Coins Saving-money is ultimately a matter of developing good habits, and planning is perhaps the best habit of all. Try putting cash for non-bills purchases into envelopes - e.g. one each for groceries, petrol and miscellaneous spending. This envelope system will naturally self-limit your ability to overspend.
Avoid catalogues and promotional emails as you will be tempted by items you would not even have known about. They generate discontent which you then remove by spending money! Ignorance is bliss – stay off this treadmill.
Stay at home and enjoy quality time with those you care about. Out and about, you spend money: coffees, snacks, papers and magazines, petrol, “retail grazing” on the High Street...
Waste not, want not Use every last scrap of everything – food, cleaning products, shampoo. Don't leave taps running, switch off appliances and lights ruthlessly, and set up power management on your computer.
Eat at home Eating out is expensive. Even with budget meals at your local chain pub/restaurant, drinks, puddings, coffee, tips and the cost of getting there make it hard to keep the cost below £15 per person. Even a rushed lunchtime coffee and a sandwich for two can easily set you back £10. Meanwhile how often have you eaten out and ended up throwing away food at home because it has gone off – thus adding to the waste of money?
Evade the technology upgrade trap A vicious circle - question how necessary that latest and costly computer or software upgrade really is. “If it ain’t broke, don't fix it”.
Remind yourself regularly of your financial goals to stay focussed-especially when out and about and the temptation to spend is right in front of you.
Sleep on it – before committing to that purchase take 24 hours and ask yourself whether you really need it. If you really do still want to buy it, go ahead and purchase without guilt.
Use spreadsheets to track your purchases instead of expensive money management software.
Talk to your partner about financial goals frequently The same financial goals and a joint spending plan will help achieve your aims and ensure neither of you is being squeezed financially at the expense of the other.