2021 Money Saving Ideas Everyone Should Be Trying

 

 

Thanks to the dreaded virus, many of us are struggling with finances. Our jobs are either on hold or we’re on furlough, not receiving anything like as much money we got when working regular hours. 

 

Fortunately, there are a bunch of things you can do right now to beat the lockdown and the recession and find your financial feet. Check them out below. 

 

Slash Your Council Tax Bill

 

Did you know that you can cut your council tax bill by up to 100 per cent if you meet certain requirements? 

 

The average council tax bill is up by more than five per cent in some parts of the country, thanks to the impact of the coronavirus. But you should check with your local authority exactly what you have to pay. If you moved into your new house during the lockdown, your payments may be lower. 

 

Get A Work-From-Home Allowance

 

Are you currently working from home? If so, you could get a tax refund of up to £125. 

 

The way it works is simple. If you worked more than one day a week from home during the coronavirus, you can apply to get money back by deducting certain work-from-home expenses from your taxable income. You can use a tool on HMRC to help you make your claim. 

 

Get Money Off Your Phone

 

There’s a helpful article on LatestDeals.co.uk that shows you the best pay as you go deals for your phone. Some of these go for as little as £5 a month for texts and calls – an insanely low amount. 

 

Switch Your Supermarket

 

Most people shop at Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons. But that’s despite there being much cheaper options like Aldi and Lidl available. 

 

According to leading price comparison sites and Which.com, shopping at discount stores could save the average family a whopping £104 per month in food bills. The trick – according to the consumer specialist – is to cut out named brands and just focus on generic products. The other tactic is to bulk-buy and get savings that way. Just remember, though, that you’ll have to bear the storage costs. 

 

Cancer Your Pointless Subscriptions

 

Put your hand up if you have a few pointless subscriptions. Don’t be shy. We all do. The problem is that most of us don’t actually use them. We think we get loads of value out of our streaming accounts and free delivery services, but we don’t. 

The average family spends around £50 a month on services that they don’t need. 

 

Stop Paying For Overpriced Insurance

 

If you haven’t changed your home or car insurance for a couple of years, there’s a good chance that you’re being overcharged. That’s because only new customers get good deals on their premiums – everyone else pays through the nose. 

 

Call up your insurance company at your next renewal and tell them you’re going to switch if they don’t lower their prices. You could save anywhere from 10 to 40 per cent, depending on how much they’re trying to squeeze you. 

 

2021 needn’t be a tough year financially if you follow these tactics.