7 Ways to Find Extra Money in Your Cash-Strapped Budget

As a general rule, we all want to save a little more money. Whether you are massive spenders with a habit, you want to squash, or in need of extra cash for Christmas gifts, a little extra cash can go a long way.

It can be plausible to dig up a little extra cash if you are willing to apply the effort. Sometimes, it is as simple as taking a single step in the right direction to have things going your way.

Here are a few ways for you to start saving some extra money. On their own, none of these tips will see drastic changes, but combined they could create quite the #treatyoself fund.

So settle in, find the tips that suit you best, and let us help you save more money than you thought possible.

Search the Collectables

In today’s world, we are all guilty of a little hoarding. When we talk about hoarding, we don’t mean carrier bags full of newspapers like those people you see on television. No, we’re referring to all the random collectable and items we just have no use for.

These items most of the time, have no real sentimental value and only exist to gather dust. Over the past few years, one of the most collectable things has been Pop Vinyls. For all of you collectors of Pops low on cash, why not part with some of your collection?

The truth behind Pop Vinyls is simply this; most collectors have one or two in their collection that has been vaulted. When a Pop Vinyl is vaulted, its value soars and can go into the thousands. For somebody that wants to start saving, parting with one of these collectables is a great way to begin. 

Eat Before You Shop

Something we are all guilty of from time to time is going shopping while hungry; when you are trying to reduce costs, this can be a surprising money saver. If you go shopping while hungry, this can see you walk around the supermarket and buy items that you are craving at the time of shopping. The problem is that is can cause you to spend up to 30% more than you would if you had a list and it was followed.

Having a shopping list and not veering from what you need can be a considerable cost-saving measure. Shops are often set out in order to get you to buy what you don’t need. Some of the larger supermarkets have even introduced the centre aisle bargains. 

Centre aisle bargain is a smart marketing technique where a supermarket offers a range of household items at a seemingly lower price. The fact behind them is that they are no cheaper than anywhere else, but they may be of lower quality. These low-quality items just add an impressive spend per customer ratio to the supermarkets’ end of year figures. 

Pay Attention To Your Phone

One of the biggest monthly costs for some people is the price of their mobile phone contract. Many people are suckered in by mobile phone companies claiming to offer the next best thing to sliced bread.

The truth is these offers will only serve to take a massive slice out of your wallet. If you are trying to save money, one of the most advisable things to do is look at sim plans. There are some great offers out there, such as the SMARTY unlimited data sim which can save you a fortune. 

One thing that seems to put people off leaving the big four companies is down to signal strength. Well, the truth is pretty much every mobile phone company partners with another when it comes to the use of a mobile phone mast. So the great news is, no matter who you are with, you will always have a signal.

Spend Some Time Online

Getting online is not only a great way of saving you some money, but it’s also a great way of earning a little bit extra too. 

One of the most important things to do when shopping is to search for voucher codes, especially if you do your grocery shopping online. If we look back to the beginning of 2019, for example, Sainsbury’s offered £18 your first online shop, and Ocado also offers 30% off. These deals come around often. Using Ocado for a large shop of frozen and long-lasting goods turned out to be quite a money saver.

Taking advantage of saver codes, surveys and online discounts really can add up to a mighty saving over the space of a year. You may not think so, but the saving could cover the cost of Christmas.

Remove Temptation

When it comes to spending, sometimes it’s just too easy. We often save our payment details with our favourite online suppliers as we often preempt our next purchase before we have made the first. By removing these payment details, it stops us from spending on a whim. We are all guilty of click to buy, and before you know it, your bank account is almost empty again. 

Find A Good Hobby

Most of the time, we tend to spend out of boredom. If we are shy of something to do, we quite often head to the shop and end up spending money needlessly. One of the best ways to avoid this is to find a hobby that can keep us distracted. Hobbies may initially cost a little bit of money, but in the long run, they can actually save you a small fortune. There are tons of hobbies out there that are very cheap to take up and others that are even free.

Another great way of distracting from spending is taking up some form of exercise routine. While working out may not be for everybody, it can be a great way of filling some time and an even better way of saving some money.

More often than not, people who exercise find they become more conscious about what they eat. When somebody starts to monitor their diet, they tend to cut out the processed foods, fats and sugars. Fortunately, when it comes to shopping, the items that are fatty and sugary tend to be the most expensive items you can buy.

Be Motor Efficient

One of the most significant costs in any household can be a vehicle. When it comes to saving money, sometimes the wisest thing to do is search for something with a little more viability behind it. 

Cars can cost an absolute fortune to run, and it is always best to own something that runs well on fuel. Most people are duped by the car dealer when buying their car as they are given manufacturer-given costings. Unfortunately, these figures are never accurate. Doing some research on the most efficient cars is the best way forward and will always save you a ton of money in the long term.

Another crucial thing to pay attention to is your car insurance. Car insurance quotes seem to be going crazy lately, but there are a few money saving solutions. Some companies will shave a ton off your insurance quote should you have a dashcam. Why most people don’t have a dashcam, you can pick one up online for around £20, and it could end up saving you up to £200 on your car insurance. That’s a great deal to anybody.

So, there you have it, a few money-saving tricks and tips that can hopefully get you on your way to a stronger financial future. While these tips may not be for everybody, we are sure there is something here that can inspire you into cutting back.