Updated: 19 December 2023

Money and energy saving tips

We have pulled together some ‘Top Tips’ and some simple things you can do to shave save a few pounds here and there, and make the most of your money.

Shopping & food

• Yellow sticker time – be supermarket savvy and work out when is your supermarket's "sticker time" and it reduces prices, it can vary between shops, but it’s usually between 6.30pm and 7pm or an hour before closing.
• Find brand duplicates – hunt for cheaper copies of the brands you love, e.g. such as Aldi versions of popular brand items, they are usually half the price.
• Check the unit price - look for the unit price (price per 100ml / price per kilo) when you shop so you can use them to check what really is a good deal and what isn't.
• Reduce your bills by making a meal plan and sticking to a budget – only buy what you need and you will eat.
• Buy in bulk – if you can, buy items you use all the time, such as washing power, could save you money.
• Avoid items at eyeline - look down to the bottom shelves for cheaper goodies.
• Avoid display offers - the products on the end of the aisles are usually set up to display products on offer but they're not always, they can be just full-price stock that the supermarket wants us to think are on sale, so make sure you check.
• Write a list and make a budget – stick to a list of items you need, not want, and creating a budget you adhere to, you can save a lot of money, if it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley.
• Batch Cooking – if you can.  If you make more meals than you need in one sitting, then you will not only save money on the cost of cooking with different ingredients, but also on the cost of keeping the oven on.
• Understand the difference between “best before” and “use by” – don’t waste your food or throw it away when it is fine to eat.
• Freezing – learn what food you can freeze, things like chocolate, chopped vegetables, cheese and even whole birthday cakes!”
• Don’t impulse buy - think carefully before making a purchase - especially if it’s expensive, try and sleep on it, it may seem less appealing in the morning.
• Keep the freezer full – if you can.  It costs to freeze empty space, fill the empty spaces with scrunched up newspaper, well-sealed bags of water or reusable plastic containers, such as milk bottles, filled with water.
  
  

Compare, Switch and Save

• Use online tools such as Uswitch to get the best deals on your broadband and your mobile phone.
• Switch bank accounts - some banks offer incentives for you to switch accounts and save with them instead.
• Compare supermarket prices - compare prices on your shop with MySupermarket, it will compare your online shopping basket to find the cheapest place to buy and it save you 30 per cent — or more than £1,500 a year.
  
  

Energy Saving Tips – saving energy and reducing bills

• Use energy saving / LED light bulbs - replacing just one old light bulb with an energy saving one can cut lighting costs by up to £50 over the lifetime of the bulb. 
• Turn down your thermostat - turning it down by 1 degree could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent and save you around £85 a year.  Turn off thermostat in unused room.
• Don’t leave appliances on ‘Stand By’ - UK households spend an average of £35 a year leaving appliances on standby, so make sure to switch yours off at the plug. 
• Use an energy monitor and fit a smart metre - electricity monitors show you in real time how much energy you are using, which can help you make decisions about your energy use and become more efficient. 
• Radiators - switch off radiators in the rooms you’re not using regularly and keep internal doors shut and make sure your radiators aren’t blocked by curtains or furniture.
• Windows and Doors – close doors, fit a door curtain. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
• Showers – replace a soak in the tub with a shower once a week? You’ll be surprised how much energy you could save this way.
• Washing machines - check your washing machine’s settings to see if there’s a ‘half load’ option for small amounts of clothes or if possible, fill up the washing machine, one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
• Lights - turn lights off when you leave a room. A family could save between £50 and £90 a year just by remembering to flick a switch.  Remember to turn off your outside lights.
• Kettle - only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).
• Bedtime – wear pyjamas, socks, increase the tog rating on duvets or add blankets.
  
  

Hints and tips to save money as every penny counts - Skint Dad 

For lots of advice on saving money, making money and more - Money Magpie

Call the Save Energy Advice Line, free on 0800 043 0151, should you need any help keeping warm and healthy (the line is provided by local charity, Energy Projects Plus).

Energy advice from Torus Foundation

Torus Foundation have two qualified energy advisors who are on hand to support with fuel debt, billing errors, meter readings if you have difficulty doing this yourself, applying for grants to help reduce your energy debts, switching energy providers (if it’s the right thing to do), applying for seasonal payments, paying your water bills and budgeting advice.

 Find out more here

Cost of living tips: Your personalised guide to saving money

The BBC have produced a great resource, which gives personalised advice based on your own personal circumstances.

You just answer some simple questions and you will access personalised articles about food, energy, transport, benefits and housing to explain why you're being affected, what help is available and offer tips on how to save money.