When you are facing a challenge as massive as the ones that we are looking at right now, it can be so easy to feel like you are powerless. We see the bills getting higher and higher, we look at the job market and wonder how we are ever going to find our way in, and we wonder if we are going to be able to keep our small businesses afloat in such a competitive market. It is hardly surprising that most of our social media feeds are full of people asking how on earth they are expected to be able to get through it.
However, it is so important to remember that there are always things that you can do to save yourself some money, and to make a little extra too. Try to remind yourself that we have already been through an incredibly tough couple of years, and we have found our way through those challenges. It is going to take more ingenuity, more resourcefulness, and more stamina to get through these tough times, but one of the best things that you can do is to learn some new skills to help yourself. If you have been looking for some practical things to learn to save money, here are just a few to help you get started.
Become More Budget-Savvy
Some people out there seem to be born with the ability to budget. These lucky people somehow automatically know how much is in their bank account, they know when their bills are coming out, and they are the ones who always have a little spare for those unexpected costs. The rest of us need to work harder to ensure that we are on top of our finances. If you find that looking at your bank balance provokes a big wave of anxiety, then you need to think seriously about how you can overcome those nerves and take control.
The best place to start is by sitting down (with your partner if you have one) and looking at your statements from the last few months. Look at where your money is going every week. Write down what day your scheduled payments go out, such as your direct debits and your rent or mortgage. Do the same for any bills that are not on a direct debit, such as your energy bills, and find out if you are going to be due a government rebate. You also need to look at any spur of the moment costs that may be adding up. Once you have a clearer idea of where your money is going, you will be better equipped to start cutting those costs and making those savings.
Learn New Software Skills
For anyone who has their own small business, or is thinking about launching one, there will be a lot of concerns about how to manage costs. The same is true for freelancers and anyone who is self-employed. When things are going well, it is easy to justify spending some money to make things easier. However, we know that we are all having to look seriously at our spending and learning how to use business software will make things considerably easier, not to mention cheaper.
If you are not confident using these tools, then it is well worth setting some time aside over the next weeks and months to get yourself up to speed. You may well find that they are easier to get your head around than you may have thought. Whether it is accounting software to give you a clear idea of your budget for the next few months, or software that will help you compress PDFs and make them easier to share, there are so many tools that you can pick up yourself. There are always good reasons why you may need to seek help from a professional, but with business software, you can save a lot by investing in some learning.
Learn How To Plan Your Meals
During the last couple of years, we have all spent a lot of money on takeaways. So much, in fact, that it made headlines. Now that things are back to normal and we are all trying to think carefully about how much we are spending, it is really important that you take control of your meal planning, including those takeaways. There are so many different ways that your costs can start to spiral when it comes to your food budget, but one of the most common is when we have to pick things up at the last minute.
If you want to get more cost-effective, then writing a meal plan for each week will be a huge help. Write a list of what ingredients you will need before you go to the supermarket and make sure you stick to it. Try to make meals that will give you enough leftovers to last through the week and be sure that you use them. If you have a freezer, then batch cooking is a great way to save money. There is nothing wrong with the occasional spur of the moment food purchase, but it will mean that you are spending more than you may realise.
Shop Around For The Best Deal
We all have those friends who seem to be able to wring a much better price out of their providers. What you need to remember is that these people are not doing anything that you couldn’t do. It just takes a bit of research and a bit of confidence. With energy bills going through the roof, it may well be worth having a look online to see if you could save money by switching your provider. Remember that the advice on this may change depending on what is going on with the energy cap or government subsidies, so always check before you commit to any changes. But it’s not just about your energy bills. Everything from your broadband to your phone bill could be costing you more money than it should. Don’t be afraid to look for better deals and to get in touch with your current providers to tell them that you are considering switching. They may offer you a discount as an incentive to stay.
Getting Smarter With Saving
If saving was easy, everyone would be sitting on a nice little nest egg. It is a skill that we need to develop, so do not feel ashamed if you have been struggling to set money aside at the end of every month. We are also all worried about what’s going to happen to our pensions. To start with, talk to your bank to see if there is an account that is better suited for savings than the one you are currently using. There are finance apps that will help you to deposit a small amount into your savings account every time you want to. Giving yourself a savings goal may also help to give you some structure. It can be a lot easier to make the decision to not spend money if you know that you are working towards a clear target. It is also important to remember that there are things that you can do if you want to add to your savings. Many of us are taking on extra part-time work or adding a side hustle to ensure that our revenue streams keep flowing, so think about what skills you have that you could market.
