Ways to save money without staying in

Spending money is easy in London – saving money is not so simple. But staying on budget doesn’t necessarily mean staying in. Here are some tips for feeding your hungry piggy bank.

Sign up for loyalty cards

It’s always tempting to say no to new cards. Either our wallets are already full to the brim with receipts, or we are at the till and don’t want to spend any more time filling forms or giving away our e-mails. But in this case, the extra two minutes could pay off in the long run. As points stack up, you could reap some great rewards, so it’s always worth remembering to bring your card each time you shop – or asking the shop assistant to look you up on the system. Stamp cards are just as good: if you go for a coffee daily, getting a cup free every fortnight could make a huge difference.

Use price comparison sites

If you are ever about to buy insurance of any kind, sign up for new broadband or switch networks, remember to go through a price comparison site to make sure you are getting the best deals. They are quick and easy to use, saving you lots of time in your search, and more importantly, they are completely free and sometimes they even give you great perks like two-for-one movies. Check our Compare the Market, Confused.com and MoneySuperMarket.com. It’s worth noting also that you should make sure your company isn’t overcharging you. Ring up your supplier to see if they can offer you better, and if not, sites like uSwitch will let you know the economic benefits of changing providers. There are comparison sites for anything, even top bookmakers in UK and dog groomers.

Go for supermarket own-brand products

It’s easy to scoff at the simple and inelegant packaging of the Sainsbury’s Basics or Tesco Value range, but if you can sacrifice your favourite brands even in a couple of aisles of the supermarket, your savings will stack up in no time. Products like tinned tomatoes, which are often used as a base for food, are barely distinguishable when cooked, and more often than not biscuits and cereals taste pretty similar too. Alternatively, both Aldi and Lidl sell cheap products that are so close to the brand, both in style and substance, that you wonder how they got away with it.

Buy travel tickets in advance

Train and air tickets in the UK can be extortionate, but if you know you are going away, the quicker you can book, the better. Sites like thetrainline.com offer advance fares for specific trains, and some airlines offer great savings during flash sales. It really pays to be prepared. Also, don’t forget to sign up for a railcard if you are eligible.

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