When you’re broke or stretched, saving anything feels laughable, right?
But saving money isn’t about hoarding pennies in a jar or skipping every takeaway forever. It’s about tweaking the stuff you already do, in small but smart ways.
This isn’t one of those posts that says “make your own shampoo” or “stop buying lattes”.
It’s realistic, down-to-earth advice that actually works, especially if you’re juggling bills, and trying to keep things together.
1. Know where your money actually goes
Before you try to save a thing, you need to figure out what you’re spending.
Try this:
- Write down everything you spend for a month (no cheating). Use a notebook or apps like Emma, Snoop, or Moneyhub.
- Break it down into categories like groceries, bills, transport, subscriptions, random Amazon splurges, etc.
- Highlight the bits that aren’t essential. That’s usually where the leaks are.
Why this matters:
People usually have no clue how much they spend on the little stuff. That Pret sandwich you grab “just once a week”? It’s probably costing you £200 a year.
For example: You could be spending £60/month on coffee and lunch. Switch to making your own and you could save over £350 in six months!
2. Build a barebones budget for essentials
Think of this like a financial life jacket. It covers just the must-haves and nothing fancy.
What goes in:
- Rent or mortgage
- Council tax and utilities
- Groceries
- Basic travel costs
- Debt minimums
- Childcare (if that applies)
How to do it:
- Write down your take home pay
- Plug in just the non-negotiables
- Whatever’s left? You can use that to save, pay off extra debt, or keep your sanity with the odd treat
Heads-up: This budget’s not forever. It’s a reset button for when things get tight.
3. Automate savings so you don’t even notice
You don’t need to save money all at once. Automating tiny amounts adds up, and you barely feel it.
Options worth checking out:
- Monzo’s Round Ups: It rounds your spending to the nearest £ and saves the spare change
- Plum or Chip: They sneak money out of your account based on what you can afford
- DIY method: Set up a weekly £3 standing order into a savings pot
Why this works:
It’s sneaky. You don’t see it, so you don’t spend it.
Example: Used Chip to save around £3.50/day and save £1,200 in ten months. Not bad for “invisible” money!
4. Cut the food shop without eating beans on toast every day
Food’s one of the easiest things to overspend on without trying.
Try this:
- Switch to Lidl or Aldi if you can. They’re miles cheaper than Sainsbury’s or Tesco
- Own brand is usually the same product in different packaging
- Plan meals before shopping. Base them around what’s in your freezer and what’s on offer
- Use apps like Too Good To Go, Olio, and keep an eye out for yellow sticker deals
For example: A family of four could cut their weekly shop from £90 to £65 just by meal planning and skipping “quick pop-ins” during the week (those always cost more than you think). That’s an easy way of saving money!
5. Ditch unused subscriptions
Subscriptions sneak up on you. A tenner here, a fiver there and the next thing you know, it’s £80 a month for stuff you forgot you had.
Do this:
- Look through your last three months of bank statements
- Write down every subscription or recurring payment
- Cancel the ones you don’t use—or downgrade if you can’t let go
Tools: Some banking apps will flag subscriptions for you, or you can use Truebill.
For example: Swap your £35/month gym for a £10/month sports centre. Same workouts, £300 saved in a year.
6. Lower those energy and utility bills
We all felt it this past year. Bills shot up, and it’s not like we suddenly started taking two-hour showers.
Energy tips that actually help:
- Turn the thermostat down 1°C. You’ll barely notice, but it can knock 10% off your bill
- Wash clothes at 30°C, skip the tumble dryer if you can
- Get a free smart meter to keep an eye on what’s burning energy
- Use draught excluders (cheap ones from Wilko or even a rolled-up towel work!)
Water bills?
- If you live alone (or just two of you), a water meter might save you a ton
- Shower heads that use less water exist. They’re free from most water suppliers
Broadband and mobile:
- Switch to cheaper ones like SMARTY, VOXI, or Giffgaff
- Call your broadband provider when your contract ends—they will lower your rate if you ask
7. Don’t give banks your money through fees and interest
Overdrafts and credit card interest are sneaky budget killers.
Try this:
- Always pay more than the minimum on your credit card, even just a bit
- Avoid unarranged overdrafts as they’re very expensive
- Look into 0% balance transfer cards if you’ve got existing debt
- And yes, you can ask your bank for a better overdraft deal (it’s awkward, but it works sometimes)
If you’re drowning? StepChange and National Debtline are free, friendly, and won’t judge.
8. Make your spending work for you (get cashback or freebies)
If you’re spending anyway, you might as well get something back. It’s not exactly saving money but it does get you more for it.
Good options:
- TopCashback and Quidco. Use them before online shopping
- Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Asda Rewards—they add up faster than you’d think
- Some bank accounts pay you cashback or offer switching bonuses. MoneySavingExpert is great for this
For example: You could make £200+ last year using cashback sites for boring stuff like car insurance and phone contracts.
9. Buy second-hand first—make it a rule
New doesn’t always mean better (or smarter).
Where to look:
- Vinted, eBay, Depop for clothes, baby gear, furniture
- Facebook Marketplace for local bargains
- Buy Nothing groups or Freecycle if you’re lucky enough to live near one
- Ask friends! You’d be shocked what people have lying around
10. Tap into local stuff—saving money locally
You’re paying council tax, might as well get something back.
Stuff to check out:
- Your local library isn’t just for books. Most do DVDs, audiobooks, classes
- Council-run gyms or pools are usually half the price of private ones
- Free community events, social clubs, exercise groups
- Food banks or community fridges if things are really tight. There’s zero shame in using them
Bonus: Warm Welcome can help you find cosy free public spaces near you.
11. Bring in a little extra
You don’t have to start a full-on side hustle. Just something small to take the edge off.
Ideas:
- Sell stuff you don’t need any more on eBay, Facebook, Vinted
- Paid surveys (look at Prolific), or try things like UserTesting
- Dog walking, babysitting, tutoring
- Freelancing where even an hour a week could help
For example: Walk a few dogs in your area and cover the weekly food shop with the proceeds.
12. Start a small emergency fund
Even just £100 in a separate pot can stop a bad week turning into a financial spiral.
How to build one:
- Save money from side gigs, birthday cash, tax refunds
- Aim for £100, then £250, then £500
- Stick it in a separate account
- Label it something like “emergency only” so you don’t dip into it for takeaways
Do what you can, not what you wish you could
Saving money on a low income is hard. You won’t do it perfectly. And you don’t have to.
Pick one thing. Cancel one subscription. Cook one more meal. That’s all it takes to start.
You’ll splurge sometimes. We all do, but it’s the trying that counts.
Every pound you don’t spend? That’s a little more breathing room. And that adds up!
