Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment, especially when it comes to making small, everyday changes to save pennies.
From DIY smoothies to getting your hands on luxury fashion and beauty samples for a fraction of the cost, we’ve got some great tips for you.
We’ve even got a hack so your cookies don’t crumble – mmm!
Below you will find the everyday life hacks that will save you money when you need to most.
Smoothies on a shoestring
Want to get more fruit and veg into your kids while saving a few quid? Rather than buying pricey smoothies at the supermarket or fresh berries to mix up your own, visit the frozen foods aisle and make goodness-filled DIY drinks for a fraction of the cost.
A quick look at the Sainsbury’s website proves the point: a 500g punnet of fresh blueberries sells for £3.70 (£7.40/kg), while you can buy a 400g bag of frozen blueberries for £2 (£5/kg ), saving 32 per cent. Plus, freezer produce is flash frozen at the height of ripeness and nutrient content, so it can be better for us.
Decant your smoothie mix into breast milk bags for easy measuring and stacking in the freezer – sterilisation isn’t needed and you can wash them out and air dry for repeat use. In the morning, pop a bag in a glass of warm water and it’ll be ready for the kids before you’ve finished your coffee.
Wash clothes correctly and they’ll last longer
Do you know your short cycles from your coloured cotton settings? More than 70 per cent of people quizzed admitted they don’t change the programme on their washing machine – but from choosing the right temperature to assessing the speed, knowing how the different settings on your washing machine work is really important.
Picking the right water temperature for each cycle stops clothes shrinking, stretching or fading, keeping them looking good for longer.
Keep your cookies chewy
To keep moist cookies soft and chewy, place a quarter of a slice of bread (per dozen biscuits) into the container. The cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them soft longer. White bread is best, as it won’t transfer its own flavours to the cookies.
Suss out sample sales to save
Nothing makes you feel smugger than finding a bargain from your favourite brand – so keep ahead of the fashion pack with the best sample sales London has to offer. These happen when big-name brands such as fashion house Mulberry, jewellers Monica Vinader, leather goods specialists Aspinal and lingerie retailer Agent Provocateur clear out excess merchandise at huge discounts — often with as much as 75 per cent off. As all stock is one-off and sold on a first-come, first-served basis, you need to know about sales quickly to get a prime slot.
Gone are the days of long queues and sharp elbows. Post-Covid, sample sales are more sophisticated, with timed slots and advance booking so you have space to shop.
See showcase.co to get yourself front of the queue
Help for bereaved unmarried parents
Bereavement support payments are now available to unmarried parents who lived together, following a court ruling.
The change means that since February 9, an unmarried bereaved parent who lived with their partner and was eligible to claim Child Benefit, or was pregnant when their partner died, can apply for help. Previously, the Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) and the Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA) were only available to bereaved parents who were married or in a civil partnership.
BSP pays an initial £3,500, then 18 monthly payments of £350. Backdated claims are allowed to August 2018. WPA pays £126.35 a week and you can get this for as long you receive Child Benefit. Those eligible on or from February 9 can submit bereavement payment claims online via gov.uk, or by calling 0800 151 2012, or with a paper application form.
Find a useful guide at moneysavingexpert.com
Easily pour dressings
Instead of removing the sealed top from inside dressing or oil bottles, poke holes in it instead. The contents won’t come rushing out of the bottle too quickly – saving both product and pennies.
Share your money-saving hacks with Kara on Instagram via @Kara.Gammell and on Twitter @karagammell
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