Emma Roberts uncovers 10 lifestyle changes that will boost your finances.
Recent teen-queen lottery winner Stacey Bywater made the simple lifestyle change of buying a lottery ticket and now she’s a millionaire.
Lucky her.
Unfortunately for the rest of us, the chances of scooping the big bucks in the lottery are slimmer than a supermodel’s waistline.
But don’t fret, there are other lifestyle changes you can make that will help you along the road to riches.
Downgrade your supermarket
Marks and Spencer often tempt the masses with their delicious food in television adverts but beware, this isn’t just food; this is very expensive food.
Yes, there comes a time when you should review which supermarket gets your precious pounds.
A recent survey by Santander revealed that 25% of Brits have decided to switch to a cheaper supermarket in order to save cash. So if you aren’t one of these thrifty individuals, then it’s time to jump on the budget bandwagon.
An easy way to do this is by using mySupermarket.co.uk which compares the prices of products from four of the major supermarkets online - ASDA, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose. This means it's easy to see where your basket of goods will come out cheapest and you can then simply make your purchase from that particular supermarket.
What's more, shopping online also enables you to take advantage of online voucher codes so that you can get a discount on your shopping! Good websites to use if you're looking for a voucher code include:
Web wonders
The internet can be a frugal paradise if you know where to look and 28% of bargain-bagging Brits are using ebay to buy cheap clothes and goods.
But the money-saving potential of the web doesn’t stop at ebay, as there are loads of other sites that’ll save you cash too.
A favourite here at lovemoney.com is freegle, where you can get your hands on a wide range items for free. There are also lots of online swap shops, such as GABOOM!, where you can swap video games with other users free of charge, and SwapStyle where you can swap clothes, accessories, cosmetics and shoes with people all over the world. Find out more about what you can swap in Stop spending, start swapping.
Green fingers, green wallet
Sprucing up your garden doesn’t have to involve spending loads of cash, as Emma Roberts shares some budget gardening tips
If you’re a fan of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, then you are probably one of the 12% of Brits who grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Not only is this a really healthy option, it’ll save you bundles of cash. Check out Cheap gardening for beginners as well as Grow your own for tips on how to get started.
Luxurious vouchers
Everyone needs a little luxury in their lives and I think abandoning all luxury items is probably a bad idea.
So if you’re cutting back on cash but still need your monthly haircut, then your saviour comes in the form of money off vouchers.
Believe me, you can get pound-shaving vouchers for just about anything, including professional haircuts, spa treatments, hotel breaks, gym passes and days out. Check out vouchercloud or My Voucher Codes for some delightful discounts.
Websites such as Groupon and Groupola also offer some fabulous discounted deals up and down the country, providing enough people sign up for it (which usually isn't a problem)!
Pack it in
Gone are the days where people could merrily eat their way through their budget every lunchtime. Instead, one in five of us now bring a packed lunch into work to save money.
But a packed lunch doesn’t have to consist of soggy ham sandwiches. Check out this brilliant article on how to make a posh packed lunch on a budget.
Ditch the coffee shop
Why exactly has Starbucks got the word ‘bucks’ in its name? Probably because coffee shops grind up a load of our cash every day.
Yes, that Java-chip frappuccinno, with cream, sprinkles and oodles of loveliness may look tempting but it’ll leave you with little change from a fiver. 10% of caffeine craving Brits have ditched the coffee shop altogether and now bring in their own coffee into work to save money.
Turn it off!
Here at lovemoney.com, we always stress that being green around your home will save you money and 50% of Brits agree, as they always turn off electrical equipment and lights when they’re not in use. Here’s a useful article on how turning your home green will earn you cash.
Cut the cleaner
Having a cleaner can make your life easier and your home a lot more sparkly but paying for their services can be expensive.
One in 20 people are saving money by cutting back on home help and doing jobs, such as cleaning and gardening, themselves.
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If you really can’t bust the dust or handle a Hoover, you could consider signing up to Swapaskill, where you could swap your own skill for the services of a cleaner for free.
Alternatively, if you’re a parent, you could always employ the services of your children, which brings us to the next point.
Pocket money pay cut
With 3% of parents cutting the amount of pocket money they give to their children, it seems kids are getting a pay cut too.
Why not get your children to do the cleaning, gardening or clean your car so they can earn their pocket money?
You won’t have to pay them nearly as much as a professional service and it’ll teach them to earn their money through hard work.
Shop around
The simplest lifestyle change that’ll save you money is to make sure you shop around thoroughly before you ever hand over your cash.
55% of frugal fanatic Brits always hunt around for the best deal whenever they buy something.
This doesn't just apply to purchases either - you should also shop around whenever you're looking for a new financial product.
If you’re looking to get insurance, a credit card or to open a current account, don't forget to check out the lovemoney.com comparison centres to get the best deals.
So follow these simple lifestyle changes and one day you’ll be sipping champagne with lottery winner Stacey Bywater. Until then, you might want to add ‘buy the odd lottery ticket once in a while’ to this list.
More: 20 things you can get for under £5 | Slash your supermarket delivery costs