When it comes to saving money, there is plenty of advice on tips available for our big expenses like heating and electricity bills and our cars. It’s easy to forget about our everyday costs because, individually, they seem less significant. But, if you were to do the sums at the end of each month, I imagine you would be quite shocked at the figure. These everyday costs really do add up. Think about the money you fork out for lunch each day. The cost of traveling to and from work and the number of times you’ve popped into the shop on the way home from work to pick up a few items. So, if you are looking for more ways to save money this year,  here are our easy ideas that will help you slash the amount of your everyday outgoings.

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Commute for free

Public transport costs can add up, especially if you rely on these services heavily. If it’s possible, why not completely free yourself of this cost by walking, running or cycling to work? It may seem like a big effort to start. Many people who habitually commute to work in this way admit that it took them a while to get into the swing of things, but now, they wouldn’t go back to public transport. It will also keep you fit, and you’ll never have to deal with delays or the crowds again.

Make your own lunches

For the same amount you spend on lunch from a sandwich shop or cafe each day, you could probably get a week’s worth of homemade lunches. Making your own meals is also better for your health, as long as you choose good ingredients and sensible sized portions. If you are short on time in the morning, prepare your lunches the night before and store in the fridge overnight. There are many recipes available for healthy and easy to make lunches.

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Tap water and home-brewed coffee  

If you buy bottled water on a regular basis, help your finances (and the environment) by investing in a filtered water bottle and fill it with tap water. This could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Additionally, save yourself approximately $700 per year by brewing your own coffee at home instead of buying from a coffee shop every day.

Choose to walk

Whenever you feel tempted to drive a short distance for convenience sake, convince yourself to walk. Do this by reminding yourself of rising fuel costs, and how much you could save each month by using your car less for those short journeys. To give yourself a boost, invest in a good quality pair of walking shoes. The cost of your footwear will be a drop in the ocean compared to the money you will save on petrol.

Buy groceries once a week

Stopping in at the supermarket each day will cost you more than doing your shopping for the week all at once. If you are in the habit of picking up your dinner on the way home from work, you’ll be forced to buy whatever is left at the end of the day, which may not be the cheapest option. Also, you’re unlikely to have a good idea of what you already have at home, which may lead you to purchase additional items that you don’t really need. Buying all your shopping at once will allow you to get the right ingredients and quantities that you require. You’ll also be able to take advantage of deals like money off when you spend a certain amount.

Choose store brand products

Store brand products are often 25% cheaper than their named counterparts. In most cases, they have exactly the same ingredients and perform in exactly the same way.

Buy items online

Buying your groceries and any other items, online will save you money. Online purchasing, as opposed to in-store purchasing, allows you to shop around for the best deal. If you only need a small amount of something get samples for free, instead of forking out for products you might only use once or twice.

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Collect coupons

Collecting coupons could reduce the amount of your everyday costs. Coupon websites offer deals on a regular basis for everyday items like food, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. and you can print these for free. Coupons are also provided in many local Sunday newspapers. Additionally, take advantage of customer rewards from your most visited stores and your bank. These rewards can include discounts or cash back on the items you purchase.

Attempt to give up or reduce expensive habits

If you are a smoker or a heavy drinker, you will save serious money by reducing or stopping these habits for good. For example, if you smoke a pack of cigarettes each day you could save a whopping $249.60 a month by kicking the habit. Giving up smoking is a challenge for most. It may help keep you going to download one of the many apps that show you on an hourly to monthly basis how much money you are saving by not smoking. Alcohol is also an expensive habit, especially if you usually drink at bars and nightclubs. Try having a glass of water or fruit juice for every second drink. These tips will save you cash and will improve your health.

Upgrade your cell phone package

Make sure your current tariff is appropriate for your typical usage of the phone. For example, if you make lots of calls and rarely use texts, make sure your contract offers you an adequate number of free minutes. If you are unsure, call your cell phone provider and ask them for advice. They’ll be able to access an overview of your cell phone usage and recommend a suitable package.

As you can see, it is easy to cut costs on your everyday expenses and by doing so, you could save yourself a considerable amount of money. Read on for simple money saving tips you can use around the home.

This post was provided by Genuine Success Blog.