The Best Guide for the PE19 Area

40 Ways to Save Money

1. Change your attitude to your mortgage

The most expensive item you are ever likely to buy is your home. If you're not in the privileged position to pay cash, make sure the loan you use to finance it is the best available.

2. Clear your credit card debt

One of the golden rules of financial planning is to clear your most expensive debts first, in other words your credit cards. If you are unable to clear the debt make sure you move the debt to a credit card that has interest free credit and no transfer fee.

3. Cut the cost of your fuel bills

Calculate your expenditure, ensure you switch lights off and purchase energy saving light bulbs, then shop around for the best deal.

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4. Consider installing a water meter

Link: uSwitch.com water calculator

5. Cut your home phone bills

Do you really need a home phone with your mobile phone at hand too. If so shop around for the best deal.

6. Consider a pay-as-you go mobile,

If you already have a phone, you can purchase a SIM card from Orange for just £1 You can get up to 1000 free texts a month when you buy a £1 pay as you go SIM Card. Terms apply.

Tempted? Click here to get your free calls, texts and £1 SIM Card.

7. Make a shopping list…

And stick to it! Dig out the cookery books, plan a few meals and only buy what you need. Frugal website has come up with meals which work out at less than a £1 per person.

8. When was the last time you went to the local market?

Keep within the season and avoid the hassle of the supermarket. Your not paying for fancy packaging and staff. On the St Neots outdoor market a cauliflower was 60p, the same sized cauliflower was 90p in Tesco the following day. Alternatively grow your own food.

9. Consider own-brand goods

You can buy a tin of Asda own-brand baked beans for 14p and a loaf bread at Asda, Tesco or Sainsbury's for 19p. The kids won't taste the difference if you buy Tesco coke and pore it into a Coca-Cola bottle.

10. Don't buy designer labels

Celebrities are given expensive clothes to wear. You're not. Alternatively look on eBay, visit TKMaxx, charity shops, car boot sales.

11. Sell your clutter on eBay or AMA

Ebay do free or cheaper listing days to sell your items so look out for them. There are plenty of tips on buying and selling on eBay around the internet so do your research.  Better still sell them on AboutMyArea ... no fees ever!!!!!

12. Use your talent to earn extra cash

Do you play a musical instrument such as the guitar or the piano. It’s a new year and people will be in the mood to learn a new skill in 2008.

13. Do DIY

For around £100 you could go on a college plumbing course and wipe out expensive call out charges and repairs for good.

14. Shop around for the cheapest household insurance,

You may have been with the same insurance company for years, you might not still be getting the best deal. The internet has made it easier for you to search for the best insurance deals in minutes.

15. Don't automatically renew annual travel insurance,

Unless you have a booked holidays for 2008 don’t renew your travel insurance. Cancel it and start it up again once you have booked your holidays.

16. Choose cheaper breakdown insurance

Just because RAC and AA have big spending budgets it doesn’t mean they give the best deal, so again shop around like you would for any other type of insurance.

17. Are you paying too much for your life insurance?

If you took out life insurance with your mortgage 10 years ago, you could get a better deal now.

18. Book early

Book early for your flights, trains etc, pre-planning can save you money.

19. Book your own 'package' holiday online

Cut out the middle person in the high street. Search the internet as your first port of call. Some travel agents may match a deal you find on the internet.

20. Learn to say 'no'

Don’t give in to the children on a Saturday in the Entertainment shop just for a quieter life and say no to the social drink after work in the week.

21. Don't pay full price for theatre or theme park tickets

There are many discounted tickets available on the internet. http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/index2.php This website lets you search for voucher codes for retailers which give great discounts-every little helps.

22. Beat the ticket touts

Visit Ticketline and Ticketmaster and sign up for their ticket alerts. Buy popular tickets and retail price then sell them for double once they are sold out.

23. Trade down your car

Can you really afford your current car, does it drink petrol? Exchange your car for a more eco-friendly car that saves you money on road tax, insurance and general running costs? Even better sell your car and share 1 car with your partner or family member.

24. Ask yourself: do I really need this?

Especially during Sales- is it a necessity you have another coat or do you just want it because it’s half price?

25. Walk/cycle to the station/work

Why not?-It’s Free and much healthier too boot!

26. Get off the station before your usual stop and walk

Getting off one station before could save you valuable pennies when you add up the extra expense over a whole year.

27. Cut down your drinking

two drinks after work is approximately £5 (depending on what you drink). Even if you just go on a Friday that’s £20 per month, that’s £240 per year. (This one could save me a couple of grand!!!)

28. Pack up smoking

It’s an expensive habit to up-keep Givingupsmoking.co.ukIf you can't face this option (and personally I can't!!!) then consider moving from ready mades to roll ups (this saves me approx £25 per week!)

29. Cancel your gym membership

If you make full use of your gym membership i.e. 3 times a week then that’s great but if you don’t you should re-evaluate. Some gyms have a freeze option if you know you won’t be around to use your membership one month.

30. Use your library

It’s a great money saver and a resource for the whole family to use. You won’t need to clutter your house with books you’ve read once never to be seen again, you can also find CDs and DVDs to take out.

31. The three-for-two trick

The 'offer' is always priced into the deal so do your sums and shop around. If the offer is on food ask yourself if you are able to eat all the goods by the ‘use by’ date?

32. Buy clothes and presents in the sales

There’s always a birthday or special occasion around the corner so bag a bargain presnt when you see one.

33. Use your ISA allowances

An ISA account lets you save up to £3,000 tax free

34. Claim your benefits and tax credits

If you’re entitled to child benefits or tax credits then take them. To find out if you are visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCreditsAndChildBenefit/index.htm?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Money

35. Do you need all those TV channels?

Choose wisely, but remember Freeview is FREE!

36. Bin the ready meals

Use your library card to borrow a cook book and find some quick, cheap and cheerful meals.

37. Take up a money-saving hobby

If you are occupied with your hobby this means less time spending. Ideas include fishing, gardening or playing a sport.

38. Avoid the payment protection racket

Banks and other lenders are selling expensive insurance policies to cover loan repayments to people who don't need it. Don't be a victim of the hard-sell.

39. Avoid extended warranties

Electrical goods are more reliable than ever. If your new radio won't last three years perhaps it's not worth buying in the first place.

40. Shop online

Buying goods online is sometimes cheaper- and they are many price comparison sites to help you find the best deal.