How to make your money go further

Given the fact that prices are forever rising in the current economic climate, it’s important to make sure that you make the most of your money. Knowing what to buy and where to buy it can make a real difference to how much you have left in your bank account at the end of each month.

The number one rule is to shop around before you buy anything. Internet shops are often cheaper than regular bricks and mortar ones, and if you search for discount codes on the Internet before you buy you can often unearth codes for free delivery or even a percentage off your entire order.

Comparison shopping will often result in a cheaper purchase as well. This applies to virtually everything you can think of, from food to services, financial products to holidays and flights, so build in some time to search for what you need rather than buying something off the cuff.

When it comes to food shopping, bulk buy wherever you can to take advantage of cheaper items when they are on offer. Meat and fish can be frozen in portions to make it last, while cans and packets are fine stored in a cupboard. Make sure you plan a shopping list before you go as well, so you aren’t tempted to buy things that you don’t need.

But what about utilities like gas and electricity? You can’t do a lot about these prices rising but you can check what you are paying every few months and swap to the cheapest provider if your deal turns out to be not quite so good any more.

The task of making your money go further is something that you have to do every day if it is going to work to the best effect. If you cannot get things any cheaper then look for opportunities to get something free with your initial purchase. For example some stores will offer a free product when you buy something else, and provided you will use the item you are buying this is a great way to get something for nothing.

You should also think about buying things at unseasonable times of the year and storing them away until you need them. The January and summer sales are the best times to buy end of line items that you can put away for Christmas presents or other occasions; just make sure you don’t forget all about them!

Of course you can also take advantage of special deals in other ways too. Consider changing your credit cards to ones that give you cash back or other benefits when you use them. These alone can add up to a significant saving every time you take them out of your wallet or purse to pay for something.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.