Money saving tips for 2018

What are the best ways to save money? In this blog, we’ve pulled together our top 11 tips on how to save money, starting by making small changes and reassessing your current financial position. If you’re focused on finding the best ways to save money, Acumen is here to help you achieve your goals with our money saving tips for 2018.

Acumen’s money saving tips

1. Understand your current financial position

Being completely aware of your current financial position can help you to set reasonable money saving targets and budget properly. One of the best ways to save money is to look at your current bills, your living costs and even your luxury spending to see if there is any way to cut down.

2. Consider your luxury spending

Talking of luxury spending, ask yourself: do you need it? An easily achievable goal, for example, would be to cut down how often you eat out or skipping that daily coffee. This is one of the best saving tips for 2018 because the impact is instant. Small changes can add up to big savings in the long-run.

3. Are you getting the best deal?

Are your current electric and gas providers giving you the best deal? Could you be paying over the odds for your car insurance or home broadband? Shop around using comparison websites to find the best deals and make a dent in your monthly outgoings.

4. Remember to haggle!

When you’re shopping around, be sure to haggle to get the best prices. Many of us wouldn’t think twice about haggling hard for keepsakes in a foreign bazaar. However, back home, British reserve gets the better of us. Do your research and haggle for everything from your utilities to your groceries. What’s the worst that can happen?

5. Stay off the cookies

No, not those cookies! If you didn’t already know, one of the fundamentals of modern day comparison shopping is to ensure you’re searching using a private or incognito browser (depending on which one you use, such as Internet Explorer or Chrome). Holiday and flight websites are known to hike their prices if you visit their sites multiple times to look at similar options.

6. Set financial goals

One of the best ways to save money is to set yourself goals each month, which will help you to work towards a stronger financial future. For example, prioritise paying off a loan or credit card that has the highest interest rates. This money saving tip for 2018 could see you chipping away at outstanding debt month by month and boosting your savings as a result.

7. Plan for your future

Is it time to start considering your pension scheme or planning for retirement? Get ahead of the game by getting your future in order. This money saving tip could help set you up for the rest of your life. Arrange a meeting with one of our IFAs to discuss your pension planning and to find out more about how to save money for retirement.

8. Ditch that unused gym membership

Real talk; when was the last time you dusted off your membership card and hit the gym? If you can’t remember the last time you pounded the treadmill, then maybe it’s time to cut your losses and make a significant saving. Try jogging, cycling or calisthenics for cost-free alternatives or switch to a ‘pay as you go’ gym membership for added flexibility.

9. Get mobile friendly

Are you paying more than you bargained for in terms of your monthly mobile repayments? If you’re nearing the end of a lengthy mobile contract, you have several options. Either use your newfound haggling skills to negotiate a better deal or switch to a more flexible SIM only deal, which could lead to significant savings compared to a standard monthly fee.

10. Make your own lunch

The average UK worker could save up to £1,300 a year if they made their own packed lunch. Whilst it may take a bit of extra time and effort, the highly palatable savings as a result of this money saving tip are certainly worth it. Making a weekly menu that includes your lunches, which you then use as the basis of your shopping list is an excellent holistic method of tying up all of your grocery loose ends in one fell swoop.

11. Speak to a financial adviser

Acumen’s financial advisers are here to guide you towards a better financial future throughout the entire year with financial planning strategies and advice. Our financial services include: financial planning, investments, pensions and retirement. Speak to one of our highly trained advisors today and they can help you to understand, where you are at the moment and how to set reasonable, achievable goals in 2018.

Speak to one of our IFAs today for financial planning and investment advice strategies to suit you and your current situation. Contact Acumen today on 0151 520 4353 or email us at info@acumenfinancial.co.uk.