How I save Money On My Bills and How You Can Too
Money doesn’t go far when you have a large family. Something always needs fixing or replacing and as the boys seem to be constantly growing they are always in need of new shoes and clothes.
Over the last few years, I have become something of a savvy shopper to help make our money go further. Things I do include.
Use shopping lists
When food shopping I try to do one big shop a week. I usually shop online so that I’m not tempted by offers or things we don’t need. I have a delivery saver as it’s cheaper to pay £6.99 a month than up to £6 per shop when we need the shopping the next day and within a certain time. If I do have to shop in an actual supermarket I always write a list of the items we need before we go and stick to it too that way I’m not tempted to buy more than we need. Most weeks we have a set menu and plan the week’s meals ahead of time. Knowing what we are going to be eating each night helps me keep track of the food that we have to use up. This reduces waste and the need for quick trips to the shop for something for tea which often turns into a £50 shop.
Use Coupons
If you can look on the internet for money off coupons. Many companies offer them which can help reduce your shopping bill. I save up my Tesco Clubcard points for Christmas each year and use them towards our big Christmas shop. It helps towards the cost of Christmas dinner or treats for us all to enjoy.
Use a comparison website
When you are looking to renew your insurance or home utilities using a comparison site can help you to get the best deal for your money. If you are looking at changing your internet provider looking at broadband deals could save you a lot of money in the long run. At the minute it’s a great time if can swap your provider with Black Friday just around the corner there are some great offers. For example, in my area, I could get fibre broadband for £21.95 a month which would be a saving of £15 a month on our current provider. It will be certainly something we look at when we can swap in a few months time.
Visit cashback websites
If you are planning to shop online, visit cashback websites. Many offer a percentage of your money back when you make a purchase or take out a service such as insurance or a utility through their website.
Wait for the sales
It often pays to wait until the sales are on before making big purchases. I know that sometimes it can’t wait especially if something like a fridge or oven needs replacing but if you can it makes sense to wait. Although Black Friday is an American sale it is becoming ever more popular here in the UK too. I have lost count of the number of shops I’ve seen who are taking part this year and the number of emails I’ve had promising big discounts has more than doubled compared to last years. This can only be a good thing for us, consumers, though as it means we can get more for our money and with Christmas only a few weeks away I’m sure there will be some great bargains to be had.
