Five small changes you make to help save money
July 8, 2022
By making a few small changes, you can make an impact and start having a little bit more in your savings for those rainy days.
And with the cost of living putting pressure on our money, every bit counts.
We share five small changes that can help you save money.
1. Switch your takeaway for a home-cooked meal
With your busy life, you might find it easier to grab a takeaway.
However, a group of simple ingredients is usually cheaper than a single takeaway dish, and it gives you more meals – you can even take your leftovers for a packed lunch the next day, which will save you even more money.
On top of this, research has also shown that homemade meals tend to be healthier.
Switching your takeaways for a home-cooked meal saves you money, reduces plastic and can even make you feel better personally because of those healthier choices.
You can also switch any takeaway coffees with a coffee from home or work – every bit counts.
2. Review your subscriptions and memberships
Find your bank statement, despite all feeling that you might not want too, and go through the regular payments that are coming out.
What’s essential and what can be cut? Can you downgrade any plans?
Reviewing what subscriptions and memberships come out of your account weekly and monthly, can cut costs and add a bit more money to your bank account.
You might even find you’ve been paying for something you signed up for a long time ago and forgot about.
Calculating the total amount of your subscriptions and memberships per month can also help motivate you to make a few changes.
3. Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Marketing emails are dangerous – particularly when they are constantly pushing “once and a lifetime chances” on you.
“20% off everything storewide until midnight tonight. Don’t miss out!” – sound familiar?
These types of emails are designed to sell you something, and trigger impulse behaviours that puts pressure on you by making you feel like you have to buy something now from the brand you love.
You can get rid of the temptation and pressure to buy, and you can stop yourself from feeling bad when you can’t buy what the email is selling, by unsubscribing.
Out of sight, out of mind.
4. Be heat pump savvy
Avoiding “auto” mode on your heat pump can help keep your winter bills down.
The auto setting requires more power than other heating modes because it is continuously switching between hot and cold to keep a steady temperature.
Regularly cleaning the filters of your heat pump can also help your heat pump run more efficiently.
Dust, dirt and other pollutants accumulates in the filter and affect the effectiveness of your heat pump.
And finally, if you’re leaving the house, double-check that your heat pump is off. It’s easy to rush out the door with a million other things on your mind. But taking an extra minute to check everything is off can save you money.
5. Have the tricky money conversations with your partner
Having regular conversations about money with your partner stops money becoming individualised and ensures that both your wants and needs are considered, as well as the family's.
It also takes the pressure off your shoulders if you’re struggling to keep up with the cost of living. Your partner is then much more aware and can change their spending habits to support you – a problem shared, is a problem halved.
If you can have conversations before problems arise, it makes it easier to work through the challenges when they do inevitably appear.
Our Healthy Financial Relationships Toolkit is made up of activities, tips and tools that can support you to have regular conversations about money.
Conclusion
Small changes can make a difference. By applying a few of the tips above you can cut costs and save more money to help keep up with the cost of living.
Support available
If you have debts that you can’t get on top of, our free DEBTsolve programme, might be able to help.
DEBTsolve is designed to help you take back control of your unmanageable debt.
You get one-on-one confidential support from one of our dedicated Financial Wellbeing Coaches.
If you need to access an essential item or service, like a second-hand car, medical cost, household item, laptop or course cost – consider one of our no interest Good Loans.
Good Loans provide a fair and affordable way for you to purchase essential items or services.
They are designed to give you a helping hand, while improving your long-term financial wellbeing.
If you’re feeling under pressure with your money and you want to speak to someone, MoneyTalks is a free service that can help you find local foodbanks, navigate Work and Income and can support you to manage your money.
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