• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Moment With Franca

A Family, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Family
    • Family Events
    • Family Life
    • Family Days Out
    • Birthdays
  • Lifestyle
    • Home & Interiors
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Garden
    • Kitchen
    • Health
  • Travel
    • Days Out
    • Things To Do In London
    • Holidays
    • Press Trips
  • Reviews
    • Theatre & Shows
    • Days Out
    • Toys & Games
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • Seasonal
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Easter
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Giveaways
  • Show Search
Hide Search

5 Simple Money Saving Tips

amomentwithfranca · 11 April 2017 · 3 Comments

5 Simple Money Saving Tips. It’s certainly a lot easier spending money than it is making it or saving it. Having a family complicates matters further, as costs just seem to spiral! There always seems to be a never-ending need to spend money. It’s never easy when there are things to be paid and funds are low. I’m always on the lookout for money saving tips which can help in such circumstances. I have written some tips before about Amazon savings and some tips for eating healthy on a budget. This time, I’ve compiled a list of general money saving tips which I think are pretty useful. Have a look to see if you think they can be helpful for you too.

5 Simple Money Saving Tips

5 Simple Money Saving Tips

1. Shop Smarter to Save on Grocery Shopping and Food

Try buying the supermarkets own ‘generic’ brand for certain products. The power of advertising often leads us to assume the leading brand is far superior to anything else, but if you actually try some of the alternatives you might be surprised. Spread out your shopping by visiting budget supermarkets, like Lidl or Aldi. If you’ve never tried that shopping there before, you might be surprised about the quality. Consider doing your food shopping online too, it’s much easier to control how much you are spending and you can still save if you just buy certain staple items too.

If you buy lunch at work, consider preparing your lunch and taking it with you. This can feel like a hassle but if you prepare lunch for your children, its not much more effort to also make sandwiches for yourself. Another idea, if there is a microwave at your workplace, is to use leftovers from your evening meal. Also, try to avoid those expense high street coffees. Buy one of those travel mugs and fill it when you’re preparing your morning coffee at breakfast.

2. Shop Online

The good thing about buying online is that it is much easier to see how much your spending before you’ve actually spent it so you can avoid overspending. Shopping online also saves you the cost of transport getting to and from the store. It’s always better to shop around at different websites for bargains, but if you do find yourself shopping at the same site regularly, look out for deals like Amazon Prime which can save you money over time and offer additional benefits, such as access to Amazon Prime Video. Bear in mind that these services may not be worth it if you are not using them enough, so in this example removing Prime Membership will save you money. Also, check voucher code websites for savings on clothing, shoes, accessories, furniture, home decor, electronics items, etc.

3. Avoid Impulsive Purchases

To avoid those impulsive purchases is to try and force yourself to wait. A technique you can use is when a particular item you suddenly decide you want is over a certain amount, let’s say £100 (but you can set this at whatever you feel is appropriate), then force yourself to wait for a week (again you can adjust this, the longer the better). This then gives you time to think about whether the thing you are thinking of buying is something you actually want or if its just an impulsive buy.

I’ve mentioned already that you can adjust the amount to what is appropriate for you. However, impulse buying isn’t just limited to more expensive items. It can often be small purchases which when combined add up to a lot. For these kinds of purchases, one method is to follow the 10/10 Rule. If I’m thinking about buying something that’s less than £10 then I won’t spend more than 10 minutes thinking about it. If the item costs more than £10 and I’m not sure about it, it goes back on the shelf, no matter what. It’s simple but for some people, this can really help. it’s basic, I know, but for those impulse items, it works fairly well. Again, you can adjust the numbers to suit your own situation.

4. Lower Your Transport Costs

Try to use supermarket filling stations when refuelling your car. The price per litre is often cheaper than at regular petrol stations. If you drive to work, consider carpooling with any nearby colleagues/friends or taking public transport (if its an option), or get fit at the same time by riding a bike to work. If you need a bike and your employer is part of the cycle to work scheme, you can save money buying a new bike. If you need to drive a car, it’s worth considering whether the type of car you have suits your needs. You don’t need to drive a gas guzzling 4×4 if you only use the car for the school run. In that case, downsize and drive something more efficient to save money.

5. Bills & Utilities

It’s always a good idea to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your energy bills and utilities. Here are a few tips:

  • The Energy Saving Trust has a free home energy check tool on its website that can save some households up to £250 with its personalised advice.
  • Consider using energy-saving light bulbs, which although more expensive than traditional bulbs, they will help you save in the long-term.
  • A water meter might not always be beneficial for you, as it calculates the sewerage pumping costs as well. The Consumer Council for Water has a calculator that can tell you if a meter is really worth it.
  • When buying an appliance, always consider energy efficiency as well as cost, features and space. An energy efficient appliance could save you a lot in the long-term.
  • If you can, pay your bills by Direct Debit as it takes out the issue of remembering to pay and spreads the cost. Also, you can time your Direct Debit dates around when your regular income comes into your account so you can ensure they’re always covered.
  • Always check price comparison websites when looking for or renewing insurance, but always remember that not all companies are listed, including three of the largest: Direct Line, Zurich and Aviva.

These are just a few of the money saving tips out there. Finding yourself short before payday can be difficult and there are always different options to consider. As a one-off, and used sensibly, things like payday loans can be an option. You should never depend on them, but they can be helpful on occasion. In the long term, other financial choices are available.

Do you have any more tips to add? What do you think about my money saving tips?

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

Related

Filed Under: Tips, Collaborative Posts, Finance / Money, List

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathryn Hipkin says

    11 April 2017 at

    As far as transport goes, I try not to use the car at all BUT if I do, I will go to either a supermarket petrol station as you say, or look for any competitions. BP recently ran a comp where you could claim the cost of your fuel back up to £70 so I got £16. There were pros and cons to this in that it took ages and arrived as a pre-loaded fuel giftcard; life was simpler when everyone sent cheques to my mind, you didn’t have to clart on activating the thing for a start. Anyway, you could spend it anywhere so Wetherspoons took it towards our son’s birthday meal there.
    As I live in Newcastle upon Tyne, I use the Tyne and Wear metro for work. I have an all-zone pass which I pay for monthly through work; you can do this yourself if you want tho and buy weekly, monthly or annual passes.
    For under-16s, it is £1.20 per day for an all-zone metro pass which includes the Shields ferry so this has often been a brilliant option for school holidays, There are loads of parks around and we can take a picnic. Or eat at McDonalds or Wetherspoons depending on how rich or poor we are at any given time.
    Once the weather gets a bit warmer we’ll get our bikes out; there’s a 6 mile round trip we can do that’s nearly all off-road and includes a park on the way. We tend to head for McDonalds as it has bike racks (I sound obsessed by the place but our son is autistic and will only eat certain things). I also save the coffee stickers from McD coffee cups as once you have 6 you can have a free one so that helps; check any uncleared tables for those too.
    I do use the car sometimes but we are relatively lucky with public transport where we live and my husband doesn’t drive at all.
    Thanks for your tips; hope you enjoyed reading mine! Good night.

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    12 April 2017 at

    Wonderful tips! I will save this article and read it many times.Thank you for sharing.
    Have a nice day. Hope to see you new tips soon

    Reply
  3. maria says

    14 April 2017 at

    i always try to save money , but nothing works for me 😛 whenever i see dresses , i just spend money on those 😀

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

HI THERE, I’M FRANCA!

Hi, I'm Franca, a lawyer mum of 2 gorgeous girls married to my best friend, living in London. Award nominated parenting & lifestyle blogger. Read More…

Newsletter

    Built with ConvertKit

    Amazon

    What’s On

    • Barbie Movie Review: Girl Power or Feminist Flop?
    • Wicked Musical London Review
    • 42nd Street at Sadlers Wells Theatre London: A Review

    Family Days Out

    • Qbix Gamecube Review at All Star Lanes White City
    • Frameless London: Unforgettable Immersive Art Experience in Marble Arch
    • tastecard: Your Handy Guide to Exploring and Saving in London

    Collaborative Videos

    Popular Videos





    AWARDS

    BritMums



    BritMums

    Tots100

    Tutora Best Parent Insight Blog Award Shortlist

    RANKING

    Tots100
    Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2020

    Flea Network Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2018

    MEMBER

    LINKY

    Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
    ✨First Week in Torrevieja✨ ☀️🏖️.Our ✨First Week in Torrevieja✨ ☀️🏖️.Our first week in Torrevieja was a mix of unexpected moments and relaxation. Sienna’s 9th birthday took an unexpected turn when she cut her thumb, and we spent some time in the ER getting a single stitch. 😢 But she’s a trooper and handled it like a champ..Despite this, we still managed at the start of that first week to soak up some sun, enjoy the pool, watch beautiful sunsets, and take in the incredible views. Evenings by the pool became our thing, creating lasting memories and a sense of calm. It wasn’t the week we had planned, but it turned out to be a week of quality family time and unwinding. ☀️🏖️.Swipe left to see our first week in pictures, and if you keep checking until the last photo, you can see Sienna’s stitch. She was such a brave soul. 💪.Now, who else has had unexpected adventures during their travels? .#Torrevieja #BeachView....Costa Blanca | Torrevieja | Family Ttravel | Sunsets | Pool Relaxation | Holiday Memories | Family Bonding | Spain | Alicante | Travel Blogger |
    ✨Beach Days in Costa Blanca✨.We explored som ✨Beach Days in Costa Blanca✨.We explored some beautiful beaches during our time in Costa Blanca, Spain. From Cala Cerrada to Playa del Mojon, from Playa de Mil Palmeras to Playa de la Mata, each had its own charm. .But our favourite was Playa de la Mata. It had a warm, clear sea, and those gentle waves were just perfect. We found ourselves coming back here again and again, enjoying the simple joys of sun, sea, and sand. We even stayed till 8:30 pm one day, savouring every moment of sunlight. .There are of course more beaches waiting to be explored, but that will have to wait for another trip! 😄🌴.Check the reel until the end to see each of the beaches I mentioned above 🏖️.✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit Costa Blanca or if someone you know would like to visit ✨.If you have been around this area, what other beaches would you recommend to visit?☀️.#CostaBlanca #BeachDays ....Costa Blanca | Costa Blanca Beaches | Spain | Alicante | Family Travel | Travel Guide | Travel Blogger | Playa Cala Cerrada | Playa del Mojon | Playa de Mil Palmeras | Playa de la Mata | Beach Holiday | Beach Inspiration
    ✨The Pink Lake of Torrevieja✨.During our sum ✨The Pink Lake of Torrevieja✨.During our summer road trip, we stumbled upon this beautiful natural wonder, Las Salinas de Torrevieja in Alicante, Spain! Torrevieja was our next stop for about 2 weeks!💖🏞️.We’d heard about its pink waters, but seeing it in person was incredible. The early morning sunlight painted the lake even pinker which was stunning! 🌅.Ever wondered why it turns pink? 👇It’s all thanks to the unique Halobacterium bacteria and Dunaliella Salina micro-algae that thrive in its super-salty waters. .Who would have thought you could find a Pink Lake like this in Spain? 🇪🇸.Have you ever come across a natural wonder like this that took your breath away? 🌟#PinkLakeTorrevieja #PinkLake #Torrevieja #Alicante....Pink Lake Torrevieja | Las Salinas de Torrevieja | Torrevieja Spain | Pink Lake Spain | Alicante | Costa Blanca | Spain | Lago Rosa | Family Travel | Travel Guide | Travel Blogger | Things To Do In Torrevieja
    ✨Wrapping up our Barcelona adventure✨ .We’ ✨Wrapping up our Barcelona adventure✨ .We’ve loved exploring this vibrant city during the summer and sharing it here with you! Hope you found our tips helpful if Barcelona’s in your travel plans. 🇪🇸.Next stop: Torrevieja! ☀️ Get ready for content of two weeks of sun, sea, and summer vibes! Hopefully will bring you a warm escape as the chill of autumn sets in! 🏝️🌊. What’s your favourite destination to escape the autumn chill?.#VisitBarcelona.....Barcelona | Barcelona Skyline | Barcelona Landmarks | Spain | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Guide | Travel Blogger | Cityscape | Barcelona Tourist Attractions | Family Travel | Mirador del Santuari Barcelona
    ✨24 Hours in Barcelona: Exploring the Must-Sees✨.Although our time in Barcelona was brief, we made the most of every moment. Check out this list of must-visit places we explored in just 24 hours! 🌆.1. Stroll Las Ramblas - Soak up the lively atmosphere and street performances.2. Discover Plaça Reial - A picturesque square with palm trees and vibrant architecture.3. Marvel at Casa Batlló - Gaudi’s architectural masterpiece.4. Explore La Pedrera (Casa Milà) - Another Gaudi gem with a unique rooftop.5. Be awed by La Sagrada Familia - An iconic masterpiece still under construction.6. Soak in Views from Mirador del Santuari - Panoramic vistas of Barcelona.7. Hit the Beach at La Barceloneta - Feel the sand between your toes.8. Savor Tapas & Tinto de Verano - Enjoy delicious Spanish bites and drinks..Bonus: Plan a visit to Parc Güell for more Gaudi magic!💫.✨Watch the reel till the end for the full Barcelona experience. Like, Save, and share if Barcelona is on your travel list!✨.Which Barcelona attraction are you most excited to visit? 🤩 .#VisitBarcelona.....Barcelona | Barcelona Skyline | Barcelona Landmarks | Spain | Things To Do In Barcelona | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Guide | Travel Blogger | Travel With Kids | Cityscape | Barcelona Tourist Attractions | Family Travel | Mirador del Santuari Barcelona
    ✨La Sagrada Familia ✨.We were captivated by ✨La Sagrada Familia ✨.We were captivated by the beauty of La Sagrada Familia which is a must-see in Barcelona! .We didn’t manage to get in due to lack of time but we did our research just in case we had time, so here are some key insights to keep in mind before your visit to La Sagrada Familia:🌟La Sagrada Familia is Open All Year Round🌟It is located in the Sagrada Familia neighborhood 🌟The easiest way to get to the Sagrada Familia is by metro. Alternatively, you can get there by bus🌟You need to buy tickets in advance. You can buy ticket up to 2 months in advance🌟You should purchase your tickets through the official website 🌟The Sagrada Familia box office only sells tickets for that specific date and you may have to wait 4 or 5 hours until the next available entrance time🌟There are discounts on full fare for children under 11, students, disabled and senior citizens (65+)🌟Any time with the sun outside is good for visiting the church🌟 You can buy a ticket to climb the Torre de la Pasión or the Torre del Nacimiento🌟The ascent of the towers is done with an elevator but the descent is made by a long and narrow spiral staircase🌟There are audiguides available to purchase🌟As the Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church, you must dress appropriately.Swipe left for a close-up view and pics of us in awe of this remarkable masterpiece! 🏰.✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit Barcelona or if someone you know would like to visit ✨.Did you know it’s finally nearing completion after over a century? 🏗️🔜 .#LaSagradaFamilia ....Barcelona | La Sagrada Familia | Gaudi | Spain | Things To Do In Barcelona | Gaudi Experience | Exploring Barcelona | Barcelona Diaries | Travel Blogger
    Load More… Follow on Instagram
    Copyright © 2023 · A Moment With Franca · Privacy Policy