Practical Ways to Save a Small Fortune Every Year

If you want to save money every single year, then you’ll be glad to know that this is incredibly easy to do. In fact, if you follow this guide, then you will soon find that you can save on commuting, your energy bills and even your shopping. Want to find out more? Take a look below.

Buy Past the Date on Food

When you see something that is “use by” you will want to consume it before the date on the packet. If you see a “best before” sign, then this is just a recommendation based on the food quality. It has nothing to do with safety. There are plenty of websites out there that sell groceries that are close to their date, but are safe to consume. You can freeze the food and easily defrost it for whenever you need it, so you won’t have anything to worry about there.

Shop in the Evenings

After 6pm, a lot of supermarkets begin to reduce the pricing on items. They also try and shift them by the end of the day. Even so, you need to make a list when you go in. If you don’t, then you may find that you come out with items that you don’t need, just because they are cheap. This is the last thing that you need, so try and make sure that you buy what you need. You also need to be flexible on brands or even flavours as this will help you to save even more.

Never Shop on An Empty Stomach

If you shop on an empty stomach then you may find that you end up spending way more money and that you also struggle to get the meals you need. If you shop when hungry then you may find that you end up getting junk food that is quick and easy, but if you had a full stomach then you might not do this as much so keep that in mind.

Secret Sales

There are tons of sites out there which run flash sales. They have sales on everything from holidays to designer threads. The savings are significant to say the least, but you have to make sure that you are signed up if you want to hear about them. Most sites rely on word of mouth and they are not heavily promoted, as this cuts into their budget. Until recently, bigger retailers have started to branch out and clear surplus stock through these sites as well, so it is important that you try and keep this in mind as much as possible.

No Spend Days

Having a day where you don’t spend anything is a simple exercise but believe it or not, it’s very difficult at the same time. When you stop and think, you’ll probably find that you spend money on one or two things every day. It may be your bus fare, or a snack when you’re out and about. You need to do your best to exercise some self-restraint here and if possible, have a no-spend day at least once a week. This will take some degree of forward-planning but the impact of this will go far more than you realise. Want to motivate yourself? Why not work out how much you could save by using this percent calculator.

Legally Buy Stolen Goods

When the police are not able to track down the rightful owner of a stolen item, they will put it to auction. The winnings will then go to a worthwhile cause. The great thing about this is that it is all very legitimate, and you can easily grab yourself a bargain if you are able to come out with the winning bid.

Look for Cheap Flights

It can be a rookie mistake to think that the first deals you see on flights are the cheapest. This is especially the case when you look at the fact that the price can easily change in a matter of minutes. If you want to get around this then you need to set up pricing alerts if possible. You can use the tool by Skyscanner if you want to find out the destination you have in mind. Complete holiday packages are sometimes, but of course not always, cheaper in general. If you want to help yourself then compare the prices with other sites so you can get the best result overall.

Speak with Cancellations

Do you have a phone, TV subscription or even broadband that is going to be up for renewal soon? Then why not talk to your provider to see if they can help you to get a lower rate. If you tell them that you are going to take your business elsewhere then this will work in your favour. This one tends to work best with your mobile phone company. Take the right steps to cancel your contract, and before you know it, you will be directed to the customer loyalty team. When you do this, you will soon find that you are able to take advantage of substantial discounts.

Slash your Bills

Spend a single evening comparing all of the costs of your gas and your electric. If you do this, then you will soon find that you can save hundreds so that you can get a better deal. Switching is very simple and it is also free. You won’t be spending as much as you would normally on your monthly bills, and this can really work in your favor. The main thing that you need to do is make sure that you do not have any exit fees. If you do then you may find that this cuts into your profit way more than you realize. If you want to work around this then you need to make sure that you take the time to understand the contracts that you have so you can work out how much you can save overall. This will give you a clearer understanding of your finances overall.