No matter where you are in your money saving journey as a family, there are some really good FREE tools that can help you along the way, plus save you loads of time on writing lists or searching for the best deals.
The trick is knowing the right tools to use at the right stage of your saving journey so you don’t end up with a stack of apps you don’t use that could start costing you money or full back into bad money habits.
My commitment to you is that everything on this list I have personally used or use currently myself. It something then doesn’t work for me, then I’ll say here or delete it, depending on the issue.
Many of these links are affiliate links, which means I may get a very small commission if you purchase something or sign up. These are shown with a *. There’s no pressure to use any of these services and none of these websites have asked or paid me a fee to be mentioned. These are just the sites I use and some have given me an extra discount just for being a reader of Savings 4 Savvy Mums.
If there’s anything you think is missing from this page, please email me at laura@savings4savvymums.co.uk with your suggestions. I’d love to hear them!
I offer a range of free resources myself these include:
Saving Money
Money saving apps
Use our list here for our full money managing apps.
Plum* – It’s completely free and it lets you input your salary and outgoings, plus links to all your accounts including savings and investments.
Snoop* – Snoop is a free money management app that was created to help you manage and save money. Snoop wants to help you make smarter choices and get on top of your money.
Day to day saving
Switch Craft*: They automatically switch you when there’s a better deal
Go Henry*: A pre-paid pocket money card and app for kids
OhMyDosh* – We use OhMyDosh whenever we can. Whatever you want to buy online, check if you can buy it through their website first. They then give you money back.
Prime* – Use as a free trial and order whatever you need. Remember to cancel once the trial ends. Great for Christmas and other bulk buying.
Compare The Market* – Compare your bills and make sure that you are getting the best deal.
Food
Muscle Foods* – Cheap but healthy cuts of meat for the whole family. Loads of bundle deals available and it comes straight to your door already packed, ready to be refrigerated and frozen.
Approved Foods* – Offering cheap and past sell by date foods.
Our best saving money blog posts are:
1p Saving Challenge: How to Save Over £100 in 30 Days – This is how to save money! Using the 1p challenge can really help you to save over £100 in 30 days.
103 Frugal Living Tips That Will Save You Thousands – These are our best money saving tips that we use every single day as a family. Use this list here to start saving yourself.
The Ultimate £1 Per Head Budget Meal Planning List – This post can help you to save money as a family. We have loads of £1 a head family meals that can help you keep your food shop down.
101 Aldi Recipes That Will Give You Dinner Ideas For Tonight – Aldi is a great place to shop as a family. Use our dinner ideas here to help keep the cost down and cook yummy meals.
Making Money
Extra income:
Outplayed* – A matched betting tool that gives you the best odds and lays out clearly your lay bet. It’s free to use in till you make £45. This gives you enough time to work out if matched betting is really for you.
OhMyDosh* – OhMyDosh are not only a cash back website but also a great way to earn money. You can cash out at £10.
Pick My Postcode* – Signing up to free daily draws means that if you lucky you could win money without doing anything! It does takes up to an hour to register for them all but only takes about 2 minutes to check if you’ve won daily. We normally check on our phones while the kettle is boiling.
Surveys:
A handy little earner that you can do on your phone while out or in front of the TV when the kids have finally settled. You won’t necessarily make bundles of cash, but for just 20 minutes or so work, you could make a few pounds.
These are the one’s we’ve used before but there are plenty floating about that payout in either vouchers or cold hard cash:
Starting a business:
Virtual Assistant Toolkit – The ultimate spreadsheet pack for your virtual assistant business. This is for mums who have never been a Virtual Assistant before but who would like to start working from home.
This 7 value-packed templates includes:
- A list of VA essential tools
- Invoice template (Word)
- Time Card spreadsheet (Excel with pre-made formulas)
- Invoice spreadsheet (Excel with pre-made formulas)
- Blog post promotion spreadsheet (Excel)
- Engagement questions for most niches (Excel)
- Facebook schedule (Excel)
The Virtual Assistant Essential Tool Kit can help you land your first client, and keep you on track for when it’s time to invoice.
The Blogging Toolkit can help you start blogging by suggesting what to write and get you ahead on your SEO journey which can help you gain more free views quickly. We have also included an Accounts Spreadsheet and Affiliate Sheet which helps you keep track of your earnings.
This has 15 value-packed templates which includes:
- SEO Checklist
- SEO Cheatsheet
- 100 Blog Post Ideas
- Blog Post Title Ideas
- Blog Post Creation Checklist
- Weekly Content Planner (Excel)
- Income Tracker (Excel)
- Accounts Spreadsheet (Excel)
- Invoice Template (Word)
- Affiliates Spreadsheet (Excel)
- Blog Stats Spreadsheet (Excel)
- Blog Post Analysis (Excel)
- Lead Magnet Ideas
- 17 Must Have Post Ideas
- How to Jump Start Your Mailing List Booklet
Purchase our Blogging Toolkit here to help you start blogging.
Learn how to make money from home – A monthly membership program where you are at the heart of what I do. You are mentored and advised throughout your online business journey.
Smarter Queue* – An easy to use scheduling system that connects to all your social media feeds. You schedule once and it will publish whenever you need it. A real time saver.
TSO Host* – This is your www. name that people will search for. Try and think of a name that matches your business or that you think your customers will be searching for.
Web hosting with TSO Host* – These are the people that will host your website on their server. You want a company you can trust. We’ve used many over the years but TSO Host are a good place to start when you need your online store hosting*. You get 10% with TSO Host by using our code S4SM10%OFF.
Mailerlite* – We use Mailerlite as they have great customer service and easy to build email templates*. (Remember to check the ISO website for GDPR guidelines.)
People Per Hour* – A content mill website where you can advertise your services and get replies back. They do take a big chuck of your commission so watch how much you charge.
Fiverr* – Another great place to advertise. It is a race to the bottom but is fab if you’re new to the freelance world and want to get a portfolio together.
Managing Money
Plum* – Can help you build up your savings while showing you exactly where your money is going. You can link all your accounts to it. It’s very transparent! It’s free to use and perfect if you prefer all your knowledge in one place.
Cleo* – Cleo uses a chatbot in Facebook so is perfect if you’re in their a lot. It’s easy to use and gives you instant access.
Chip* – Held in a Barclay’s e-wallet, Chip is great if you want to save easily and have access to your money quickly.
Cheap Eats
Tastecard* – Money off restaurant card that the whole family can use. Gives you 50% off at many well known chains. Is currently £1 for 90 days if you buy before the end of January 2018.
KidsPass* – Money off everywhere including the cinema, big chain restaurants and days out. Currently £1 for 30 days!
Gourmet Society * – 25% off your total bill with drinks! Currently £1 for the first 90 days.
Cheap Reads
The Savvy Shoppers Cookbook by Amy Sheppard
Packed with easy, cheap and nutritious meal ideas perfect for the whole family.
Fast and Fresh One Pound Meals by Migual Barclay
This is how to cook delicious food for less. All cost just £1 per person and are easy to do.
Eat Well For Less by Jo Scaratt-Jones
This has over 80 delicious recipes, an easy to follow meal-planning guide, advice on freezing and storing food, a family budget planner and lots of ideas to get kids cooking.