*Although we can access it any time we want, the fact that it's in her name gives that little psychological barrier, preventing us from dipping into it unnecessarily.
So here's 4 ways to save a few £££s:
When I was pregnant my eyesight changed dramatically and while I'm breastfeeding it wont stabilise (hormones!). So I haven't actually worn my contact lenses since October, resulting in a backlog of lenses and solution. With Specsavers I can freeze my account for six months, and when it starts up again I can ask for the solution not to be included which gives me another small discount.
Currently spending: £13 per month
Action: Freeze account for six months and remove solution from package
Saving: £13 per month for 6 months. £3 per month thereafter.
I love magazines (as a journalist it's part of the job description). So I'd like to say that I will stop buying magazines all together. But I know I won't. There are four that I consistently buy every month. I know I will buy them, I can't resist. So why not subscribe? Here's the breakdown:
Mollie Makes
Currently spending: £24.24 every 6 months with an existing subscription = £4.04 per month
Action: None, as already a subscriber
Saving: £0 as already a subscriber
The Simple Things
Currently spending: £4.99 per month
Action: Subscribe for one year (13 issues) = £48.49
Saving: £1.26 per month
Crafty Magazine
Currently spending: £4.99 per month
Action: Subscribe for one year (13 issues) = £54.99
Saving: 76p per month
Homemaker
Currently Spending: £4.99 per month
Action: Subscribe for one year (13 issues) = £53.50
Saving: 87p per month
Total saving: £2.89 per month
Honestly, it's not a huge saving. But here's my justification:
- I use the on-sale dates as an excuse to go to the shops, which always involves Starbucks plus extra purchases, it might be more savvy than you think!
- Doing this breakdown is a useful exercise because I can now see which mag I should subscribe to in order to make the biggest saving.
- When you subscribe, you get free gifts, which I can always eBay if I don't want them to make extra cash, I can wait for the back issues to sell out and then eBay my back issues - even at £1 per issue you're slowly clawing back the cover price with all these steps! {Now to petition the husband!}
3. Upgrade Bank Account
Surely that's spending more money? Yes, but how much can we save in the process? Our bank offers a Silver bank account which costs £10 per month. If we upgrade our joint account then the Silver account includes phone insurance on two handsets, meaning we can cancel the policies we already pay.
Currently spending: £16.98 for two sets of phone insurance
Action: Upgrade bank account (£10 per month) and cancel existing policies
Saving: £6.98 per month
4. Choose a Coffee Shop & Stick With It
This may sound like a false economy but hear me out. I am only a few coffees away from being a Gold Starbucks Member. Once that happens I get soya milk and syrups free using my loyalty card (I also work my way towards free drinks every time i make a purchase). Again, I could just stop going for coffee but I know I won't - especially as if I'm in town I need to stop somewhere to feed Ruby. As a gold member I would save between 30p and 60p on every drink. Let's assume I visit Starbucks three times a week (it's probably more but I'll start restricting myself, honest!).
Currently spending: £3.35 x 12 = £40.20
Action: Become a Gold Member & get soya milk & syrups free
Saving: 60p x 12 = £7.20
Does anyone know if Starbucks still give you 20p off for using a reusable cup? This could also add to the savings!
Total Savings for Ruby: £30.07 per month
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What small things do you do to enable you to save towards something big?
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