money saving


Gadget Gold: Money Saving Tips For Tech Savvy Mums

It’s almost impossible to avoid the allure of the latest gadgets. For mums adept at navigating this digital landscape, the temptation to keep up with the newest releases can be strong. However, with the cost of living on the rise across the UK, it’s more important than ever to exercise financial caution alongside technological enthusiasm.


Insurance – Is it Worth It? 1

“Insurance – Is it worth it?” is a paid collaborative post with HSBC. With the cost of living crisis, many families are looking to cut costs and many are asking if they should cancel insurance policies. Before you even contemplate it, you really need to understand what each policy covers and how and also if it is a legal requirement. Please remember that I am not a financial adviser just a regular mum, so please take professional advice.


How to Save but Not Reduce the Quality of Life?

The lower the family income, the more critical the question of creating savings is. A financial cushion will save you temporary work problems, salary delays, and unexpected expenses. Small loans can save for a certain time, but they also must be returned, so the issue becomes even more urgent. How to save, form a financial cushion, but, at the same time, not give up your quality of life? Financial company Payday Depot is ready to answer this question.


How to Save Money on Groceries and Food Shopping

How to save money on groceries and food shopping is part of my money-saving series sharing tips and hints gained over the years and from thrifty and frugal people. With the increasing cost of living and the massive rise in inflation, being a savvy shopper and spender has never been more critical. Getting the most out of your money is something I have learned over the years and I am happy to share it with you.


Slow Cooker versus Pressure Cooker – Which is More Energy Efficient?

With the costs of energy on the increase, it is more important than ever to work out the most efficient way of cooking. So Slow cooker versus pressure cooker which is more energy efficient? In all honesty, the fact is both have a place in today’s modern kitchen but when it comes to the cost of cooking which is the cheapest?


How to Save Money on Heating Costs this winter 1

You should never have to choose whether to heat your home or eat and I hope this post will help you save money on your heating costs. The newspapers have reported recently that 80% of families are planning on rationing their heating this year, with the majority limiting their household heating to one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening and some people totally just going without. There are also local firms setting up warm banks. So many people are worried that they are not going to be able to pay their heating bills.


Rising Costs of Energy and Inability to Pay – An insiders guide 1

I think that the majority of the UK is deeply concerned and anxious about the rising energy costs and other expenses and how we are all going to cope in the coming months and pay our energy bills. There will be lots of people unable to pay their upcoming utility bills and I know that I am very anxious about it (especially having just received my water bill and the direct debits more than doubling). I have blog posts about ways to save energy, however, this crisis is not something you can budget your way out of. I know you can not budget your way out of destitution and would never […]


How to save as a non-saver 13

So last week I admitted that I am a terrible saver.  No that isn’t quite right, now I want to save, I just do not have the spare cash.  So I need to save smarter.  So I have been figuring our ways to save for non-savers.  In fact you would be surprised to know that in just one week I have already saved over £200.  Yes £200, so read on to find our more.


Learning to be a Smarter Saver 21

Savings, it isn’t an exciting word, especially when you are younger, but oh how I wished I had been a saver when I had more money to save!  I have two boys and they are polar opposites when it comes to money.  Maxi who has just turned eleven is a saver.  He saves all his money, whereas Mini who is nine spends every single penny as soon as he gets it.  It burns a hole in his pocket!  One of the things I find the hardest as a mum is balancing everything.  Trying to find the money to pay for everything we need and to save too.


How to be a Savvy Spender this Christmas 3

I know that Christmas can be an expensive time for a lot of people and we all can worry about how we will find the money that we need to spend.  So the good folks at the Institute of Inertia asked me to put together my top six tips for being a savvy spender this Christmas.  Before I go on to the fab tips, “what is the Institute of Inertia”? I hear you ask.  Well it is a panel of experts and me and Ricky from Skint Dad, I wrote about them here.

Tips to be a Savvy Spender this Christmas

Now is the time to prepare for colder weather

No one likes to think adverse weather conditions will hit them, but Britain’s climate is often unpredictable so it’s wise to be ready for anything! Make sure you’re able to clear your paths and driveways in snowy weather by having a shovel (or even better a snow shovel) available, as well as an adequate supply of salt and grit. It’s also worth insulating your pipes as this will keep heat in and reduce the chances of them freezing in a cold snap. You could also add an insulation jacket to your boiler, these are inexpensive and can help to save you money on your heating bills. If you have a little extra cash to spare why not also look in to double glazing your property? This may be fairly costly initially but will keep your home warmer and more secure throughout the year, so it’s sure to pay for itself fairly quickly. You might also like to look in to insulating your roof and walls or draught proofing your home. You might be surprised at just how much hot air is escaping through a little gap under your door. Of course, easy improvements can be made by keeping windows and doors closed, using a draught excluder, taking advantage of brighter spells to let light heat a room naturally and drawing curtains once the sun goes down.

Keep yourself warm

Energy bills can rocket in winter but it’s important to make sure you stay warm enough. There are ways to achieve this without needing to leave the central heating on all day. Make sure you wear layers of clothing around the house and in really chilly conditions cover up with a blanket or your duvet. It’s also important to stay healthy so give yourself enough exercise and make sure you eat a hot meal each day. If you’re out of the house during the day consider turning down the thermostat by a couple of degrees. This should keep things ticking over nicely and you can always turn it up again once you get home. The same applies to your bedroom, as if you’d rather not fork out for heating the whole property all day long then simply make sure it’s warm enough for when you’re ready to get your head down for the night.