Collaborative Post
As a mum, there’s probably a number of things that you want to start saving for in the new year. Maybe your kids are getting closer to college-age and you want to help them pay for a car so that they can get to and from their courses on time without your help. Perhaps you’re thinking of moving into a bigger home because you have another little one on the way.
Whatever you want to accomplish with your money in 2020, there are plenty of handy ways that you can make your finances stretch further. We’ve put together some of our favourite tricks and tips to help you get started.
Buy Now, Save Later
Sometimes, it’s tempting to avoid spending money on anything until you absolutely have to. We’ve all had moments when we’ve ignored the weird sounds coming from our boiler or car because we’re scared of what we might have to pay if we spoke to a professional. However, sometimes, paying the extra for the maintenance and repairs early can save you a fortune in the long term.
Taking out a bad credit loan to pay for a new boiler now might seem like a headache, but it will be a lot less expensive than having to pay for a new boiler and the repairs of a flood after your old machine breaks too. Consider the benefits of spending now to save later.
Learn How to Do More
As a mum, you’ve got to juggle a lot of different hats. You’re a chef, a teacher, and a billion other things to your children. However, you could always benefit from learning another skill. For instance, instead of hiring someone to come and help you out whenever you need to hang some new wallpaper, consider looking online for videos that will teach you how to do it yourself. You can save a fortune on redecorating this way.
Other things that you might want to learn how to do in your free time include gardening and growing your own produce that you can put into healthy meals for you and your family. Think about what you generally pay for each month, and how learning a new skill could cut costs.
Make Food in Advance
Are you the kind of person who often lets their kids talk them into buying food when you’re out, because you haven’t got the energy to cook when you get home? If so, then it could be time to start prepping for the future. Making meals in advance that you can pop in the freezer for later will reduce the risk that you’ll spend money on take-aways, because you’ll know that you have easy foods at home instead.
Additionally, making food in advance can be as simple as just making a little extra of your favourite recipes the next time you cook. Instead of cooking for three, make enough food for six and save half for later.
Use Cashback Sites
Cashback sites aren’t as popular today as they used to be, but they still have a lot of value to offer if you’re looking to save as much money as possible in the year ahead. All you need to do to take advantage of a cashback site is sign up to a website your trust and give them your email address and name. There are even sites that come with their own apps that you can download onto your smartphone.
Next time you’re going to buy something, like a present for your child, or a new household item, use the affiliate links on the cashback site instead of going directly to the website. This will save you a fortune in small bonuses that you can earn back on each purchase over time. Eventually, you’ll have a chunk of cash to put back into your bank.
Compare More
Finally, don’t just let your subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each year. Although it’s tempting to stick with the same energy or insurance provider to make life easier, you’ll probably be paying more than necessary for a tariff that you don’t belong on. Most of today’s companies only reserve the best deals for new customers.
Instead of sticking to the same company year after year, get online and see if there’s a better deal available from a different brand. You’ll be able to save money every year this way, and you could even find a company you like working with better too.
