A SAVVY saver stashed away £17,000 in just one year by cutting her food costs and bills.
Personal finance expert Nicola shared her top tips for boosting your savings.
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The mum-of-two, who runs savings blog The Frugal Cottage, said it’s important to go “back to basics” when starting to build a cash pot.
She has shared the lessons she learned after she managed to save up £17,000 in one year to put towards a deposit for a house.
Nicola is hoping to save a further £10,000 this year, but the cost of living crisis will make it harder to meet her target.
Millions of households will be hit with a £693 annual energy bill rise from April and the cost of supermarket shopping is also rising.
That makes having an emergency fund even more important than usual – here’s how you can get started.
Track your outgoings
It might sound basic but the first thing you need to do is work your outgoings and incomings.
That will give you a good basis to start to save, as you need to know how much you can afford to put away each month.
You can go through your bank statements to see how much you really spend each month, and where your money goes.
That will let you know where you can afford to make savings.
“Get to know what your spending habits are like and then can change them if needed,” Nicola told The Express.
You can use apps such as Plum and MoneyBox to help you save, or bank accounts such as Monzo allow you to split your cash into savings pots.
Make a budget
Once you know how much is coming in and out of your bank account, you can make a budget.
This will help you stick to your savings goals and help you cover your essential costs while also putting some away for a rainy day.
Check out tools such as Money Helper’s guide if you need a hand creating a budget.
“Knowledge is key when trying to keep track of your own finances,” Nicola said.
Check your bills
Nicola also advised regularly checking your bills and comparing prices to see if you can switch suppliers.
Bear in mind that you won’t be able to find cheaper energy deals at the moment as fixed tariffs are more expensive than the price cap.
But you could cut other costs, such as your mobile, broadband, TV or insurance bills.
Double check the paperwork for your current deal, though, as there might be a penalty for leaving early.
You can use comparison websites such as Compare the Market and Confused.com to get a better deal.
Stick to your list
The weekly food shop can be a major expense but it’s possible to cut costs.
In a previous video Nicola revealed how you can spend just £10 on your weekly food shop.
The blogger, who shops at Morrisons and Aldi, said her main tip is to write a meal plan and stick to a list.
That should stop you making impulse purchases and overspending.
It will also help you cut back on food waste.
You could also save money by switching to a cheaper supermarket, using a loyalty card or buying basic ranges instead of branded products.
Apps like Olio and Too Good To Go allow you to pick up food that’s going to be thrown away, reducing costs and waste at the same time.
Keep an eye out for yellow stickers on food to see if you can get a bargain and check the price per weight, so you know you’re getting the best value for money.
There is also help available if you’re struggling financially.
You should contact your energy supplier for support if you are finding it hard to pay your bills.
The government has extended the Household Support Fund by £500million, so you might be able to get a grant from your local council.
You can use an free online benefits calculator to make sure you’re getting all off the state support you’re entitled to.
If you’re worried about money, you can contact Citizens Advice, Turn2Us or StepChange for free advice.
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