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It can be hard to get a grasp on your spending. Life is expensive, there’s always something that needs to be paid or purchased, and if you’re not careful your money will run through your hands like water. If you’re fed up with working hard and never feeling like you have any money, or are worried that you’re falling behind and getting into debt, then now is a good time to take a look at your finances. Here are just a few of the ways you can go about it. 

Energy

The past few years have been tough. We might be through the worst of the pandemic now, but it’s had life changing effects on all of us and shaped our futures in so many ways. On top of this, there’s likely to be huge recessions on the way, and now there’s an energy crisis. The global energy crisis has pushed fuel costs up enormously meaning all of us are going to be paying a considerable amount more for our gas and electricity. So using less and being smart here is more important than ever, both for our pockets and the environment. There are small changes you can make around the home, including:

• Turn lights off when they’re not in use or use timer switches/ smart bulbs on timers

• Turn electronics off standby

• Cook using smaller appliances like slow cookers and airfryers for smaller meals instead of using the oven

However, if you want to really make a dent in your energy bills then it’s worth investing in a few things for your home. Energy efficient windows, and an energy efficient door from a custom entry door installer will keep your home warm for longer once it’s heated. Cavity wall and loft insulation are also effective, and investing in solar panels is a smart move that most homeowners can do to reduce their bills. 

Food and meals

Spending too much money on groceries? Here’s a really simple method to buying less, wasting less yet enjoying a more interesting selection of meals. 

• Curate a collection of meals your family will eat and enjoy

• Each week, choose seven meals and write them on a board

• Create a shopping list based on these meals- and stick to it

• Store away ingredients properly so they will last

Sites like Pinterest are great for collecting recipes so you have a wide selection of meals to choose from every time you’re planning what to eat. When you get some free time, go through recipe ideas and pin everything you like the look of onto a board to refer back to later. Alternatively you could use recipe cards, print recipes and keep them in a binder or simply write out a list of your family favourites to refer back to. This is an important step, as it saves you having to think up new meal ideas whenever you’re planning what to have. As if you do this, chances are your mind will go blank and you’ll end up cooking the same four recipes over and over! A good tip is to buy a chalkboard or whiteboard and hang this up in your kitchen, each week write up your chosen selection of meals. That way everyone knows what’s on the menu and it generally makes things easier when it comes to planning. If you know you have busier days then aim to have simpler meals on those days which involve less cooking. With your meals chosen, you can then buy exactly what you need without guessing. This means you’ll buy less and waste less, and know that you have all you need for the week ahead.

Car

Having a car is crucial for many families. Maybe you live a way away from your childrens schools or your friends and family. Perhaps public transport links arent great where you are, since covid things still havent improved in some areas and trains and buses can be unreliable. Either way, just getting rid of your car to save money might not be an option and that’s understandable. But there are still ways you can save money as a vehicle owner. First things first, could you swap your car to something more economical? A smaller car for example might be cheaper to run, or a car with a smaller engine. Secondly, if you’re currently paying finance, once that comes to an end consider your next move. Purchasing a less expensive car outright can cut down your bills compared with spending hundreds on finance payments. Although of course you will weigh up the pros and cons of a cheaper but potentially older vehicle and the repair costs it may incur with a newer and possibly more reliable car. It’s all a balancing act but if you’re smart you can definitely find a happy medium and save yourself some money.

Other Bills

Something that none of us enjoy but we all have to pay are our household bills. Aside from utilities like gas and electricity, water and council tax we have bills including broadband, mobile phone contracts, insurance and more. Spend a little time once a year going through and finding the best deals on everything you can. Most companies will offer the best prices to new customers so it makes no sense to stay loyal to businesses. Always check to see if you can get cashback on new contracts too as this is an easy way to easily earn a nice chunk of cash on top of saving on your bills. Price comparison sites will quickly and efficiently order all of your options for you so you can choose the best products for you at the best price. 

Have you noticed that your spending has increased recently? What steps do you plan on taking to get a handle on things?