3 Money Saving Tips That Help My Monthly Budgeting

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Like everyone, I’ve been through a period in my life where money was a struggle. I’m sure a lot of my audience are students, so you know this pain very well! Life becomes a constant challenge as you balance enjoying yourself with not spending any money. It gets to the point where your money issues end up ruining other aspects of your life, stopping you from doing what you want. 

For me, it was all about finding the right balance. How can you spend money when required, but still have some left to pay for bills, rents, etc. It comes down to how you save money. If you’re a savvy saver, then you can still buy new clothes and go out with your friends, but you don’t have to worry about being broke! 

On that note, here are the money tips that changed my life, or, well, at least helped with my monthly budgeting!

Avoid brand-heavy food shops

Personally, I noticed a lot of money was being spent on food every week. I could rack up a £60 or £50 food bill without much difficulty. In the end, I realised it was because my shops were far too brand-heavy. I was paying two, sometimes three, times as much for a branded product when there was a non-branded version. Shops like Aldi and Lidl are perfect for this as you can get some really nice branded replicas for a fraction of the price. The food still tastes fine, but you can slash your food bill in half – or more. 

Look for new customer discounts and offers

When it comes to buying new clothes or beauty products, I found one tip particularly useful. If you have a look at Signup Offers, you’ll see loads of fashion & beauty brands offering discounts for new customers. Sometimes, you can get as much as 20% off just for being a new customer – or for signing up to newsletters. It’s a simple tip that lets you afford the items you want without paying through the nose for them. 

Share some of your subscriptions

Let’s face it, we’re all subscribed to numerous things. I think most of us have a Netflix subscription, plus Spotify, Amazon Prime, etc. We use them all the time, so they’re somewhat essential. But they cost money every month. One solution to this is to share them with other people. Instead of paying around £10 a month for Netflix, split the difference with a friend. You both save £5 a month, which equates to £60 a year. Plus, you can still enjoy the streaming service! Let’s say you do this with all of your subscriptions and save around a fiver each time, that can be nearly £15 or £20 a month, which can go towards your bills instead. 

By making a few minor sacrifices, you can slash your spending with ease. This gives you more wiggle room to pay for things you need, but to also have a bit of fun. You can afford a night out every now and then without worrying about your money. It will change your life, and you’ll find it a lot easier to relax and enjoy yourself.