Saving money takes time and self-discipline, and a lot of us aren’t great at it! But it doesn’t have to be difficult, there are ways that we can save a bit of extra cash, whether that’s for a specific event or in case of emergency. If you are faced with an unexpected expense and you don’t have the funds to pay for it, a payday loan can help. Below, we’ll look at some of the most modern ways that you can save money, so you don’t even have to think about it.
Automate payments
We have banking apps that mean we have access to funds in the palm of our hand – so there’s no excuse for not knowing where our money is going and how much we’re spending. It has never been easier for us to pay a bill with these banking apps, and it can be helpful if you find that you’re often making late repayments because you forget! You can automate payments to come out of your bank account each month to pay a bill so that you don’t have to think about it – this works with savings too! Work out how much you can afford to save each month and create a direct debit from your account into your savings, this can help you to remain consistent, and means that your savings will build up more quickly.
Budgeting apps
As well as banking apps, there are apps that you can download to your smartphone which allow you to review your budget with ease. You can check that you’re staying on track, and even connect your banking app so that transactions are automatically deducted. This can be especially handy when you’re saving, so you can keep track of your purchases and make sure that you’re not spending over your leftover income.
Programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat is a great addition to any modern home. This piece of technology can save you money on your energy bills. They allow you to programme your heating to a temperature that you prefer and keep your home at a consistent temperature. But one of the most helpful features is that you can programme them to turn off when you’re not at home, so there’s less of a chance that you will leave the heating running all day, which could result in a higher energy bill.
You can also programme them to turn on gradually before you get home, meaning you don’t have to turn the heating up to feel the benefit when you get back, which makes your boiler work harder.
Free entertainment
You don’t have to turn down social events to stay on track – many free events happen that don’t cost a penny! You can use social media or any local newspapers, websites, or magazines to find out if any events are happening near you, so you can have fun with your friends, and stay on track with your savings goals. More of these events tend to take place in summer – they could be anything from outdoor cinemas, to markets and fairs.
DIY
Saving money may mean cutting back on things that you want – this could be anything from new clothes to new, modern additions to your home. One of the best ways to save is to fix and repair items that are broken or worn – this way, you can create a project for yourself that will lead you to feel accomplished when it’s completed. You also get to choose how it looks, and it will cost you a fraction of the price. Upcycling and DIY are becoming more popular these days – why pay someone else to do it when you can enjoy doing it yourself?
Cancel landline
There are not many people that still use their landline to make calls, because due to ever-changing technology, we all have a mobile phone which means we can communicate via message or social media, or even video chat. You may still have an unused landline that you’ve forgotten about, or just not got round to getting rid of – if this is the case, you should cancel your house phone contract and save yourself a little bit of money each month.