Resolutions For the New Year: Ways To Save

Getting into a regular savings habit is the first step in the financial planning process. If money is tight, you might think you don’t have enough spare cash to save but we’ve put together some suggestions for possible ways to free up money for you to start saving every month. From small acorns, mighty oaks do grow!

If you’re not already saving, you should be. An emergency fund and a retirement fund are the two absolute fundamentals for financial stability over the long term. We know that life is tough for many people right now and saving may not be easy. But small changes here and there can add up to surprising sizeable savings over the course of a year. We’re not suggesting that you act on all these suggestions but pick a few that resonate with you and put them into practice this January.

Finance

1. Use a price comparison site to review your home and car insurance policies and switch to less expensive ones

2. Ditch your credit cards and only buy what you can afford

3. Use money off coupons and codes which can be found online

4. Make the most of 0% interest introductory offers on balance transfers by switching credit cards and then pay off your balance!

5. Don’t borrow money

6. Consolidate loans

7. Request a rate reduction on your credit card

Shopping

1. Stop smoking

2. Switch to a less expensive phone or mobile package

3. Rent rather than buy clothes for big occasions

4. Buy secondhand: furniture, clothes, cars, tools etc

Food & drink

1. Buy a refillable cup and take your coffee to work

2. Cook at home instead of ordering takeaway

3. Take a packed lunch to work

4. Buy cheaper generic brands of foods, medicines and cosmetics

5. Bulk buy non-perishables

6. Cut down food waste by buying perishable goods in small quantities and using leftovers

7. Eat out less often

8. Grow your own vegetables

Entertainment

1. Cancel or downgrade streaming services you rarely use

2. Switch up the gym for free online exercise programmes or a running app

Accommodation

1. Downsize your home

2. Airbnb a spare room

3. Re-mortgage your home if you can get a better rate

4. Move to a less expensive area

Travel

1. Live close to work

2. Get a less expensive car

3. Sell your car and use public transport or car sharing apps

4. Walk or bike for shorter journeys

5. Carpool to work

At home

1. Install LED lightbulbs

2. Unplug unused electrical devices

3. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater

4. Sell unused and unwanted items

5. Give homemade presents

We are constantly bombarded with advertisements which urge us to spend. The myth we are sold is that consuming will make us happy but a lot of the time it doesn’t. There is, however, great peace of mind to be found in gaining control of your finances and knowing that you can cope with anything that life throws at you. Financial security is a major factor in our overall wellbeing and not to be underestimated.

Take some positive steps towards a better financial future this January by setting a savings target for 2024 and putting money aside each month somewhere you can’t spend it easily. We can’t think of a better resolution to change your life for the better in the long term.

Here’s to a healthy and prosperous year!

Source: Infinity