You dream of it every night. You imagine fixing it, painting it and showing it off to your friends and family. Your dream house! Do wishes come true? (more…)

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.

Almost everybody wants to make more money than they currently do. However, many people don’t want to find a new job or ask for an increase on their salary. There are plenty of other things that can be done to boost your income; just take a look at the following 14 and see if any sound good to you! (more…)

Have you worked for a number of years now as part of the rat race? Decided you no longer want to be constrained by the regular 9-5 office working rules? Well you are not alone my friend! (more…)

Sometimes, it can be hard to find a job that suits you. There are so many things that you could do, and each of them requires a specific set of skills and qualifications before it becomes open to you. If you’ve settled on driving taxis as a potential career option, then here are some things that you need to know.

What the Role Involves

The concept of taxi driving is simple; you’re paid to pick passengers up and drive them to a destination of their choosing. However, the role is not solely restricted to driving: you’ll also need a good knowledge of your local area, the ability to talk to people you don’t know and money handling skills. It also helps to be fit and mobile, as it may be necessary to help passengers with luggage and assist those with limited mobility.

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Securing a cheap mortgage, whether you are a new buyer or an existing homeowner is tough. It can seem like a never-ending task. No one wants to pay more than what they need to. But, finding a cheap mortgage can be a difficult endeavour. You don’t have to worry about finding an affordable mortgage any longer.

Here are some great ways that you can secure a cheap mortgage with relative ease.

Step 1: Know Your Mortgages

Now is the time to find what works best for your money. Do you need a mortgage deal that works with the interest rates? Or do, you need cheap home loans that are fixed in their payments? Compiling an active income and expenditure can ensure that you are in the right place to pay your mortgage. But, you can also find out if you have a level of flexibility with your home. If you have a lot of disposable cash, interest tracking mortgages tend to be cheaper. But, if you don’t have a lot of flexibility with your income, stick to a fixed mortgage. Ascertaining a budget and knowing what mortgages are on the market is one of the best ways of making sure that you are getting a better deal.

Step 2: Think Outside of the Box and Ditch the Bank

When it comes to securing a mortgage, your bank is not the only place to go. Many people believe that myth that the banks are the best places to go for mortgages. Wrong! There is a vast range of mortgage providers that are not banks. These independent financial institutions often have better deals and rates of interest. Whether you are remortgaging or securing your first loan, ditch the bank. You may find that you get a better rate over the term period of your loan.

Step 3: Book an Appointment with a Mortgage Broker

Once you have found a mortgage that suits your needs, and you think that you have found a good deal, go and see a mortgage broker. Their job is to scour for the best deals. A broker can often find a cheaper alternative to your mortgage. If you have somewhat limited means of accessing information, you will only have a tiny portion of mortgages on offer. With this in mind, a mortgage broker can help you find and secure a mortgage with a better rate of interest. They can also give you valuable advice on how to obtain the mortgage of your dreams. They are in the know when it comes to knowing what creditors want. They will give you the criteria that they look for. They are a great asset to have so don’t dismiss them.

Chris Potter

Step 4: Read the Fine Print

As with any massive financial commitment, you need to read the fine print. Before you sign anything, make sure that you go over all the necessary paperwork. You don’t have to go through a solicitor. You can do this yourself. This can ensure that you are not tied in to unnecessary contracts.