When the festive season ends and January comes on the scene, a lot of us want to make a fresh start in life and really make the most of every second life gives us. From getting into shape to making a career change, there are so many ways for us to make positive improvements to our lives and really make a difference.
One thing in particular we want to talk about today is what you can do to save some money in the new year. Christmas is an expensive holiday, and once we are done with the partying, gift giving, and feasts – it is likely that our bank accounts are looking a little sparse and worse for wear.
Today is the ideal time for you to start taking stock of your life and consider ways you can save some money and invest in smarter money habits for the year. Here are some of the ways you can make a change and save money this year.
Sell your old clothes
The first idea that will really be a good one to start your new year is a wardrobe clear out. It is likely that you’ve been gifted some new clothes during the Christmas period and now is the time to look through these and the clothes you currently have to consider throwing some away and selling some on. You can sell your old clothes on sites such as eBay or Vinted. Simply make sure to wash your clothes and take a good photo of them before you sell, and wrap them up in a secure bag for delivery. Selling your old clothes is super easy and you’ll be able to make a little bit of money off things you simply won’t wear anymore. It is much better doing this than simply throwing items away.
Consider a loan
Now may be the ideal time for you to go through your bank statements and take stock of any outstanding debt you might have. It is common to have debt and we all struggle with money now and again; and there is no shame in looking online to see how you can get help from Wise Loan. Taking out a small loan isn’t always the best solution, but in some situations can be beneficial. As with everything, this should be a short term carefully thought out solution though and and option used in moderation.
Compare your car insurance
There are so many brilliant ways to save money in our lives and a lot of them are things we don’t consider at first. It is important for you to consider costs such as your car insurance premiums and how you can reduce them. Car insurance is something that a lot of us leave in the background every year – however it is important for you to explore different companies and consider making a switch every year to a more affordable plan. Take a look on Compare The Market and you’ll soon discover that a lot of cheaper car insurance deals are out there. When researching these new deals make sure they include things such as breakdown cover and ensure that you recognize the company name before you go ahead and buy. Saving on your car insurance is really easy and it can make a massive difference to your monthly outlay.
Shop when you are full
It is so important when trying to save money that you do your food shopping when you have just eaten a big meal. This might sound strange however supermarkets are laid out in a particular way to entice you with smells of chocolate cookies and chicken wings – and if you shop while you are hungry you are much more likely to buy snacks and treats along the way and spend more money. Write a list before you head to the store and shop just after your tea time, and you’ll be able to stick to your list with little to no deviation and you’ll spend much less as a result. This is a brilliant hack as well if you are trying to lose weight and conduct a healthier lifestyle.
Have a shorter shower
One simple way to save some money at home this year is to take shorter showers and to also limit how many times you wash up dishes in the kitchen each day. There is no reason to fill up a bowl of warm water if you only have a couple of plates to clean; and similarly taking a 30 minute shower is excessive and will use a lot of water you could have avoided. Reducing your water bill this way will save you just a little bit each month but it will soon make an impact on your life.
Install a water butt
One thing you can consider doing to save some money this year is to install a water butt. A water butt is a useful tool that is attached to your guttering in the back garden and will collect rainwater throughout the year. When the summer arrives and you need to water your plants – you can use your water butt to provide fresh water to your plants without spending a huge amount of money on water coming from your hose. This will make a huge difference to your summer water bill and will allow you to save some dough.
Consider motion sensing CCTV
CCTV cameras will use your electricity to run, and if they are on all day every day recording your home they will end up costing you a pretty penny in electricity. To reduce the electricity that your CCTV uses you can instead use one that is only triggered by movement and this will ensure that it does not clog up your electricity bill by running all the time.
Insulate your home
One of the clever ways that you can save money in your home in the long term is to consider insulating your home to the max. This means your ceiling, walls, floors and even the roof to keep heat in and ensure that your heating bill doesn’t get too high. As a long term investment for your home this is a great idea and it will reduce your monthly bills for years to come and save you a huge amount of money.
Switch energy providers
Talking about energy – why not consider switching your energy providers this year? You can look to switch energy providers any time and looking at a comparison site such as USwitch will allow you to find the best deals for your area and save yourself a massive bill each month. You’ll be surprised at how much money you could save and it will make a mountain of difference to your financial situation.
Ditch your subscriptions
Now is the time to look at that photoshop or Netflix subscription and decide whether or not you really need them. It is all too easy to sign up to every streaming service and software programmed you can when you are stuck at home but all of these things cost money and will take money away from your account each and every month. It is so important that you cancel subscriptions you don’t use now and you will save yourself a lot of money as a result.
Eat more fresh food
Believe it or not, eating healthier is actually cheaper than eating processed food. Instead of constantly reaching for ready made foods and processed food – consider shipping mostly in the fresh food section instead. By buying things such as vegetables and fruit for your main meals, you’ll save a lot of money and the bonus here is that you’ll be much healthier as a result.
Sell a skill
Do you have a skill such as writing or painting? Now is the ideal time for you to sell this skill and make some extra money at home. Set yourself with a social media presence or add yourself to a site such as Fiverr and start taking on jobs in your spare time to make some extra cash. It is a great idea and it will make a massive impact on your finances. If you have a skill for baking you can get on your local social media group and start taking orders for people in your area for birthdays, Christmas and other events. There are so many ways to make the most of your skills and sell yourself online to help make some money.
Save coupons
We all know about those women who can go to the store and buy $200 worth of shopping for $5.50 and you can aspire to be like this in the new year. Take the time this month to look for coupons for your favourite foods and sign up to your favourite supermarket for their loyalty scheme to start earning discounts on things you frequently buy. There is so much scope to save money here and it can really make a massive difference to your bank account.
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