How to save £2,015 in 2015
These cutbacks could give you a seriously happy new year.
A New Year means resolutions for many of us. How about you resolve to save some serious money in 2015? Start by having a read of these tips, which we reckon could save the average person at least £2,015. You might be able to save even more...
Shift your credit card debt
With credit card interest rates typically around 17.5%, having a large outstanding balance on your card could cost you significantly.
According to The Money Charity, the average credit card debt per household stands at £2,303. If you moved that debt onto the Barclaycard Platinum 35-Month Visa, which offers a record-breaking 35 months free of interest on your debts, you'd only need to pay £65.80 a month in order to wipe out that debt. You'd also need to pay a balance transfer fee of 2.49% of the balance you transfer, which comes to £57.34.
If you paid off the debt on a card charging 17.5% interest over the same period, you'd need to spend £84 a month. In total you'd shell out £594 in interest, so moving the debt to the Barclaycard would save you around £537.
Total money saved: £537
Remortgage
Sitting on your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) has been a smart move for many borrowers in recent years, with the SVR smaller than many of the top mortgage rates. However many fixed rate mortgage rates are now cheaper.
According to HSBC, borrowers could save thousands of pounds a year by switching from an SVR to a fixed rate.
Let's say you are sitting on an SVR of 4%, with £100,000 of mortgage debt and a 20-year term. Your repayments will be around £606 a month. Now, let's say you move to a fixed rate of 3%. Your repayments would drop to around £555 a month, saving you £612 a year!
You can compare the best mortgages for your own situation by making use of the lovemoney.com mortgage centre.
Total money saved: £1,149
Switch your energy tariff
Usually around this time of year, the energy providers are all announcing price hikes. Not this time around, with them instead competing to launch cheaper deals.
It's essential to shop around for a new deal regularly. You can save as much as £200 by switching with the lovemoney.com gas and electricity centre.
Total money saved: £1,349
Shop around for your cover
According to the AA, the average quote for comprehensive car insurance stands at a whopping £891. But the average Shoparound quote - the average of the five cheapest premiums, when using comparison sites and direct insurers - is £531. So shopping around could save you a massive £360 a year.
It's a similar story with home insurance. The market average quote for home and contents stands at £249, compared to just £180 when looking at the average of the first cheapest quotes, a saving of nearly £70.
Total money saved: £1,779
See if you can save on your car and home insurance
Get a water meter
Having an accurate reading of how much water you're using via a water meter could save you around £100 a year.
Total money saved: £1,879
Broadband
Broadband comparison site broadbandchoices.co.uk estimates that over a third (39%) of people have not switched broadband provider in four years, potentially missing out on an average saving of £70.
Total money saved: £1,949
Compare broadband prices with broadbandchoices.co.uk
Be a smarter driver
Whatever you drive, money-saving tips such as shopping around for fuel using Petrolprices.com, minimising the weight your vehicle's carrying, driving smoothly and performing basic maintenance such as checking tyre pressure and oil levels should shave at least £66 off what you otherwise would have spent.
Total money saved: £2,015
There you have it: £2,015 saved in 2015. And that’s before we even look at cutting the cost of your food shopping, your gardening, going out, even the cost of getting your hair cut!
How are you planning to save in 2015? Let us know in the Comments box below.
More on money saving tips:
How to save money on your food shopping
How to cut the cost of your cinema tickets
How to furnish your home for less
How to watch free movies legally online
How to cut the cost of theatre tickets
Seven cheap ways to make your own clothes
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