After the last two years, many people have been feeling significant financial pressure. Millions of people were made redundant after businesses across the world had to close and they were left to search for work elsewhere.
Although most people have now found alternative employment, there are still a large number of people who are struggling to support themselves financially.
The increasing energy bills, fuel costs, and food prices are making it difficult to stay afloat and save money. And that’s not to mention the rising inflation adding to the issue.
As we enter 2022, you might be searching for new ways to save money. Here are some top tips to help you cut your expenses and gain financial security.
Find a Cheap Car Dealer
If you plan on upgrading your car this year, you can save yourself a significant amount of money buying second-hand.
Used cars such as from Rainham car dealers are usually much cheaper than brand-new models but they can be just as good. Find a previously-owned model that is in perfect condition and has low mileage, and it won’t feel any different from a new vehicle.
Head down to Glenwood Springs Powersports Dealer to view the various models that they have available. You can speak to one of the car dealers in the showroom if you need more advice.
You’ll be able to take your car of interest for a test drive prior to committing to a purchase. The test drive is the perfect time to check that the car drives well and is fully functioning. It also enables you to get a feel for how the vehicle feels to drive.
Depending on where you buy your car from, you may be able to negotiate with the seller for a cheaper price. Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t get your car for a cheaper price but it’s always worth asking.
Usually, independent sellers and dealers are happy to lower the selling price by around 5%. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Use the Freezer More Often
Most of us have a fridge-freezer in our homes that we fill with pre-frozen foods from the grocery store.
Buying frozen foods is a great way to save money. It’s usually much cheaper than fresh alternatives and it tastes just as good. Frozen meats, vegetables, and fruits can be bought in bulk and stored in your freezer, ready to be used for your meals and snacks.
You should also use your freezer for foods that are nearly going out of date. Instead of throwing them away, you can keep them for several months longer.
Whether it’s a tray or chicken pieces, a block of tofu, or a packet of bagels, pop them in the freezer to save yourself from needing to replace them next time you go grocery shopping.
When you’re ready to eat any of these foods, take them out of the freezer to defrost for a few hours before your meal.
Being more strategic with your fridge and freezer food could save you a lot of money over the course of the year.
Cancel Your Unwanted Subscriptions
Whether it’s a gym membership or streaming service subscription that we’ve barely used since we signed up, we’re all guilty of continuing to pay for a subscription that we longer want or need.
When the money leaves our bank accounts automatically each month, it’s easy to forget about our direct debits. It can be a while until we eventually remember to cancel them.
Since it’s the start of a new year, take some time to go through all of your subscriptions. Cancel or freeze any plans that you haven’t used in several months and won’t use in the future.
Depending on the number of subscriptions you remove, you could save hundreds of dollars every month.
Search for Discount Codes
There are thousands of discount codes and vouchers available online but many of us don’t even realize that they are there. We’ve never sat down to search for them, so the opportunity to save money on our favorite products or services slips through our hands.
By spending an hour or two each month searching on the internet, you could spot some useful codes and vouchers. Maybe it’s 10% off memberships at a nearby gym or a buy one get one free deal at your favorite beauty store.
Spotting these online discounts and deals before they expire each month means you can indulge in life’s luxuries without overspending.
Vouchers may also be available for food and drink services too. Think of how much you can save if you find codes for money off your weekly grocery shop!
Be Energy Efficient
Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do about rising energy prices. But we can control how much energy we use in our homes.
Being conscious about the amount of energy that you use can help you to save a lot of money on the bills. Here are some great ways to cut your expenses and save energy at home:
- Turn the heating down and layer up your clothing instead
- Turn the lights off when you leave the room
- Avoid unnecessarily long hot showers
- Wash your clothes at a lower temperature and wait until the machine is full to do a load
Once you start to implement the above behaviors into your daily and weekly routines, you will start to see the bills decrease.
You could also get your existing electricals upgraded. For example, replace your old boiler with a newer, more efficient model or get your windows changed to double glazing if they aren’t already.
Although electrical replacements can be quite expensive initially, the investment will pay off over the course of several years by reducing your overall energy bills.
