15 Easy Ways To Save Money In 2020

Finding ways to save money is kind of my thing. Over the last few years, I’ve put a lot of effort into finding little tips and tricks that can add up to big savings. And, as today is the first day of a brand new year, I decided to compile a list of 20 things you can do to save yourself a little bit of money – and you’ll be pleased to hear that none of them includes making a budget and sticking to it! Make sure you read on to find out more …

01. Check Coupon Sites Before Making Any Purchases 

Before I buy anything that I want or need, I always do a quick Google search to see whether or not there are any coupon codes I can use to get myself a little bit of money off. And, to be fair, there usually are! When searching for coupons, I use search terms such as ‘Feel Unique Discount Code’ or ‘New Look Coupon Code’, and Google then brings up loads of websites offering a range of different coupon codes. I have to admit that it can be a little time-consuming to find ones that work, but it’s most definitely worth the effort. I’ve scored some seriously big discounts by searching for coupon codes before buying something.

I also recommend signing up to Kids Pass if you’re a parent. They are currently offering a 30-day trial for just £1.00 for new members, and they offer big discounts on things such as cinema tickets and family days out, as well as showing you where you can find places that have ‘kids eat free’ offers. I saved a ton of money using my Kids Pass last year, and will definitely be continuing to use it during 2019.

02. Use Cashback Sites When Making Online Purchases 

Before making any online purchases, I always check my favourite cashback sites, Quidco and TopCashback, to see if the retailer I’m buying from is offering any cashback. 9 times out of 10 I find they are, and even if the amount they’re offering seems quite low, it’s still worth clicking through and buying from their site, as it soon adds up to a nice little payout.

03. Buy Necessities in Bulk Whenever You Can 

One thing I’ve learned over the last 12 months or so is that if you visit your local supermarket late on in the evening they will often have significantly reduced the price of any products that are nearing their use-by date. And this is a great time to stock up on things you use regularly, such as pre-packed meat and vegetables. I buy as much as I can in bulk and then freeze it until I need it at a later date. As I cook almost all our meals from scratch, it saves me a small fortune. I also tend to buy misshapen canned goods, as they are usually reduced too.

04. Utilise Your Amazon Wishlist

If you’re like me, and have lots of people to buy birthday and Christmas presents for, I highly recommend making an Amazon wishlist of things you’d like to buy them in advance, and then check it every. single. day. Prices on Amazon fluctuate daily (sometimes hourly) and Amazon wishlists show you exactly how much an item has gone up or down in price since you added it. I find this tactic works brilliantly when your kids are invited to a lot of parties, as you can often grab those must-have toys at just a fraction of their recommended retail prices.

And, I’m sure this goes without saying, but if you shop at Amazon a lot, it’s definitely worth investing in Amazon Prime, as you can order until fairly late on in the day and get free next day delivery. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times having a Prime Membership has gotten me out of a pickle when I’ve totally forgotten the kids have a birthday party to attend the next day! LOL.

05. Switch To Energy-Saving Light Bulbs and Unplug Old Appliances 

Switching to energy-saving light bulbs is a fairly obvious way to save yourself a little bit of money, but it’s easy to forget about those rarely used appliances you have plugged in around the house. Make it your mission for the day to go around and see if you can unplug some things you’ve totally forgotten are there, such as that alarm clock or television in the spare room. It might not make a big difference, that much is true. But any saving on your electricity bill is better than no saving at all!

06. Shop Around For Insurance

I know it may seem time-consuming, but don’t take this one lightly. Every year when Nathan’s car insurance renewal comes through, you can guarantee it will be a lot higher than it was the previous one. So, he always gives them a call to ask if they can give him a better deal. And most of the time, they can. On the rare occasion they say no, we’ll visit Compare the Market to find another reputable company who can give us a better deal, and go with them instead. It can often mean a difference of over £100 a month, which isn’t to be sniffed at! We also try to get a better deal on our home insurance through Compare the Market every year as well.

07. Call Your Internet Provider and Energy Companies 

Another time-consuming task, but one with the potential to save you a lot of money! A few years ago, we noticed the amount we paid for Sky TV and broadband had increased significantly since we first joined them, and we couldn’t really afford to keep up with the payments. So I gave them a call and explained that we’d been loyal customers for the best part of 10 years and wasn’t really happy with the increase. The customer service team were amazing and reduced our bill so we were paying just a little more than when we first joined, and we could enjoy using their service again without worrying that we were paying over the odds for it.

I did the same with my mobile phone provider last month, and they gave me triple the amount of data I usually get for a lower monthly price! And I’m currently looking at switching energy providers too. I just know there’s a better deal out there for me than the one I have at the moment. I just need to knuckle down and find it!

08. Stop Using Electricity During Peak Hours 

Check with your electricity company to see when usage is the cheapest. Doing your laundry and running the dishwasher during off-peak times only can seriously reduce your monthly bill.

09. Walk Short Distances Instead Of Driving or Taking The Bus 

If you often find yourself jumping in the car or hopping onto the bus to pop somewhere that’s within walking distance, then stop! Not only will the exercise do you good, but you’ll notice that you save yourself a fair amount of money too. I only live in a tiny village, but if I catch the bus to the supermarket and back, it costs me a massive £3.80! It’s ridiculous. I’d rather walk and have extra money to use for other stuff.

10. Plan Early For Next Christmas 

I know that Christmas has only just gone, and the last thing you want to be doing right now is thinking about the next one, but hear me out! Right now the shops are full of leftover Christmas stock, such as cards, wrapping paper, gift sets and more. And because they need to get rid of it, you’ll often find that it’s on sale at an amazing price! Buying these things now can save you a lot of money in the long run, as well as giving you a head start on this years Christmas prep.

11. Return Stuff

Speaking of Christmas, did you receive anything you just don’t want or can’t use? If so, take it back, get a refund and buy something in its place that you actually will use. This will save you money as you won’t actually have to go out and buy it with your own cash at a later date.

And, if you’re like me and find yourself often buying clothes and shoes online and then find they don’t fit/don’t look anything like they do in the photo/you just don’t like them when they arrive, make sure you return them for a refund. I have a bad habit of keeping them ‘just incase’ and it’s such a waste of money. This year I plan to change that and make sure I return anything that’s not suitable.

12. Re-Gift Stuff 

Again, if you’ve received birthday or Christmas presents that you know you won’t use but know someone else who will? Why not pop them away to re-gift at a later date? Just be sure to remember who gave you the gift initially, so as not to re-gift it to them and make things totally awks!

13. Buy Second Hand 

If you need to buy new clothes throughout the year but can’t afford the hefty price tags then why not buy second hand instead? There are loads of places where you can treat yourself to some pre-loved goodies that are looking for a new home, such as Depop, eBay, Facebook Selling Pages, Gumtree, Charity Shops and many more. I’d say I buy around 75% of my clothes from Depop nowadays and I always find items to be in excellent condition. I definitely recommend giving them a try!

14. Don’t Sign Up To The Gym

Unless you really will make use of it, get outside, walk, run, or join pay as you go exercise classes instead of signing up to the gym. Most sports centres offer these and you’ll save yourself a lot of money in the long run. If you already have a gym membership that you don’t use, then now’s the time to cancel it. That way, you’re not throwing more money down the drain!

15. Make Your Own Takeaway Coffee Instead Of Buying One 

And, finally, if you regularly buy a takeaway tea or coffee on your way to work, why not make it at home and take it with you instead? You can get some really nice travel cups these days that will keep your drink nice and warm until you’re ready to drink it. And you’ll find you save yourself a small fortune over the course of the week too.

And there you have it – 15 easy-to-implement ways to save money in 2020.
Will you be giving any of them a try? If so, sure to let me know in the comments below.

Louise x

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Why not come join my Facebook Group where you can chat to like-minded people, share cleaning tips, products recommendations, home inspiration, recipes and much more.