Saving money doesn’t mean eating baked beans in the dark. I’ve been there and found my own ways to help myself and hopefully I can help you be better positions to know how to save money using real life hacks that you can do yourself. You can still travel, dine out, buy good coffee while still keeping your lifestyle intact and padding your bank account.
1. The “No-Brainer” Expenses to Slash First
You’re wasting money here:
- Subscriptions: That £9.99 gym app you opened once? Cancel it. I like the free app ScribePay as a really useful tool to help me track any subscriptions I have and help me better budget every month.
- Insurance: Renewal quotes are scams. Haggle. You can cut your car insurance by £200/year with a 10-minute call.
- Banks: Ditch any account with fees. Monzo/Starling are free and track spending automatically. Take a look at the article I wrote here comparing some of the best banks for individuals and business that offer the best rates or FREE.
My mistake: I paid £7/month for Adobe for a year after my free trial. Oops.
2. Eat Well, Spend Less
You don’t need to survive on Pot noodles (although the chicken ones are the best!).
- Groceries: Hit Aldi/Lidl for staples, M&S for treats on rare occasions. Saves 30% but better yet, use local shops or farmers markets.
- Dining out: Use Too Good To Go App. Got a £25 sushi platter for £3.50.
- Coffee hack: Buy a Nespresso machine if you can (or just make them yourself). My £50 investment saved £4/day lattes.
Pro tip: Batch-cook 3 meals weekly. I make chili (costs £1.50/serving) and freeze portions.
3. Travel & Fun on a Budget
Vacations:
- Book flights on Tuesday mornings (cheapest).
- Use Holiday Pirates or skyscanner for last-minute deals. Scored 4 nights in Portugal for £180.
Weekends:
- “Premium” cinema tickets = ½ price if you go before noon. For those who are on Vodafone or Three mobile network, you have the chance to get discounted cinema tickets from their phone apps. If you are on Vodafone, you can get two weekly Vue tickets for just £7 via the VeryMe app.
- Museums? Most have free entry days (check websites).
Secret weapon: National Trust membership. £7/month for free days out.
4. The “Stealth Wealth” Side Hustle
Make money while binge-watching Netflix:
- Sell digital printables: Can make £300/month designing Canva templates.
- Rent your gear: Fat Llama lets you loan cameras, tools, even bikes. Earned £80 renting my DSLR.
- Bank switches: Get £200 bonuses for moving accounts. TSB paid me £150 for 10 minutes’ work.
Rule: Only hustle stuff that doesn’t feel like work.
5. Tech Hacks That Save £100s
- Cashback apps: JamDoughnut gives 5-15% at Sainsbury’s, Uber, ASOS.
- Browser extensions: Honey auto-finds discount codes. Save £47 on a hotel. Or a cool tip, if you own shares in certain UK hotel companies, you can get discounts as shareholder perks
- Split bills: Use Splitwise with housemates. No more “I owe you £3.50” texts.
Warning: Avoid “deal” sites like Groupon—they tempt you to spend on crap you don’t need.
6. Look Rich Without the Price Tag
- Clothes: Primark is the famous one.
- Tech: Buy refurbished. You can get items refurbished by Dell for laptops, direct from Valve for a steamdeck, ebay, and facebook market place are also great places to look.
- Fitness: YouTube workouts > £100/month gyms. Yoga With Adriene is free.
7. Mindset Shifts That Helps you Know How to Save Money in Your Pocket
- Wait 48 hours before buying anything over £50. Half the time, you’ll forget you wanted it.
- Track “money wins”: Saved £30 this week? Write it down. Momentum builds fast.
Avoid this: Comparing yourself to Instagram. Most “luxury” pics are rented/borrowed.
Your 3-Step Plan to Start Today
- Cancel 2 subscriptions (you know which ones).
- Cook one fancy meal at home instead of dining out.
- Sell one item collecting dust (eBay takes 3 minutes).
Stuck? Comment your #1 spending weakness or if you have your own tips on how to save money. I’ll reply.
No beans required. 🚀
