20 ways to save a fortune in 2012

Times are tough at the moment – and we’re all feeling the pinch. But you’d be surprised how easy it is to make some spectacular savings… without slashing spending on the things you love. And to prove it, here are 20 ways to save (and make!) a fortune in 2012. So keep calm, carry on, and get your budget in order the easy way.

1. Go online. No matter how technophobic you are, the best incentive for using the internet is the massive savings you can make. Many companies put their best deals on the web, and you can make use of the scores of fabulous price comparison sites, too. If you want to slash costs, it really is invaluable.

2. You can save an average of £20 per week by going online to do your supermarket shopping. Website
www.mysupermarket.co.uk allows you to compare prices and offers so you’ll always know where to get the best deals. Also remember that many supermarkets offer discounts for customers shopping online with them for the first time (saving a minimum of £10 on your first shop with Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado).

3. With energy bills rising by an average of £224 this year, take action NOW and use an impartial comparison website such as www.uswitch.com (call them on 0800-093 0607) to ensure you’re getting the best deal. The average ‘switcher’ saves a staggering £230 so it really is worth the effort. To compare prices, you will need a copy of your most recent energy bill.

4. An energy monitor can help your family spot which appliances are guzzling electricity, so you can change your habits and reduce energy costs. It could save you up to 10% off your bills – and prices start from just £24.99:
www.uswitch.com/wireless-energy-monitor

5. According to the latest research, 1 in 4 mobile phone users have switched networks over the last 12 months, reaping a collective saving of £895m – that’s £81 each. Hunt for the best deals at www.omio.com – even if you’re on contract, you can still save money. This is such a competitive market that you can afford to be VERY demanding. Threaten to leave your network, for example, and most providers have special ‘customer retention
teams’ trained to keep you as a customer by offering the best discounts.

6. Make haggling a way of life. It’s normal, not shameful, to haggle and you’ll be amazed. Set yourself a target of say 15% off something you’ve had your eye on and don’t buy it until you reach it. Be nice, have a twinkle in your eye and smile. Who can refuse you? Especially if you offer cash.

7. Over half of UK households haven’t changed their home phone provider in over FIVE years! So how do they know
they’re not paying over the odds? By switching your broadband and home phone company together you could save yourself up to £300 (the best prices are often reserved for those who subscribe to multiple services – TV, broadband, telephone – from the same provider); or up to £100 if you have a phoneonly deal. Visit www.consumerchoices.co.uk for the latest offers.

8. Petrol prices are at an all-time high, but price comparison site www.petrolprices.co.uk will ensure you’re getting
the cheapest petrol in your area, saving up to £100 a year. They will even send you an email every week alerting you to any changes in your area. You can also save on fuel bills by ensuring your tyres are at the correct pressure, and removing roof racks when not in use.

9. Visit www.lovehomeswap.com to search for a cheap holiday – it allows you to ‘swap’ homes with another family for holidays in the UK and abroad… saving you a fortune in accommodation costs. Amazing. All you have to do is arrange the flight to get there. It’s particularly useful for large families such as mine, for whom hotel costs can be prohibitive.

10. Public transport prices are also on the rise. In fact, the average rail ticket in the UK has risen by 5.9% (some by up to 11%) in the last year. But if you can plan ahead, you could save up to 80%. Consult an independent site such as www.thetrainline.com – customers saved an average of 43% on this site last year. If you spend more than £84 per year on train tickets, then you should also think about buying a rail card.

11. Never, EVER shop without finding a voucher first. Why? Because without too much effort, you could save £1,200 a year. Whatever you’re doing, wherever you’re going, whatever you’re buying, always type the name of the thing you want, plus the word ‘voucher’, into Google first. Googling ‘Pizza Express voucher’, for example, will take you to a number of websites offering the current best deals on offer from the restaurant chain.

12. According to research by online auction site eBay – www.ebay.co.uk – the average person in the UK has around £450 worth of things lying around their house that they don’t need. So why not sell them? Have a look at my step by-step guide to selling online on my www.youtube.com channel ‘LSSMtv’ (just put it into the search box). It’s SO easy… I’ve even got my technophobic mum into it.

13. The average debt in the UK has now reached nearly £10,000. Switch your high-interest credit card to an interest-free one and save an average of £2,000 a year. Barclaycard – www.barclaycard.co.uk – currently has a
great two-year, interest-free deal on balance transfers (subject to a 3.2% fee). Log on to www.moneysupermarket.com to find other competitive deals – some banks are also offering cash incentives for you to switch your current account. Santander – www.santander.co.uk – is offering up to £300 when you switch your main current account.

14. We can all get complacent about using household appliances. I’ve got four children and I know how hard it is to ‘ration’ their use. But forgoing the tumble dryer for a year will save you a staggering £92. You should also try
turning your thermostat down by one degree, which could save you an
average of £70 this year. Try it… you won’t even feel the difference.

15. Never simply renew your car, home, pet, life insurance – shop around! Allowing your insurance
simply to ‘roll over’ means you could be losing out on hundreds of pounds of savings every year. Try these sites to get the best deals: www.aviva.com or www.gocompare.com or www.moneysupermarket.com or www.directline.com

16. Share car journeys. Just doing something as simple as sharing lifts to the supermarket or clubbing together for
the school run can save you a fortune. I share the school run with another mum, halving the number of journeys I
make to and from the school in a year. This saves me just over £500 per year. For longer journeys or maybe to share a regular journey, try www.liftshare.com

17. We throw away around 7.2 million tonnes of food from our homes every year in the UK, costing the average
household with children a shocking £680 a year. It’s bad planning and bad shopping. Plan your week, make a shopping list. Use leftovers. It will also help the environment. Reducing this waste would be the equivalent of taking one out of every five cars off the road.

18. Check out your broadband speed and make sure that you’re not paying for a service you’re not getting. If you live in one of the country’s very slow areas, then make sure you’re not paying for a 20GB service when you’re actually only able to receive 2GB. To suss out the speed: www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/speed-test.html

19. Get paid for your opinions! Make from £40 to as much as £150 for two hours of genuine work. Spend an afternoon registering with various market research companies for consumer studies. Be persistent and genuine and it will pay off. The following sites all offer money-making opportunities: www.sarosresearch.com or www.marketresearch4u.co.uk/register.htm or www.inspiredopinions.co.uk or www.claret-uk.com

20. Finally, start a piggy bank saving scheme at home. Every time you have a pocket full of change, put it into a pot. It sounds basic but you’ll be amazed at how much you accumulate. It can pay for that new washing machine or an amazing trip for all the family. My parents used to let us sit and count out the money and then decide how and where we would spend it – usually a trip to Alton Towers. It was great fun, and a big bonus.