20 easy ways to Save Cash
(It's all Gain and no Pain)
 
How would you like to save £400 a year?
It's not difficult .... in fact you'll hardly notice you are saving.
  And 400 lovely smackers is enough to pay for a smashing treat. You could enjoy an intimate weekend in Paris or get that fantastic computer games console the kids have been clamouring for.
  You won't need to find a new job, or work hours of overtime. And you certainly won't need to plunge into debt.
  All you need to do is follow these 20 top tips and you'll save at least £20 a year on each.
  That's £400 for starters - and it could be a lot more. So get saving now!
     
  1. Swap your mortgage without moving to a new property. Home loan companies have a big range of cut-price deals but they won't offer them unless you ask. A one per cent reduction on a £50,000 home loan will save £500 a year.
  2. Fit your washing machine and dishwasher with a time switch and take advantage of super-cheap rate night-time electricity.
  3. Always use supermarket and store loyalty cards - spending £40 a week at Tesco or Sainsbury earns £20 of vouchers a year.
  4. Shop around for car insurance. Earlier this year (2000) phone-based insurer People's Choice saved a 50-year-old Durham teacher more than £1000.
  5. Change phones - especially if you make lots of long-distance and overseas calls. Cable firms and 'indirect' companies like Eurobell or Quip could save you pounds.
  6. Never buy holiday insurance from a travel agent. Primary Direct says a family of two adults and two children can save £121 on a skiing holiday.
  7. Bulk buy food that won't go off - and then divide the packs with friends and family.
  8. Don't overpay on tax. Tell the bank or building society if you are a non-tax payer, or they whip off tax on savings interest. And tax payers should invest the first £3000 of savings in tax-free Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs).
  9. Pay cash wherever you can. Some 'interest-free' deals charge more for the goods.
  10. Drive less. At today's petrol prices you'll save £20 a year if you cut three miles a week in a car doing 30mpg.
  11. Knock 50p a week off the shopping bill by avoiding unnecessary purchases and you've saved £26 a year.
  12. Longer distance rail travellers should buy a railcard.
  13. Turn central heating down one degree and get your home insulated to save at least £20.
  14. Get rival quotes for home insurance. You can easily knock £50 off a typical £350 policy.
  15. Check out car loans. Internet firm E-loan says it saved a £14,000 Mondeo buyer £150 a year.
  16. Discuss spending with your partner. You might save more than money - cash problems can wreck relationships.
  17. Control credit card bills by transferring your bill to new plastic.
  18. The Internet can save you money. And fixed cost details such as BT Surftime let you wander the world wide web without worries.
  19. Home heating bills are usually pounds cheaper if you buy gas and electricity from one firm.
  20. You'll be about £20 a year better off if you move £500 savings from a low-rate bank account to a supermarket bank or one run by a life insurance company.
** Finally ... a free bonus tip. Always complain about bad service. Write to company headquarters rather than argue with people in the shop or locally. Firms make a mint because we put up with garbage.

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