50 Ways to save money.... | The Diary of a Frugal Family (2024)

We could all do with finding new ways to save money so I thought I’d share a round up of some of the things I do to help you.

50 Ways to save money.... | The Diary of a Frugal Family (1)

Some of these ways to save money may be things you do already, some you might know you should do but don’t and hopefully, there’ll be some you’ve never thought of that you can start doing to start saving money right away….

Let’s start with ways to save money paying your bills….

Work out your monthly budget so you know what, if anything you have spare each month. Use my free downloadable budget planner if that helps.

If you can’t afford to pay your bills, don’t just ignore the fact like a lot of people do – it won’t go away but you can take action to help yourself.

If you can’t see where your money is going, keep a spending diary for a month.

Use the snowball method to repay any debts in the quickest and most efficient way possible.

Overpay your mortgage each month – even a small amount can make a huge difference to the overall amount you’ll even up paying and it could reduce your mortgage term.

Make sure you’re on the best deal possible for all of your utility bills.

Check that your house is in the right band for council tax.

Consider a water meter if you’re not already on one.

Pay your bills by Direct Debit to ensure that they’re always paid on time and that you get any discounts for paying this way.

Never renew any insurance without doing a price comparison.

Think outside the box – car insurance, for example,could be cheaper if you drive fewer miles than average.

Ways to save money around the home….

Plan your meals in advance.

Make a wall planner to keep track of your meal plans.

Don’t always throw something out because it’s passed it’s best before date.

Try shopping online at Approved foods.

Consider switching the kids to packed lunches.

Get rid of the tumble drier.

Save money on your laundry.

If your microwave breaks, do you really need to replace it?

Turn your heating down by 1 c – this could save up to £40 a year and make sure you turn your appliances to standby and save up to £76 a year (that’s 2 I know but they’re on the same post ;-))

And there’s lots of other ways to make sure you’re spending less on gas and electricity here too.

Keep the kids entertained for free by making a bored jar.

Dedicate a section in your garden for a vegetable patch.

Save money with just one phone call.

Ways to save money when you’re out and about….

Learn how to drive efficiently to save money on fuel.

If you are visiting a theme park, make sure you check out my ways to save guide.

Have fun at home with the kids instead of spending money on days out.

Have a Frugal date night.

If you’re off somewhere nice, make sure you pay as little as possible by checking any offers before you go.

Get a seat in the audience for one of your favourite TV shows for free.

Plan in advance what you’ll be doing over the school holidays so you can take advantage of free and cheap events.

Ways to save money on shopping….

Change the way you shop to save money.

Use cash back websites whenever you make a purchase online.

Make the most of store loyalty cards.

Use eBay more to buy things.

Reduce food waste.

Check out my amazing Amazon Discount checker for savings of up to 80%.

(This handy little widget does have my affiliate id in so if you do use it then I might make a few pennies but you’ll pay the same. The money goes towards paying for the widget so you can find some amazing deals)

Other ways to save money….

Do you wear a uniform for work? Make sure you’ve reclaimed the tax back for taking care of it.

Sell any old mobile phones.

Use apps that will give you free texts and calls on your mobile.

Cut down on cleaning products by using lemons in your cleaning routine.

Vinegar’s great for cleaning too.

Find free books for your Kindle

Make sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to.

Not exactly money saving but you can stop annoying cold calls and junk mail here.

There really is an app for everything – take full advantage of what’s out there.

Make some extra money….

Make money by reviewing things you already own

Use Swagbucks.

Save your spare change

Sell your unwanted things at a car boot sale.

Or, sell them on eBay.

There you have it, my 50 ways to save money!

Don’t miss out on future posts like this – receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address hereand hitting subscribe. You can also follow me on Twitter,BlogLovin or Networked Blogs and I’d love to see you over on my Facebook page and on Instagram.

Related

If you liked this, you're going to love these...

50 Ways to save money.... | The Diary of a Frugal Family (2024)

FAQs

What is the 50/30/20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the 30 day rule? ›

The premise of the 30-day savings rule is straightforward: When faced with the temptation of an impulse purchase, wait 30 days before committing to the buy. During this time, take the opportunity to evaluate the necessity and impact of the purchase on your overall financial goals.

How can a poor person save money? ›

Setting a budget is a game-changer when it comes to saving money, no matter how much you make. A personal budget will allow you to keep track of where every hard earned penny is going. It happens too often that we spend money carelessly and don't realize exactly how much we spend.

Is $4000 a good savings? ›

Are you approaching 30? How much money do you have saved? According to CNN Money, someone between the ages of 25 and 30, who makes around $40,000 a year, should have at least $4,000 saved.

How to budget $5000 a month? ›

Consider an individual who takes home $5,000 a month. Applying the 50/30/20 rule would give them a monthly budget of: 50% for mandatory expenses = $2,500. 20% to savings and debt repayment = $1,000.

What's the 100 envelope challenge? ›

It works like this: Gather 100 envelopes and number them from 1 to 100. Each day, fill up one envelope with the amount of cash corresponding to the number on the envelope. You can fill up the envelopes in order or pick them at random. After you've filled up all the envelopes, you'll have a total savings of $5,050.

What is the envelope challenge? ›

The 100-envelope challenge is pretty straightforward: You take 100 envelopes, number each of them and then save the corresponding dollar amount in each envelope. For instance, you put $1 in “Envelope 1,” $2 in “Envelope 2,” and so on. By the end of 100 days, you'll have saved $5,050.

What is the envelope savings method? ›

The concept is simple: Take a few envelopes, write a specific expense category on each one — like groceries, rent or student loans — and then put the money you plan to spend on those things into the envelopes. Traditionally, people have used the envelope system on a monthly basis, using actual cash and envelopes.

What are the 90 days rule? ›

To solve that problem, USCIS uses the 90-day rule, which states that temporary visa holders who marry or apply for a green card within 90 days of arriving in the United States are automatically presumed to have misrepresented their original intentions.

What is a wash sale rule? ›

A wash sale is a transaction in which an investor sells or trades a security at a loss and purchases "a substantially similar one" 30 days before or 30 days after the sale.1 This is a rule enacted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prevent investors from using capital losses to their advantage at tax time.

How do rich people save time? ›

Outsourcing. The rich value their time and are willing to pay for convenience. They'll often outsource tasks such as housekeeping, grocery shopping or meal preparation, allowing them to focus on more lucrative endeavors.

What is a 50/30/20 budget example? ›

Our 50/30/20 calculator divides your take-home income into suggested spending in three categories: 50% of net pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt repayment. Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money. Monthly after-tax income.

Is the 50 30 20 rule a good idea? ›

The basic concept behind the 50/30/20 rule works for just about anyone. But depending on your income and debt load, you may need to adjust the exact breakdown of your expenses. For example, a low-income household may need to spend more than 50% of their after-tax pay on needs.

Is the 50 30 20 rule outdated? ›

However, the key difference is it moves 10% from the "savings" bucket to the "needs" bucket. "People may be unable to use the 50/30/20 budget right now because their needs are more than 50% of their income," Kendall Meade, a certified financial planner at SoFi, said in an email.

What is the disadvantage of the 50 30 20 rule? ›

It may not work for everyone. Depending on your income and expenses, the 50/30/20 rule may not be realistic for your individual financial situation. You may need to allocate a higher percentage to necessities or a lower percentage to wants in order to make ends meet. It doesn't account for irregular expenses.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Moshe Kshlerin

Last Updated:

Views: 6200

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Moshe Kshlerin

Birthday: 1994-01-25

Address: Suite 609 315 Lupita Unions, Ronnieburgh, MI 62697

Phone: +2424755286529

Job: District Education Designer

Hobby: Yoga, Gunsmithing, Singing, 3D printing, Nordic skating, Soapmaking, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Moshe Kshlerin, I am a gleaming, attractive, outstanding, pleasant, delightful, outstanding, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.