10 clever ways to make and save money

1. Rent your garage or driveway

If you have a garage or driveway you’re not using, you could rent it out for others to park in.

You can let your garage through a property-letting agent, particularly in major cities which can be even more lucrative if you live near a train station. 

You could just rent out your driveway by advertising in your local paper or newsagent. 

Websites such as parklet.co.uk or JustPark allow you to advertise your available space. 

You could also use the online notice board at gumtree.com - but remember that you’ll have to work out contracts and payments yourself. 

But it's worth remembering that if you change the location where you usually park your own car (in order to rent a garage or driveway), you should notify your insurer as this may affect your premium.

Informative, in-depth and in the know: get the latest news, interviews and reviews with Saga Magazine.

2. Recommend a friend

There are plenty of deals to take advantage of by simply recommending a friend. In many cases, for each one of your referrals, you’ll receive a gift, and your friend will get the same. 

For example, Sky customers can invite friends to join Sky TV. Both yourself and the friend will be rewarded with up to £75 in vouchers for each friend who joins.

Or, you might be a Saga Health insurance policyholder, in which case you could claim £50 in M&S vouchers for recommending us to your friends and family, if they go on to take out a Saga Health Insurance policy.

10 things your Sky remote controller can do

3. Sell your car and use a car club

If you don’t use your car much then sell it and sign up to a car club in your area where you simply pay as you go, avoiding tax, insurance and running costs. If you're in London, Bristol, Oxford or Cambridge, check out zipcar.com.

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4. Lost accounts

Billions of pounds of unclaimed assets lie in old bank accounts, pensions and investments. You can find out if any belong to you using any of the free services. 

There are some companies who will help you trace old money but for a fee. Website mylostaccount.org.uk can help reunite people with lost or forgotten cash in a bank, a building society, National Savings & Investments – or all three. 

The Pension Tracing Service can help find lost pension details.

See also The Investment Management Association or Association of Investment Companies for tracing old money.

Read our guide to tracing old pensions

5. Sell on eBay

Selling unwanted items can of course be a great money spinner. You will be surprised about what people will buy.

The more details you include, the more interest you will get from buyers. Adding pictures will also attract more people to bid.

Read our guide to selling on eBay

You could even bag something for free on freecycle.org that will save you spending anything.

6. Cashback websites

You can get paid to shop by signing up to cashback websites. Each requires you to register to set up an account into which your cash is paid. 

Some charge membership fees, while others pay you to join. Once logged on, you click on the links to retailers and start shopping. Each offers a different cashback percentage for assorted items. 

Visit quidco.com or topcashback.co.uk.

7. Free flights

You can pay for flights with Easyjet using Nectar points, or use a combination of points and cash. Sainsbury’s is one of the big retailers where you can earn points, while customers of partner firms, such as Homebase, BP and British Gas, can also collect points. 

For those who collect Airmiles through Tesco and Shell among others, they can take a trip for free with British Airways or even redeem points at hotels. Visit airmiles.co.uk.

8. Sell your mobile phone

We’re all guilty of hoarding old mobile phones. But companies will pay a decent sum for old handsets. Check what yours are worth on envirofone.com.

9. Claim money that's owed to you

Billions of pounds goes unclaimed in benefits and grants every year. New figures show an average £675 a year in additional state benefits is unclaimed by pensioners. Find out what you’re missing out on at entitledto.co.uk.

Read our guide to the benefits you may be entitled to in retirement

10. Online surveys

By giving your opinion you can earn cash. It’s not big bucks, but every bit helps. And if you’re the kind of person who enjoys expressing an opinion and filling in forms, it’s perfect! 

Have a look at valuedopinions.co.uk or onepoll.com as a starting point.

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