A FEW SMART choices can lead to bigger savings than you’d expect.
It’s like the Boy Scouts say: fail to prepare, prepare to fail. A few simple tips and tricks can be of huge benefit for families looking to mind the pennies.
Of course, it’s not always obvious where we could be getting better value, or else we’d already be doing it ourselves right?
Well, here are some places that you could be getting a better deal – without compromising on experience….
In the run-up to big family holidays, it’s a good idea to choose your time wisely when changing money. Due to currency conversion rates, converting money just before you leave might not actually be the most cost-effective time – so bear this in mind if you’re heading to places such as the UK or US.
Activate price drop alerts for your Amazon account. On other sites, opting to watch things in your basket might lead to them dropping in a sale, too – so always click to receive notifications on these items.
Lots of more niche electronics components (think that jumble of leads and wires in your kitchen’s messy drawer) are available for better prices online than in the shops. Make sure they comply to EU safety codes, then reap the savings.
Reckon a whole cooked chicken is too much for you and just a few others? Think again. Roasting a chicken at the start of the week makes a lot of sense, versus buying lots of fillets or cuts throughout that time. You can get the meat for a Sunday dinner, sandwiches after, make soup from leftovers, then boil the bones for stock.
If you have space to compost, you should think about starting. It’s not only great for the environment (and also, of course, on cutting down on your waste bills) but also a fun and interactive way to teach the kids about nature and how the world works.
Speaking of compost…
Starting a little home garden (if you have the space to do so) is a really fun activity for kids and adults alike. You’d be surprised at what you get out of it, and it’s certainly not just for those with ten acres around their house. Even a small garden can offer up delicious, easy-to-grow veggies like peas, broad beans, courgettes, tomatoes… And it doesn’t take much time either. More info here.
It goes without saying – and almost everyone knows this is a good idea, but rarely put it into practice. There are lots of areas in family outgoings that can be improved on, cost-wise. Not just things like TV, internet and electricity bills – even your own current account could be working harder for you. Invest a little time looking into this, and look forward to savings coming in for years.
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