prices having rocketed over the past year many of us are spending a fortune on groceries, and this is made worse by the fact that so many of us tend to purchase lunch on the days that we are working rather than taking a packed lunch in.

One consumer offered a few tips to help to curb these costs, and she said: “I’ve invested in a breadmaker and have started baking my own bread. Average saving over £1 per loaf and no artificial additives. The breadmaker will have paid for itself in a couple of months. I’ve also started making a huge batch of soup on Sundays and taking that into work for my lunch every day, along with the home-baked bread. Average saving £15-£20 per week. I also cook in batches and eat the same meal for two days and freeze the rest. I seem to have cut my food bills by over half.”

Another helpful consumer also offered some tips on saving money on food as well as household goods, stating: “Buy a slow cooker so you can use cheaper cuts of meat and poultry, and when you cook do an extra portion or two for the freezer. Home made soup and a sarnie is an adequate dinner.

Shop at discounters like Lidl and Aldi – you will be surprised by the quality if you shop carefully. I buy most of my everyday toiletries, toothpaste, cleaning stuff and stationary from Poundland. You could also look for things to do that are free – a walk in the park costs nothing and keeps you fit and healthy.”