Now that January has come around, we might all be feeling a little more empty pocketed than we’d like to. December is a rough time for us because we spend all of our money on the kids, food, drink and hosting our families. By the time the new year rings in we have to scrimp and scrape until the next payday. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to cut down costs this month to make the rest of the year go by easier.
Get Couponing
Every time you visit the supermarket you will most likely also receive a voucher or a promo code for something or other. Instead of just throwing these away, try and use them up. It is understandable that if you get a voucher or a promo code
for ham and you never eat ham, it can be difficult to use. However, you could use your imagination here and look online for recipes. If you see one you like, you can incorporate this into your meal plan for the week and use the coupon. It might sound like a lot of effort but it can save you a lot of money.
Sharing
There has been a rise in recent years of people deciding to share services or products. People carpool to save fuel on the way to work or school, some rent out Airbnb’s to share their property with others, and some become Uber drivers and share their driving services with the public. By putting your life up for rent, you can make money without the extra outlay of a business startup.
Switch Your Energy
A lot of people don’t even think about changing their energy providers if the price becomes high, but you are well within your rights to start looking for a better deal if you aren’t satisfied with the price you are getting. Shop around on comparison sites online to find the best deals, you could end up getting a special deal for new members.
Pay Off Your Debt
Tackling debt is a difficult hurdle to cross and it is understandable that when you have little money, you don’t want to pay it out right away. However, the only way you will ever become financially stable and cut the costs for your family is by paying off debt in small amounts.
Have A Clear Out
After Christmas a lot of us end up wanting to throw old items away to make way for the new. Instead of wasting perfectly good items by throwing them away, take advantage of sites like eBay to sell goods you no longer want. You may not gain a massive profit but it will be an improvement on nothing at all!
Move To Fixed-Rate
If you are currently on a tracker mortgage, switch to a fixed rate while the rates are low. This is the best way to guarantee that you won’t face extra costs on your mortgage if the rates move up again. It will give you stability and allow you to budget for yourself and your family much easier.