I’ve been feeling really anxious about it all, so thought it would be helpful to list some really simple things you can do to save a few pennies at home - it all adds up!
50 ways to save money at home
How to make savings on your heating & electricity bills
Turn all appliances off at the switch when not in use, and turn all lights off when leaving a room. Really simple one to start with, but will make a difference.
When at home keep internal doors closed to the room you’re in, this will prevent cold air getting in and cause the air in the room to warm up.
Using rugs, and even layering rugs on top of each other can make hard wood floors feel much cosier, and warmer underfoot - preventing you feeling like you need to have the heating on all the time.
.jpg "How to save money at home on your energy, fuel and food shopping household bills. Simple tips for redecorating, decor and DIY on a budget.")
Use draught excluders on all your external doors to keep heat in.
If you’ve got a dishwasher or tumble dryer, you can save money on your energy bills by only using it every 2-3 days, rather than putting it on every day.
Avoid doing half loads of laundry too, wait until you’ve got a full load before switching on your washing machine.
Use an airer to dry clothes rather than an expensive-to-run tumble dryer.
Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need each time - if you’re spending all day at home working and (like me!) enjoy numerous teas and coffees, a good energy-saving alternative is to boil your kettle once in the morning, fill a thermos flask and use that to make your drinks all day.
When cooking on the hob, a larger saucepans uses more energy to heat - try to use a pan that’s closer in size to what you’re cooking. You don’t need to use your favourite large saucepan to boil an egg, for example!
Covering pans with a lid to keep the heat in is another great way of saving energy while cooking.
If you have rooms that aren’t getting used regularly, turn the heating down, or even off in there if you can.
Washing your clothes at 20 degrees rather than 40 degrees can save energy too - and so much better for the planet!
If you’re spending a lot on heating, it might be worth looking into insulating your loft as this could be cost effective and save you money in the long run.
Taking showers instead of baths will save on water costs.
Closing your curtains in the evening will also prevent losing heat, particularly during the winter. When I was growing up my Mum made sure she closed all curtains and blinds when it started to get dark, and I’ve always adopted that idea in my home. I promise you’ll notice the difference when you go to bed!
If losing heat through your windows is a problem for you, installing some insulating film on them could make a big difference. Cheap and easy to put up, they work by reflecting heat back into the room, rather than letting it escape, and the film is completely transparent meaning you won’t even notice it on your window.
How to make savings on your grocery shopping
Batch cook your meals and freeze them. By doubling up and cooking more portions than you need, you can save money on the cost meals - and great for saving time on cooking too!
Slow cookers are much more cost effective, so consider using one to cook some of your meals. You might even be able to find a second hand one on Facebook marketplace, for example. There's loads of easy to follow slow cooker recipes to be found online - you'll be surprised at what you can make in one! I've got my eye on a mini eggs fudge recipe I saw the other day...
Freeze food such as milk and bread to make them last longer. Means you haven't got to do a late night/early morning dash to the shops too when you run out.
Write a weekly meal plan before you go shopping, and only buy the exact ingredients you need.
Use apps such as 'Too Good To Go' to buy food that would otherwise be going to waste from shops and restaurants. Through this you can buy unsold food in 'surprise bags' from restaurants/shops such as Pret, Morrisons and Costa. A great value way of eating, fantastic for the planet too, and a great option if you're working long hours and need to pick up food quickly.
Switching to supermarket-own brands can save you quite a bit of money on your food bill - I rarely buy branded foods, and can't tell tell the difference on most things!
Try to avoid doing a midweek top up shop - this is a downfall for us, as its so tempting to pop in and spend much more than you need to. How many times have you gone in for a pint of milk, and come out with £20 worth of extra bits?!
If doing your grocery shopping online, buying a yearly delivery pass can save you a small fortune on delivery costs. If not, shop around and use introductory offers, which often offer you £10 off on first orders.
Growing your own vegetables is another great way to cut down on your food bill - and a lovely activity to do with kids too. We started doing this during the first lockdown, and my daughter absolutely loves it!
Don't buy expensive bottled water. Use a water filter instead, and a fill up a sports water bottle to take with you when you’re out and about.
How to save money on general spending costs
Keeping a spending diary, and writing down everything you spend on a daily basis can have a huge impact on your spending habits. I used to do this religiously when saving up for big things like holidays etc - you’ll be surprised at how quickly smaller purchases add up. Just by looking all the daily ‘ASOS’ and ‘Caffe Nero’ orders written down really made me think.
On that note, take things one step further by setting yourself a 'no-spend' day, week or even month. At these times you're not allowed to buy anything you don't need - again I promise you'll be surprised at how much you can save.
Use cash back sites such as TopCashback to earn some pennies on online purchases.
How to save money on DIY & decor
If you’re looking for some new furniture, why not browse second hand furniture stores, or marketplaces online and see if you can find something beautiful to give a new lease of life to? I’ve found some bargain bits on places like eBay and Gumtree - even a bureau for a bargain £7.50 which I upcycled into a pink storage unit for my conservatory. If you're new to upcycling, I shared a beginners guide with lots of tips in this post here.
Always use colour match paint - I’ve mentioned this so many times before, but this can save you a fortune when redecorating! I use Decorating Centre Online, however most hardware stores offer a colour match service.
How to save money on car & fuel costs
Excess weight, such as heavy items stored in your boot or the roof rack can make your car ‘drag’ and use more petrol, so remove those if and when you can.
Check your tyre pressure - driving on under inflated tyres uses more fuel.
Sounds basic, but switching off the engine when stationary (if you can!) will prevent using up fuel unnecessarily.
Heating and air conditioning uses power and as a result extra fuel. So only switching them on when absolutely essential is another easy way of saving petrol.
Speeding can use up a lot of fuel too, as the faster an engine spins, the more fuel it uses. So its a good idea to keep your acceleration gentle.
.jpg "How to save money at home on your energy, fuel and food shopping household bills. Simple tips for redecorating, decor and DIY on a budget.")
Use draught excluders on all your external doors to keep heat in.
If you’ve got a dishwasher or tumble dryer, you can save money on your energy bills by only using it every 2-3 days, rather than putting it on every day.
Avoid doing half loads of laundry too, wait until you’ve got a full load before switching on your washing machine.
Use an airer to dry clothes rather than an expensive-to-run tumble dryer.
Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need each time - if you’re spending all day at home working and (like me!) enjoy numerous teas and coffees, a good energy-saving alternative is to boil your kettle once in the morning, fill a thermos flask and use that to make your drinks all day.
When cooking on the hob, a larger saucepans uses more energy to heat - try to use a pan that’s closer in size to what you’re cooking. You don’t need to use your favourite large saucepan to boil an egg, for example!
Covering pans with a lid to keep the heat in is another great way of saving energy while cooking.
If you have rooms that aren’t getting used regularly, turn the heating down, or even off in there if you can.
Washing your clothes at 20 degrees rather than 40 degrees can save energy too - and so much better for the planet!
If you’re spending a lot on heating, it might be worth looking into insulating your loft as this could be cost effective and save you money in the long run.
Taking showers instead of baths will save on water costs.
Closing your curtains in the evening will also prevent losing heat, particularly during the winter. When I was growing up my Mum made sure she closed all curtains and blinds when it started to get dark, and I’ve always adopted that idea in my home. I promise you’ll notice the difference when you go to bed!
If losing heat through your windows is a problem for you, installing some insulating film on them could make a big difference. Cheap and easy to put up, they work by reflecting heat back into the room, rather than letting it escape, and the film is completely transparent meaning you won’t even notice it on your window.
How to make savings on your grocery shopping
Batch cook your meals and freeze them. By doubling up and cooking more portions than you need, you can save money on the cost meals - and great for saving time on cooking too!
Slow cookers are much more cost effective, so consider using one to cook some of your meals. You might even be able to find a second hand one on Facebook marketplace, for example. There's loads of easy to follow slow cooker recipes to be found online - you'll be surprised at what you can make in one! I've got my eye on a mini eggs fudge recipe I saw the other day...
Freeze food such as milk and bread to make them last longer. Means you haven't got to do a late night/early morning dash to the shops too when you run out.
Write a weekly meal plan before you go shopping, and only buy the exact ingredients you need.
Use apps such as 'Too Good To Go' to buy food that would otherwise be going to waste from shops and restaurants. Through this you can buy unsold food in 'surprise bags' from restaurants/shops such as Pret, Morrisons and Costa. A great value way of eating, fantastic for the planet too, and a great option if you're working long hours and need to pick up food quickly.
Switching to supermarket-own brands can save you quite a bit of money on your food bill - I rarely buy branded foods, and can't tell tell the difference on most things!
Another basic one, but I've found that storing my dried foods in glass canisters and jars has meant I'm much more on top of what I have and what I need when food shopping. Before doing this, I was always buying a new bag of flour or sugar, only to realise I already had half a bag at home.
Try to avoid doing a midweek top up shop - this is a downfall for us, as its so tempting to pop in and spend much more than you need to. How many times have you gone in for a pint of milk, and come out with £20 worth of extra bits?!
If doing your grocery shopping online, buying a yearly delivery pass can save you a small fortune on delivery costs. If not, shop around and use introductory offers, which often offer you £10 off on first orders.
Growing your own vegetables is another great way to cut down on your food bill - and a lovely activity to do with kids too. We started doing this during the first lockdown, and my daughter absolutely loves it!
Don't buy expensive bottled water. Use a water filter instead, and a fill up a sports water bottle to take with you when you’re out and about.
How to save money on general spending costs
Keeping a spending diary, and writing down everything you spend on a daily basis can have a huge impact on your spending habits. I used to do this religiously when saving up for big things like holidays etc - you’ll be surprised at how quickly smaller purchases add up. Just by looking all the daily ‘ASOS’ and ‘Caffe Nero’ orders written down really made me think.
On that note, take things one step further by setting yourself a 'no-spend' day, week or even month. At these times you're not allowed to buy anything you don't need - again I promise you'll be surprised at how much you can save.
A similar idea I've found really helpful for cutting out impulse buys is when you spot something you love, rather than buy it straight away, make a note of it on your phone. When pay day rolls around at the end of the month, choose one thing from the list to treat yourself to. The amount of things I've changed my mind on or no longer need on that list every month is shocking!
Don't always be tempted to upgrade your phone when your contract runs out. If your handset is working fine consider switching to a sim-only deal, which can save a small fortune once you've paid the handset off.
Always search for discount codes when shopping online. I try to avoid paying for anything full price, saving items to my basket or ‘wish-list’ and waiting for a discount day. There’s even pop-ups you can install on your browser (try 'Pouch' or 'Honey' for example) that will notify you of active codes when you visit websites - how clever is that?!
Always search for discount codes when shopping online. I try to avoid paying for anything full price, saving items to my basket or ‘wish-list’ and waiting for a discount day. There’s even pop-ups you can install on your browser (try 'Pouch' or 'Honey' for example) that will notify you of active codes when you visit websites - how clever is that?!
Make your own coffee in the mornings rather than buying a costa on your way to work - you’ll be surprised at how much you can save.
Using an incognito browser when shopping for big money items such as holidays is always a good idea. Some websites remember you when you revisit, and push the price up.
Always use price comparison sites for big purchases like insurance or utility bills.
Check with Gov.uk to see if you're entitled to any benefits or reductions in your council tax.
Regularly review your monthly subscriptions for things like streaming networks - how much do you really use them, and are they worth the money?
Using an incognito browser when shopping for big money items such as holidays is always a good idea. Some websites remember you when you revisit, and push the price up.
Always use price comparison sites for big purchases like insurance or utility bills.
Check with Gov.uk to see if you're entitled to any benefits or reductions in your council tax.
Regularly review your monthly subscriptions for things like streaming networks - how much do you really use them, and are they worth the money?
Use cash back sites such as TopCashback to earn some pennies on online purchases.
How to save money on DIY & decor
If you’re looking for some new furniture, why not browse second hand furniture stores, or marketplaces online and see if you can find something beautiful to give a new lease of life to? I’ve found some bargain bits on places like eBay and Gumtree - even a bureau for a bargain £7.50 which I upcycled into a pink storage unit for my conservatory. If you're new to upcycling, I shared a beginners guide with lots of tips in this post here.
When shopping for furniture or decor items, often similar or even identical pieces are sold by a number of brands online. Shopping around to find the best deal can save you quite a bit of money. Using search engines such as the 'shopping' tab on Google, or Google Lens - which uses an image of the item to bring up identical bits across the web, similar to the image reverse function - means you can sometimes find the same thing for less.
If you want to update your soft furnishings such as curtains and cushion covers, then why not dye them rather than buy new? You can get fabric dye which you put in the washing machine and use to transform materials, and give them a whole new look.
Make your own small decor items rather than buy new. In the past I’ve made my own cushion covers, wall hangings and even turned old food cans into pen pots - the possibilities are endless! And they even make nice little gifts too. I’ve got over 50 easy to follow DIY tutorials to make your own decor - from small items like plant pots and wall hangings, to reupholstering an armchair. You can browse through them all here.
If you want to update your soft furnishings such as curtains and cushion covers, then why not dye them rather than buy new? You can get fabric dye which you put in the washing machine and use to transform materials, and give them a whole new look.
Make your own small decor items rather than buy new. In the past I’ve made my own cushion covers, wall hangings and even turned old food cans into pen pots - the possibilities are endless! And they even make nice little gifts too. I’ve got over 50 easy to follow DIY tutorials to make your own decor - from small items like plant pots and wall hangings, to reupholstering an armchair. You can browse through them all here.
Always use colour match paint - I’ve mentioned this so many times before, but this can save you a fortune when redecorating! I use Decorating Centre Online, however most hardware stores offer a colour match service.
How to save money on car & fuel costs
Excess weight, such as heavy items stored in your boot or the roof rack can make your car ‘drag’ and use more petrol, so remove those if and when you can.
Check your tyre pressure - driving on under inflated tyres uses more fuel.
Sounds basic, but switching off the engine when stationary (if you can!) will prevent using up fuel unnecessarily.
Heating and air conditioning uses power and as a result extra fuel. So only switching them on when absolutely essential is another easy way of saving petrol.
Speeding can use up a lot of fuel too, as the faster an engine spins, the more fuel it uses. So its a good idea to keep your acceleration gentle.
Do you do any of these things at home? What tips have I missed?
Thanks for reading,
Sam Xx
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