Thrifty tips to save money for your family

I love the thrill of a bargain. I love cash back. I love free stuff.

I’m not sure where it comes from, but I always have. I remember when Pokemon was cool first time around in the 90s and I used to buy cheap packs of Pokemon stickers and trade them for cards. I was saving money and keeping up with the trends.

I share my money saving ideas with friends and family, and I’m always surprised how many people don’t know about some of this stuff. Some of it is literally FREE money. Free!!

So here are my thrifty tips to save money for your family. Or for yourself. Or for a rainy day. Whatever you’re saving for, here are some ways to bolster your earnings.

Cashback sites – Sign up to Top Cashback and every time you shop online for anything, check if the link is on Top Cashback first. If it is, shop through the website. Big ticket items such as TVs, insurances, and appliances can fetch some decent money back. I got my house insurance through a Top Cashback site and got £25. My friend has earned £250 on there over time.

Buy on Vinted – If you know a brand you like, and your size, shop on Vinted. You can even select the filter to only show new if that’s what you want. I love finding a bargain on here.

Sell on Vinted – Sell almost anything on Vinted. Even crockery. The money goes into your Vinted account and from here you can either transfer it into your bank or buy more things. I try to keep the rule that I can only buy once I’ve sold. This is inline with one in and one out when you live in a small house or are trying to reduce stuff.

Check your rewards – When you bank with Barclays, you are entitled to certain rewards. Same with Halifax. Vitality health insurance also has lots of perks like 50% off trainers. Before you shop, just check your rewards.

Eat cheap challenge – This doesn’t mean you have to eat freezer meals. I have a whole recipe book on £1 meals, which since inflation is probably more like £1.50 meals, but still. Invest in the cupboard basics that last. My go-tos are Miso, hot sauce, soy sauce, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, tinned tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, pasta, bread flour. Baked beans and eggs are always a go for a cheap and filling meal, too.

Buy used – When there’s something I’m looking for, like a new lampshade for example, I’ll always look on Facebook Marketplace and eBay first. If I’m not in a rush, I’ll keep an eye on it for weeks, sometimes longer, until something comes up.

Walk or cycle – If you can get away with walking, running or cycling, do. Always choose this over getting in the car. Petrol is expensive. Challenge yourself to spend less at the pump.

Shop for gifts in the charity shop – The charity shop is full of things to regift. Take a look around each time you’re in there to see if there’s something to suit a friend or family member who has a birthday on the horizon.Quick read on eco friendly kids party gifts here.

Choose to reuse – Buy reusable dishcloths, mop heads, food wrap, make up wipes, cling film (beeswax wraps are amazing), basically always choose to reuse rather than re buy. Better for the planet and better for your pocket.

Shower at the gym – I do this because it’s more convenient (and more peaceful!) but showering after your workout at the gym could save you some money over the year. I saved £40 in a quarter doing this.

Always take your loyalty cards – Load them onto your phone wallet so you’re never without them. The thought of stepping into Tesco without a club card sends shivers up my spine. Get the coffee stampers too when you do go to get coffee out.

Fill up at the cheapest petrol station – Me and Matt have had too many discussions about this. Yep it’s the same price, but you don’t get as much in your tank if the price per litre is high. Make sure you do the big fill up at a place where you either get points or it’s cheaper. If you need to fill up on a motorway service station (URGH) only put in what you need to get to your destination.

Get a round up app – Or you can do it with your most banks now. Basically, every time you spend it gets rounded up to the nearest pound and the round up is put into a separate account. For example, if you spend 70p, 30p will be automatically transferred to your savings. We do it on Monzo and in 3 months we have £65. If it carries on like this, we will have £250 in a year. This is money we haven’t noticed saving.

Get a high interest savings account – When you’re saving, choose an account with a high interest rate. Some you can’t touch for a few years which usually offers a higher rate. If you might need to access it you can choose a lower rate. Get smart with your saving. The interest is free money!

Shop smart – If there’s something I’m looking to buy, I put the item into a Google Search and see where it is cheapest. I’ll then look on Top Cashback to see if the site is on there for even more savings.

Move house? – Do you really need more space if it means tying you into a large mortgage that you might struggle to keep up with, or always feel like you’re chasing your tail? Could you downsize and get smart with storage. Here’s a quick read on life in a two bed with two kids.

Do you need two cars (if you have two!) – Paying out for two insurances, two sets of road tax is going to cost you. If you can get by with two, try. This is a significant saving each year.

Get a nice flask – Buy yourself a decent flask. This would be something that doesn’t leak and keeps your drink hot. This will save you buying coffee or tea out and about. Get one that doesn’t leak so you can put it in your bag. I struggle with this as currently I only have one you have to hold upright. Not ideal when you’re chasing the kids on their scooters to the park.

There’s a few thrifty tips to get you started with saving money.

Any more to add? I’d love to hear them.