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Great (alternative) ways to save money post-lockdown

Whilst things are certainly looking up post-lockdown, we aren’t out of the woods just yet. It’s still a difficult time for contractors and the…

Author Photo by Martin Baxter

Whilst things are certainly looking up post-lockdown, we aren’t out of the woods just yet. It’s still a difficult time for contractors and the self-employed at large, and many will still be relying on savings to tide them over until work picks up again.

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme may have ended, but there are still other ways to keep your costs down. We’ve put together some tips to save money that you may not have thought about.

Swap your bills provider

Probably the best saving and the quickest way to save money on this list is to swap your utility provider and doing so could save you hundreds of pounds a year. This article has some helpful advice to get started.

Whilst you are at it, it’s also a good idea to review your monthly mobile phone contract, if you have one. You may find that you are currently overpaying if your existing contract has ended. If this is the case, it may be worth reducing your tariff, resisting the shiny new upgrade and sticking with the phone you have for now. Be sure to shop around as there are lots of deals out there, and quite often just a call to your existing supplier and mentioning the word cancellation may be enough for them to offer you a much better deal.

Credit card balance transfer

A credit card is sometimes a necessity to cover some expenses if you find yourself out of work. However, you might end up in the position where you are just paying off the interest.

If you’ve found yourself with debt on your credit card, it could be worth considering a 0% interest balance transfer. There are plenty of companies out there that offer this service and having no interest on the debt for a limited time can help you to get back on track. Do be aware some of these deals do incur a transfer fee, so make sure you check the details and small print.

Growing your own vegetables (even in the winter)

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is great for money saving and to keep the food bill down. Planting isn’t just for the spring – there are some hardy crops which will survive the coming months, you can get some ideas here. If you have kids, this can also be a fun (and inexpensive) activity to entertain the kids.

Write a food shopping list

Planning your meals in advance and writing a list before you do the food shop will not only prevent you from making unnecessary purchases, having a meal plan will minimise waste and thus, save you money.

Buy and cook in bulk

If you have the storage space and the funds to do so, buying food, cleaning and bathroom supplies in bulk can save you serious money. Not forgetting having a bulk load of toilet roll stored at home is not a bad thing if we do get a second wave of COVID-19 and the shops are cleared again!

Should you have space in the freezer, bulk cooking and freezing meals will save you time, reduce wastage and be much more cost effective. Having something cooked and ready to go could also stop you from being tempted by that last-minute takeaway.

Have a clear out

If you haven’t got much work on at the moment, now could be a great time to have a clear out and sell items you don’t use. There are lots of places you can advertise your items: eBay, Gumtree and local Facebook seller groups are all good options for this.

If you’re feeling creative, you could even consider upcycling any unwanted furniture before selling it. A lick of paint and some new handles or details could help to sell the item for extra money.

Master the 30 day rule

We’re all guilty of an impulse purchase from time to time. When trying to save money and spend less, the 30-day rule is another option to consider. The foundation of this rule is that instead of making an unnecessary impulse purchase, you should wait 30 days. If, after the 30 days, you still want to buy the item then do it. If not, quids in.

Restaurant offers

Eat Out to Help Out may be over, but after the success of this scheme, lots of restaurants are still offering deals for weeknights in September. It may still be cheaper to cook and eat at home, but if you do decide to treat yourself to a meal out, it’s definitely worth having a look to see which restaurants in your local area have offers.

Necessary expenses

Of course, some of your expenses will ultimately remain necessary. Having business insurance will not only help to protect you from the unexpected, but will also make you a more desirable candidate and will you help you win work easier.

Here at Kingsbridge, we can help you with that. We also have our price match promise so you won’t be out of pocket.  In the event that you find the same policy cover at a lower price with another UK company, we will refund the difference.

We’re also currently offering a Ready When You Are Scheme for our contractor package. Register today and if you buy before 1st October, we’ll give you a 20% discount. Call our friendly team of insurance experts on 01242 808740 to discuss your requirements today.

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