Including how to cut down on spending
Sometimes, just telling yourself to stop spending money doesn’t work. It may now be a habit, a way to destress, or your funny way of showing the kids you care.
Whatever your reasons, it’s now time to stop and tackle your inner spending monster head-on, right now, in fact.
We’re all in agreement that spending money is easy. A few quid here and there doesn’t start showing up until the end of the month when your card has been declined and you can’t even afford milk for your cornflakes.
If you really are struggling with money then please get help! We have a post here called No Money for Food? This is What You Do When You Really Have No Money To Feed your Family which gives you a list of free places that can really help you get out of debt.
If you are looking for ways to save money then have a look at:
103 Frugal Living Tips That Will Save You Thousands in 2022 – This is our full list of money-saving tips that we use ourselves. It includes everything from £1 a head meal ideas to ways to save money while you are out and about.
How to Get Out of Your Overdraft – If you have money management issues then use our post here to help you get out of your overdraft.
101 Genuine Work From Home Jobs in the UK – If your bank balance is looking low right now then have a look at our full list of work from home job ideas here.
6-week money saving challenge
If you’re struggling to save money then why not join our FREE money saving course that takes you step by step through saving money as a family. All simple steps to help you build an emergency fund or save towards that mega holiday.
Join our FREE Money Saving Course here and I can’t wait to see how I can help you!
This is the perfect time to improve your finances.
With this free email course, we cover everything from setting financial goals to ways to earn some extra money in your free time. Over the next 6-weeks, you will receive an email that will help you save your family more money.
Come Join us now and watch your savings grow.
How to stop spending money for 30 days
Over a course of a month, without realizing it, you could have spent hundreds of pounds on pretty much nothing at all.
It’s so easy to just fling a card at someone in the supermarket, or at the pump, and not notice how much you’ve spent.
To some, it can be an addiction, that leads down a black hole of massive debt. A few pounds here and there really can turn into thousands over a year.
If you need some help to reduce your spending then we can help you. This step-by-step guide can help you to start getting to grips with how much you are spending.
Start by setting goals
No matter what your goal is – whether you have a credit card you are desperate to pay off or just want to shave a few pounds off your monthly outgoings, this is going to open your eyes to a whole new level of money-saving.
We aren’t talking frugal here. You can still go out and treat the family.
Once you’ve decided you want to start saving money and stop saving, tell the family. Get them involved.
When it comes to saving money, you need the whole family invested. There’s no point just one of you trying to save money. Talk to your partner and the kids if they are old enough and explain WHY you want to save.
Sometimes it’s difficult to keep motivated and track how much your family have saved.
Our printable checklist was created with this in mind. Simply print off as many copies as you need or laminate a copy and reuse it over and over again.
Tracking your savings
Tracking your money habits so you know exactly what you are spending is vital.
Knowing your income and outgoings is the first step you need to take when you are trying to take back control of your finances.
Despite the name, creating a budget doesn’t mean you have to be frugal or only spend the same amount every week. Having a budget means knowing exactly what you’re spending compared to your incomings
You should also remember to account for annual costs, such as Christmas, birthday presents, car costs, etc.
Creating your budget will give you a clear starting point, so that you know where your finances stand before you decide to either start cutting back or make more money.
The first thing to work out is, do you spend more than you earn?
Use your instincts. Do you have any money left over at the end of the month? Are you eating up your savings or building up debts?
Major overspending can lead to a debt spiral and severe problems, that’s why using a budget planner every month is a good idea and can answer these questions quickly for you.
Yet before you can solve any issues it’s important to get an accurate idea of the size and scale of the problem.
Before you start using a budget planner remember that:
Your bank account lies! When you check it, it only shows you a simple snapshot of the scene that day. It misses out what payments are due in or out, when direct debits are paid, and when you need to go shopping.
Never think that having cash in your bank account means your budget is balanced. Being overdrawn is definitely a good indicator that it isn’t.
You can track your progress in different ways. You could:
Automated banking with Snoop
Use Snoop which is free and compatible with most UK bank accounts.
Once you connect it to your online banking, it gathers information about your spending and uses that data to work out how much you can afford to save.
Every few days it transfers an amount it believes to be affordable automatically. The best thing is you can get to your money anytime so if you suddenly need it you can transfer back straight away!
Read more about how Snoop works here
Download Snoop for free here on iPhone or Android*
Don’t like Snoop? Have a look at these budgeting apps here.
Manual banking and paper tracking
Use our free Resource Vault that is packed full of useful printables to aid you on your money saving journey.
You can choose to track your money as you save it or per day.
You could set the above up yourself and have 5 different bank accounts for your categories so you can always see what you have left in your main account. This is fine but does require a bit of set up including monthly standing orders and you phoning each company to change your account details.
Either way works well, as long as you stick to whichever method you choose. Knowing your spending habits will really give you a clear picture on where you are.
Having financial goals
Setting your goals for the month will really help you and your family to spend money less.
Remember to keep your financial goals realistic. There’s no point saying you’re going to cut out all treats every month as that will just make you resent saving.
Try to be specific. Something like:
• I will put £5 per week into my savings account by making extra online
• I will increase my income by 10% every month
• I will only get one take away coffee a week
• I will completely clear one debt within 3 months
• I will save £50 within 3 months by switching suppliers
• I will reduce my outgoings by £75 a month with meal planning and cashback websites
Reduce your outgoings
This may seem like a no-brainer but it’s as easy as it sounds. Cutting out unnecessary things like a gym membership or that takeaway coffee can really make a big difference.
There are loads of ways you can cut your costs.
Take it from me that loyalty honestly doesn’t always pay.
Switching your suppliers could save you a massive £300 a year. That’s a lot for your saving pot!
Set aside a day this week to go through all your utilities and insurances to see if you could save money by switching.
Utilities
It is always worth checking price comparison websites to see if you can make a saving by switching providers, or even tariffs! Now, energy companies have to tell you on your bill whether you could save by being on a different tariff, so take a look at your latest bill to see if you could save.
Have a look at our full list of saving energy at home tips here.
TV package
If you’re a long-serving Sky customer then have a lookup SKY VIP. You can get money off your existing package and offers on new ones. It’s true that you still have to haggle though so put aside a good hour and decide on the line you will cross ie cancelling.
Have a look at other suppliers for your TV.
Netflix – They offer a free trial and now run through a Sky Q box plus other electrical devices.
Amazon Prime – All the latest programs can be streamed through loads of devices. You also get next day delivery included with your membership and special “just members” offers.
Insurance
Make sure you don’t auto-renewal.
Calling around for all your insurance quotes can take time but it’s well worth the money.
Make sure you do the same for your life insurance, car insurance and home insurance.
How to stop spending money on food
The first thing we do to reduce our spending on groceries is to meal plan. Implementing a family meal planner can stop you going for the takeaway menu when the family go nuclear and means you don’t have to face a cupboard full of food with no clue or inspiration on what to cook.
Meal Plan Sheets
Depending on how comfortable you are, either find a spare pad or print out 8-10 copies of a weekly meal plan sheet.
You’ll need enough space to write down a simple menu for each day and a shopping list as you go.
You can make your own weekly meal plan or download my meal plans and shopping lists for free from the Resource Vault.
Having several copies on hand will help inspire you to get started and keep up the meal plans for several weeks. Before you know it, meal planning will become a natural part of your routine.
Check Your Calendar
Before you even think about food, check your schedule.
There’s no point writing a meal plan for a week that you’re away or if you aren’t going to be back for dinnertime.
Use a bright colour of ink to list calendar items on your meal plan so you can decide what the family are eating on these days. It could be leftovers or cheese on toast, doesn’t matter, as long as everyone knows.
Check Your Freezer, Fridge, and Cupboards
Before you start planning, check what you have already. Do you have any kitchen staples that you could use to bulk out any meals or use on days you’re late home?
Is there anything in your freezer you could eat to bring this weeks shopping list down?
Same goes for vegetables and side dishes. Spending a few minutes checking the freezer, fridge and cupboards can save you money later on.
Remember to take the shopping list to the grocery store with you!
If you need help filling the meal plan with budget-friendly food then make sure you have a look at:
The Ultimate £1 Per Head Budget Meal Planning List – This is our full £1 a head list of meals. They are all easy to cook and can help to save your family money.
41 Store Cupboard Recipes to Try – If you are short of money this month then please use our cupboard meals here. They use cupboard staples like tin tomatoes to help you make meals.
The Best Fakeaway Recipes For Under £1 a Head – Instead of reaching for the takeaway app, use our list here to make your own!
How to stop spending money on unnecessary things
Have I scared you yet? If any of this rings true, then maybe it’s time to stop spending altogether. Think of it like a detox or diet if you must, but from today, you’re going money free.
Ask yourself these three questions.
Do you really need it? Do the kids really need to go to an expensive theme park? Is it a special occasion?
I’m not saying don’t spend. Work hard spend hard is my motto, but do it right. If this is what you and the kids have been waiting for all month then do it. If it’s a spare of the moment idea after another tough month, then maybe strip it back and think how you could all have a family day out but cheaper.
I know this won’t work for everyone, but asking myself these simple questions helps me to decide if what I’m doing to financially rational.
If you do need that item or day out, have a look at using the cashback websites so you can get some money back.
Our favourite cashback sites are:
We use cashback websites every time we buy something online.
OhMyDosh
OhMyDosh is an easy to use cashback site that’s free to use. It’s not like a normal cashback site though. OhMyDosh gives you loads of ways you can make money including:
The refer a friend scheme. Refer your friends to OhMyDosh and earn yourself £5 for every sign up and your friend £1.
Competitions: Enter them for free and receive money.
Shop through them to earn the bigger rewards.
The best thing about OhMyDosh is that you only need to make £10 to “dosh out” and they pay out through your bank or through PayPal.
If you are new to OhMyDosh* then use our link here to get your first free £1*.
You can read more about how OhMyDosh works here.
Leave Your Money at the Door
When you know you’re going out and may be tempted to spurt the cash, leave your money at the door.
That includes everything from bank cards, to the loose change in your pocket.
Know you will want a coffee at 11 am? Then take a furnace and enjoy it all day long.
Think about dinner too. If you know you’re going to be in late, then why not make a slow-cooked meal instead of heading to your nearest fast food joint? Nothing like a nice curry or spaghetti Bolognese after a long day with the kids.
What It Costs in Real Time
Before you do anything or get your wallet out, have a think about how much it would cost you in hours worked.
So if you earn £10 an hour and the trip out or item costs £180, you’d have to work 18 hours. That’s a lot of hours for one day out!
Related Posts:
- The Best List of Store Cupboard Essentials
- Saving on Electricity: How to Save Electricity at Home
- How to Get a Free Holiday
Focus On Your Savings or Debts
Work out how long it will take you to pay off your debt or increase your savings if you give in.
Think of it as another payment toward owning your own home or another step toward that amazing family holiday you’ve always wanted.
Paying off your credit cards and other debt must come first before you start saving.
Laura x
If you enjoyed this post and would like some more money saving ideas, then head over to the saving my family money section here on Savings 4 Savvy Mums where you’ll find over 50 money saving tips to help you save your family more. There’s enough tips to help you save over £300 a month! You could also pop over and follow my family saving Pinterest boards for lots more ideas on how to stop spending and save more; Money Saving Tips for Families and Managing Money for Families.
Love this post? Then why not save it to Pinterest so you can easily find it later.
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