Collaborative Post
I don’t know about you, but 2021 is the year I have been attempting to streamline our household finances. We recently bought a house and, although the mortgage is lower than our rent, money is still fairly tight after the economic effect of the past year, As we enter a new year, it is more important than ever to take a look at your outgoings and to assess ways to cut costs without compromising on quality. These are some of the ways I have been looking into lowering our outgoings, going forward into the new year.
Monthly Car Insurance
For many people, myself included, the frequent government lockdowns over the past ten months have meant that the car isn’t actually being used as much as it was before. I have been working from home for the months, and the car has been left idle, whilst I continue to pay for car insurance each month. If you are looking to reduce your outgoings, or simply need short term cover, it may be worth looking into buying monthly car insurance. Monthly car insurance is also a great option for when other people need to use your car, for driving holidays, and when helping somebody learn to drive before they get their own car.
Comparison Sites for Energy Bills
If you are spending out too much each month on your energy bills, it might be time to visit a price comparison site to check whether you can switch providers to lower your bills. Most companies will offer to carry out the switch on your behalf, making it a hassle free process. Make sure you shop around first, and research companies online, to see feedback from customers, before making the switch.
Meal Planning
Food shop too expensive? Consider meal planning as a way to lower your shopping bill. If you know in advance what you are going to eat for each meal of the day, for the week ahead, you can reduce food waste and shop savvy, to keep costs low. Consider batch cooking, to further stretch the food that you have, or bulk buying non-perishables monthly, to take advantage of special offers and never run out of the essentials.
Go Fibre Optic
Are you still paying for a phone line that you simply don’t use? With most people benefitting from access to a smart phone, it is no longer necessary to have a home phone line. You may be paying a higher rate for something you don’t use. Fibre optic broadband bypasses the need for a phone line to be connected, whilst a smart TV can be a good investment if you would rather not pay out for a costly satellite tv package.
Whatever the reason for cutting down your outgoings, it is always worth looking into the alternatives. Making small changes, such as opting for a monthly car insurance, or planning meals in advance, can make all the difference to your finances over time.
This is a collaborative post, however all words are my own.
