Over the last few weeks the Money Advice Service has been sharing tips and tricks to help you and your finances get through the month. In return you’ve been commenting in your hundreds, telling us the ways you are saving to make your money go further. Here are 14 of the best.
Your top ways to save on supermarket shops
“Internet shopping saves me bus money and the stress. Also no impulse buys. I can get my shopping delivered for as little as a £1 compared to nearly £5 bus fares. I wouldn't be able to carry a full weeks shopping for family in one shot.” Saffron
“It costs time and money to visit multiple shops, so it could be a case of "penny wise and pound foolish". As a compromise I keep a list for each shop of specific items either available there exclusively or generally cheaper, and visit those shops occasionally to stock up.” Deborah
“Meat is expensive, why not try to cut it out 3 days a week. There are some fabulous veggie recipes online.” Kim
Your top ways to save on shopping
From books to crockery, I've found fab things in charities all over the UK. I particularly have a soft spot for bric-a-brac… nothing more delightful than finding some quirky thing that you can put on your desk!” Jen
“My late Mum used to buy all her clothes from local charity shops, and I have also bought many clothes from charity shops. If people ask me 'where did you buy that?', I always reply 'from a boutique', giving them the impression that I spent a lot of money! I go to my local one once a week, go and have a look, you never know what you will find!” Tricia
Your top tips for better budgeting
“I check my bank balance on a daily basis and whenever I need to spend to make sure that there's enough. It's not how much you earn but what you save that matters..😅” James
“I save money on car journeys by doing more than one thing in the same trip. Last week I went to the gym, ate my packed lunch, drove to pick up an ebay bargain, called in at the DIY store on the way back, bought wine and dog food in town and called into a local shop to get a trumpet fixed.” Laura
“The biggest tip I ever got was to leave money at home if you don't intend to buy something (credit card for emergencies). If you have no cash to buy what you don't need that's exactly what happens. At the end of a week / month / year you will notice a big difference.” AM
“Budgeting is a doddle. Here is the secret. Let's say you get paid monthly. You get paid £1500 and your bills (before food) comes to £650. This leaves £850. Divide this by the amount of days until you next get paid. You now know what you can spend per day. If, at the end of the day you have money left over, put it in a jar.” Chris
Your top ways to save on bills
“Cut your TV subscription to a package that is more suitable. Do you honestly watch all the sports and movies channels?” Teri
“Another good tip is to pay for things like insurance, breakdown cover, TV licence, car tax etc. in a lump sum instead of instalments. I save around £100 a year on all those things added together.” Katie
Your tips to cut back on food waste
“Keep a notepad and pen handy in the kitchen. As you as you finish something, like a tin of tomatoes etc, write it down. This way, when you go shopping, you buy what you finished, rather [than] buy what you still have and not bothered to check.” D B
“I write a week’s menu on Saturday, check ingredients in [the] cupboard, fridge and freezer, then what I don't have I buy… simple. When the shopping arrives I make salad jars and refrigerate, keeping the salad as new fresh all week long.” Ria
“Sometimes it is not just about price, quality comes into the equation too. It is a complete waste of time buying cheaper if it turns out that the food is such low quality that you have to throw it away.” Kate
Watch some of Thrifty Lesley's top tips to avoid food waste
Do you have any tips you want to share in our comments section?
Don't buy sandwiches, crisps and drink at lunchtime at work. You'll save heaps by making your own lunch, and it'll be healthier too.
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I buy my meat from muscle food. Com when they have good deals on. Grass fed minced beef for 95p for 400g. If you sign up to emails you get the offers sent to your inbox or texts
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I save any supermarket comparison and special offer savings and use the money to help buy my 10 grandchildren birthday and Xmas presents. JW
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thank you, always appreciated,
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no thanks
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If I have any veggies left over I will make a stew or a ratatouille. If the veggies have been pre-cooked then I will add them to a home made pie.
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I be started taking pack lunchtime work, although today I thought that I would treat myself with a take away salad, as part of the deal I had a piece of fruit and a drink. It was £3.50, I work four days a week, so if I did that every day it be £14 a week., £56 a month. Lot of money
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If you use a bus more than 4 times per week? Buy a weekly ticket!
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Dear Sir,
I have respect and always ready for implement irs.u.s. project from Bangladesh.
Thank you for regards
Bijoy Kumar Sarker
NUS Bangladesh
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Yes very good tips, I already do meal .I have a slow cooker which I put all sort of things in , but no meat as you can pull out a container and add what you want from the freezer. I save a lot of time and money. ☺.
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Only have enough money in your debit card account for what you want when you go shopping- make a list before you go, check mysupermarket.com for the best prices and don't carry cash in your purse.
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I have bought all Christmas wrapping (10p instead of £2) name tags, cards, stocking fillers and the younger ones toys all at least 50-70% cheaper by shopping around in the January sales.
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I have already done my Christmas shopping and birthday presents for 2016:by shopping around in the sales, I have bought everyone's Christmas presents Christmas cards, name tags, etc. Most goods had as much as 70% off I went to a charity shop and bought two brand new shirts worth £60 each for £15 each - wonderful saving!
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I shop on a fantastic website approved food. They sell everything,apart from meat. They say you save 70% on your shop. They are true to their word. Try them.
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I think I am already pretty frugal with everything from having a budget for the 32 years of our marriage, growing most of our vegetables and storing them as they are or as roasted vegetable sauces in the freezer, bottling them in kilner jars making my own sauces, pickles and jams, but this blog has given me a couple of tips so here's one for you. Make a list of everything in your freezer and pin it to the door, I then cross out what I use and if anything new goes in it gets added with the date, nothing gets wasted, nothing goes out of date and when I'm making my meal plan for the week/month I use the freezer list so I know what I have.
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Join cashback sites for free. The top paid are topcashback and quidco. Since I've been using them I've earned over £200.
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Shop around when your insurances are up for renewal. I have frequently found a better deal online through price comparison websites, with the insurer that I'm with at renewal. It also usually the case that you can get a better deal with a different insurer. Play around with items like Voluntary and Compulsory excesses, legal protection and recovery - the differences can be startling.
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