101 TIPS TO SAVE MONEY IN YOUR HOME

101 TIPS TO SAVE MONEY IN YOUR HOME

Jasmine Birtles

We are all looking for ways to save money in our daily life, but we never actually realise there is big money to be saved by making a few small changes around your home. We’ve put together 101 tips for you to save money in your home.

This eBook has lots of tips and ideas to cut your costs in your kitchen, garden, bathroom, bills and more.

You can also get all of this information on my wonderful website, , which has thousands of money-saving and money-making articles and a free newsletter too.

SAVE MONEY IN YOUR KITCHEN

The saying goes “The kitchen is the heart of the home” so let’s start by taking a look at the wonderful ways you can save money in the kitchen.

1. Stop washing your dishes. Think you’re saving water and energy by washing your dishes by hand? Think again. Modern dishwashers use less energy and water, as long as you remember to only wash full loads of dishes, turn down the hot water temperature, and skip the drying cycle. Leave the door ajar instead and let your dishes air dry to save money.

2. Grab yourself a bunch of Klipits. These wonderful, plastic clips can save your food for weeks. Fasten them on to opened packets of biscuits, crisps, cereal and anything you want to keep crisp or moist once opened.

3. Plan your weekly menu. Even if you’re not a budding chef, planning meals is a great idea. Knowing exactly what you need helps focus your shopping list. It also means that you only have to shop once a week. This avoids any temptation if you have to pop to the shops to get a missing ingredient. You’ll have everything to hand and meal times will become a breeze.

4. Stick to a budget. Making a budget for your weekly shopping is a great way to save money. Write down everything you need and then look prices up online to make sure you’re making the most of your money before hitting the shops.

5. Do it yourself. Wake up to the smell of baking bread! If you love artisan breads but don’t want to pay the high prices, get a bread maker. The cheapest ones are about £60, this one from Lakeland is a bargain at just 59.99. Even taking account of the cost of ingredients, after a few months it should have paid for itself.

6. Use up those leftovers. In the UK, 6.7 million tonnes of household food waste is thrown out every year. If you’ve cooked too much, save the extra in the fridge and use it up the next day. Recipes like stews, bubble and squeak, stir fries, curries and omlettes are great ways to use up leftover vegetables and cooked meat. Check out the MoneyMagpie Recipe Section for regular tips on using leftovers and ageing fruit and veg.

7. Keep the lid on. When you’re cooking keep all lids, covers and oven doors closed. More than 20% of oven heat can be lost each time you open the door. Similarly, water boils up to 6% faster with a lid on the pan, so making this tiny change will cut your energy bill on a daily basis.

8. Beware of boiling water. You can also save energy by only boiling enough water for what you need. 67% of us boil too much water in the kettle for a cup of tea, so save energy and money by only heating as much water as you need.

9. Save energy. You can also save energy when cooking by using pressure cookers like these ones from Lakeland. These reduce cooking time so you use less energy. Same goes for microwave ovens. If you don’t fancy cooking your meals in the microwave, try part cooking and then finishing meals off on the stove or in the oven. You can also save energy by never pre-heating the oven unless absolutely necessary. If you need your dish to go into a hot oven (rather than one that is heating up), never pre-heat for more than 10 minutes.

ingredients will be too. So it will work out cheaper overall despite the bigger initial spend. It’s also great as you can make several meals at one time and then pop extra portions in the freezer. This saves time in the future when all you’ve got to do is defrost a few portions. This works with loads of dishes, including curry, so try it out.

12. Get rid of ready meals. Even if you think you can’t cook, there are no excuses for ready meals if you’re trying to save money. They’ve got extra additives and preservatives that you can’t control. Plus they are far more expensive than it would be to make the same dish yourself. Cooking is not hard – it’s even worth taking a few evening classes in it if you’re clueless. Check out your local adult education college for cooking for beginners courses. Cut back and save money by making it a monthly treat. It should make the kids appreciate it more, plus there are loads of fun takeaway-like foods you can make at home for a fraction of the price.

10. Have a ‘use it up’ week. This is where you don’t buy anything new, but make yourself use up the odds and ends of things you have already bought. Whether it’s a halffinished bottle of shampoo or open cereal packets, using everything up will save you money. Start by clearing out your cupboards so you don’t waste anything. Looking for even more money saving tips? Have a look at these 12 ways to feed your family for less.

11. Batch cooking. Cooking up a big batch of Bolognese sauce is great – mainly because it’s much cheaper to buy the ingredients in bulk. A big pack of meat is much cheaper per kilo, and all the other

13. Ditch pre-packaged. Items that are pre-packaged tend to be more expensive. This is because you have to pay not just for the packaging but for the person who put it in the packet. Buying loose is cheaper and produces a lot less waste. You can also choose exactly how many items you want, rather than paying for items you don’t need. See our article on saving money on your food shopping for more tips.

14. Keep to the seasons. Try buying seasonally – root vegetables like carrots and swede are winter vegetables and are grown in the UK. You can also get squashes, cabbage and broccoli in winter. Blueberries and blackcurrants are also autumn/winter fruits, so steer clear of those strawberries in January. You’ll save money and you’re helping British producers.

15. Grow your own fruit and veg. Growing your own fruit and veg is a tasty way to reduce your food spend. The seeds cost as little as £1. You don’t need a garden to grow stuff either – get things growing on your windowsills, balcony or just in the kitchen. You can even make money by selling on any extra plants. Read our article on growing your own veg, or find out how to propagate seedlings.

16. Drain power. Don’t throw away a ketchup bottle with the dregs left in the bottom. Save money by draining it into the new bottle. This works for most condiments and it can be a bit of fun for the kids to get the bottles balancing. You can also re-use the sunflower oil used for deep frying. Just drain it into a jar using a funnel and a piece of kitchen towel for a filter. This will clear out everything that isn’t oil. You can do this at least once, maybe even twice.

17. A few more tips. Other handy saving tips are to snap dishwasher tablets in half, water down beauty products, mix value products with more expensive stuff, turn stale bread into breadcrumbs and use scissors for cutting open old toothpaste tubes so you get everything out.

18. Keep your freezer stocked

Freezers work far more efficiently when they are frost free and full up. If you don’t have enough to fill up your freezer, fill the gaps with ice cube trays or bread rolls (handy if you run out of bread). The little ice cubes are great for drinks all year round.

19. Make your own baby food.

When making those homemade meals for your family don’t forget to blend some of those fresh soft fruits for your own baby food purees. Once your baby has moved onto cooked meals you can just puree some of the unsalted version you’ve already made for the rest of the family, saving you both time and money. You’ll also be avoiding a lot of the preservatives that can be found in some brands of baby food.

20. Eat one or two vegetarian meals every week. Chicken and ground beef are expensive to buy. Try cooking spaghetti with spicy vegetables, or make vegetarian lasagna, and save a few bucks along the way. You don’t have to become a vegetarian but if you opt to replace a meat dish with a veggie one twice a week you will be saving money and probably eating healthier. You can still get your daily amount of protein from eating eggs, lentils, cheese, beans, and nuts.

21. Give up alcohol. Alcohol is expensive and addictive (twice as many people in the UK are addicted to alcohol than drugs). It should be seen as an occasional luxury only. Going without it can save you thousands throughout the year. Even giving up for a month will make a big difference to your health and wealth. See how you can save £1000s a year by giving up alcohol.

SAVE MONEY ON DIY

22. Love leftovers. Save money on sprucing up your house by checking out the ‘oops’ paints at DIY stores such as B&Q. These are paints left over from when the mixer doesn’t quite get the colour right. Some shades are not so nice, but you may find exactly what you’re after for half the price. You may also get lucky and find a really nice shade that is on sale because someone has forgotten to pick it up.

23. Dodge the cowboys. Don’t get ripped off by dodgy tradesmen –make sure they’re kosher by using Rated People. This is a free service that will find hundreds of recommended tradesmen that are local to you. If you’re in London, you can get handymen with very good rates at Handy Squad.

display it may need the paintwork touching up, or a repair made in the upholstery. But often, it just needs a bit of a clean.

26. Note down dimensions. When looking for items of furniture, keep a note of the dimensions you need in your wallet. That way, when you do come across a piece in a discount shop, charity shop, car boot sale and so on, you’ll know whether it will fit the space and you won’t miss out on a bargain.

27. Try revamping. Give old chests of drawers, wardrobes and covers a new look instead of replacing them. All you need is a lick of paint and a new inexpensive handle. They will really change the look of your furniture without changing the look of your bank account for the worse. Take a look at how you can make over your home for £100 here.

28. Print pictures at home. Instead of using petrol to drive to a print shop, print your photos at home using your own ink cartridges. The cartridges and special paper are expensive, but you can get a lot of use out of them. Adding photos around the home can instantly spruce up your white walls and plain bookshelves.

24. Take a course. Save money by taking a local adult education course in DIY instead of hiring a handyman. You can often find them for around £100. This is a bit of an initial investment but should pay itself off fairly quickly. Once you’re good at it you can also use your skills to make more money by helping others out. Take it up a notch and have a go at plumbing courses to save, and make, even more. Find your local course on learndirect.

25. Dig out the discounts. Before you buy full-price furniture, check the same retailer’s discount outlets. Often you can get exactly the same item for a lot less. If it’s ex-

29. Never throw away old fabrics or towels. Fabric and towels are some of the easiest things to recycle. Old curtains can be made into seat and cushion covers, table cloths, new clothes and even just tea towels and cleaning rags. All you need for new upholstery is a good staple gun and for the rest, a sewing machine or some time for hand sewing. If your towels are going a bit grey, bring them back to life by dyeing them a new colour. Thinner towels are great for drying hair or taking to the swimming pool when you don’t have much room in your bag. You can also use them for stuffing draft excluders or making toys for your animals to play with. The possibilities are endless and all free.

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BILLS

30. Go electrical. Direct debits and electronic statements can save you money. Paper bills now incur extra charges from some services. Mobile phones are a prime example, with companies charging up to £3 more for a paper itemised bill. These bills are often available online free of charge. So if you really need one on paper, you can just print it off.

31. The same goes for direct debits. Sky will charge you £4 extra a month if you don’t want to direct debit. This is because the process of sending you a letter to request payment and then waiting for it costs them money. Payments can always be queried, even after they’ve been paid. So embrace the direct debit and save some cash.

32. Look around for the best deals. Sticking with the provider you’re with can be the easiest option, but it could also be costing you hundreds. Don’t be lazy by sticking with your bank, broadband provider or insurance firm just because it’s easy.

You can save significantly with just a little bit

33. Don’t forget electricity and gas. Also shop around for electricity and gas to find the best deals. When you think about it, we’re getting better and better at shopping around for all kinds of things from holidays to shoes to tins of beans so it’s about time we got into shopping around for our gas and electricity. You can switch energy suppliers

34. Make sure you’re getting the best deal. There are loads of mobile networks out there and they’re all fighting over your business. That means you’ve got the upper hand. The average mobile bill spend is £35-40. If you are paying more than this you shouldn’t be. Get on the phone to your provider and see if you can get a cheaper deal. If they won’t play ball, find a new contract. You don’t have to spend as much as £35. If you’ve already got a decent phone, the SIM-only tariffs are such good value for money. They’ll get you loads of minutes and texts for as little as £15 a month.

35. Say no to 0870. We hate it when companies use an 0870 number – they’re expensive and really bump up your phone bill. You can avoid paying more by searching for an alternative number on www.saynoto0870.com. We always bookmark that site on whatever computer we Magpies are using!

37. Get free phone calls. Skype is probably the most well known free call service. If you’ve got broadband you can phone on the internet for free with Skype. You’ll need earphones and a microphone although some computers have microphones and speakers already built in. If yours doesn’t then Amazon.co.uk has a good selection of headphone and microphone sets with several choices for under a tenner.

36. Recycle your gadgets

for cash. It’s quick, FREE and could make you over £200. From mobile phones to cameras, games consoles and more, by recycling your gadgets you can make a mint and help the environment. If it’s a mobile phone you’d like to recycle use the Moneymagpie phone recycling tool. Just click on the make of your phone and we’ll show you which recycling company will give you the most for it. Do it now!

38. Get free video calls. To make video calls for free on Skype you’ll need a webcam – again many computers have these already built in but if yours doesn’t you can buy them from Argos for around £10. You can also chat for free using online instant messengers like Windows Live Messenger or AOL. Find out more by reading our article here about phone calls for free.

SAVE MONEY BY MAKING YOUR HOME MORE EFFICIENT

39. Block those drafts. 20% of the heat lost is through drafts and poor ventilation. So, even small insulating measures like draft excluders, or thicker curtains can really make a difference. Have a look at our article on how to make your house more energy efficient for easy ideas. You could even get up to £2,700 in government grants to help you do it. If you don’t know how efficient your home is, British Gas has a free energy savers report. Just answer some simple questions on their website and they’ll tell you how you can save (just make sure you unsubscribe if they then send you emails – they could spam you!).

40. Get an insulation grant: If you’re on income support or another kind of financial benefit you may be eligible for help with insulating your home via the Affordable Warmth scheme. Even if you don’t receive any benefits many people are entitled to massive discounts for insulation services so do have a look. Affordable Warmth is only available in England but there are similar schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

41. Don’t forget about the loft: By insulating your loft you could save up to £200 off your annual heating bill. You can purchase the insulating foam at B&Q and install it yourself, but remember to use protective goggles and gloves. Note that this could be time consuming, and you’ll need some know-how to do it properly. You may want to check out where you can find loads of resources for government grants that will cover the costs of you going greener.

42. Turn your heating down. It’s hard to do it when it’s chilly, but turning the thermostat down a few degrees can save loads. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a reduction of just one degree can reduce bills by as much as 10%. It’s clearly worth it. So grab a big wooly jumper and socks and

turn down that thermostat – even if it’s only by one degree. After a while, you won’t know the difference.

43. Less dust. More heat! Make sure you bust the dust on your radiator surfaces. Dust and grime seriously impede the flow of heat in your house. So make sure there is no dirt on your radiators. Also, we love the Radiator Booster for just £24.95 from Nigel’s Eco store. It’s a cheap, lightweight gadget that will warm a room faster, save lost energy, and reduce heating bills.

44. Wrap the back of your radiator. Put aluminum foil, shiny side out, behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room rather than out through the walls .You can pick up some specially-designed radiator foil from Wickes for just over a tenner

45. Don’t forget the boiler: By turning down both your hot water boiler to 60 degrees centigrade or 140 degrees Fahrenheit, you could save an extra £10 annually.

46. Replace your old boiler: If your boiler is over 15 years old it is no longer efficient and draining loads of energy, and therefore, cash. It can be expensive to purchase a new boiler, but the savings made with lower heating bills will see the cost recovered within three to five years. There are also government grants that will offer you money, or will cover the cost of purchase and installation. After installing your high efficiency condensing boiler with heating controls you can expect to save between £190- 240 annually on your heating bills. Also – extra tip – get it done in the summer if possible as plumbers have less work then and will offer good deals.

47. Use your timer: Even if you’re not planning on replacing your boiler, always use a timer – there’s no point heating your house if you’re not in it! Turn your heater off 30 minutes before leaving home and programming it so that it switches back on 30 minutes before you return. Unless it’s really cold, turn it off overnight too and go for hot water bottles instead.

48. Buy your boiler a new jacket: By adding an insulation jacket to your hot water cylinder you will be preventing heat loss and therefore saving yourself £15-£20 annually. They’re easy to fit yourself and should cost you about £10-£15 from most good DIY stores. Make sure to purchase a jacket that is at least 75mm thick. Visit Home Heating Guide for step-by-step instructions.

49. Switch everything off. We spend £1 billion every year on powering our electrical appliances whilst they are on standby. It’s so easy just to turn them off at the mains and save money. If you don’t trust yourself to remember, there are cheap products on the market that will do it for you. We think the IntelliPanel is great. When you have your computer plugged into the master slot and then switch it off, the panel will switch off the speakers, printer, scanner or anything other connected items you have

running. The television set up works the same way. Plug your television into the panel, then when you turn it off your video, games console, DVD player or anything else will be automatically switched off.

50. Unplug too: The same principle applies with unplugging pieces of equipment once they have fully charged. Don’t leave your mobile phone charger, shavers or electric toothbrushes plugged in as they will still be draining electricity unnecessarily. Overcharging electrical equipment also causes the battery to work overtime and it won’t last as long.

51. Change energy supplier. Competition among energy providers has intensified as more companies have entered the market. In 2003, changing provider saved you around £100 per year; now you’ll save up to £538. Green energy is available to private consumers. A long-term saving is installing a green energy source in your home. Homeowners can apply for a government grant of up to £2,700 to cover some of the costs of installing solar panels, wind turbines or bio-fuels. See Green Energy Grants for more information. Remember to keep an eye out for new deals that could reduce your costs.

SAVE MONEY IN THE BATHROOM

52. Stick to 5 minutes in the shower. The average bath uses about twice as much hot water as a five-minute shower. That means it takes twice as much energy to heat the water. We know five minutes isn’t much, but if you’re having a bath every day, then swapping for a few fiveminute showers will really reduce your energy bills. If you have trouble keeping track of time, the Shower Coach timer times exactly 5 minutes, showing you when it's time to turn the shower off.

53. Turn down the temperature. You can also save more by turning down the water temperature just a few notches. You don’t have to have tepid water, just not boiling hot.

54. Own brands are the key to big household savings. You might be attached to your favourite names, but own brands are cheaper. They are also often really good quality. If you aren’t sure, just

try them out. Boots own-brand shower gel starts from just £1.29. However, the cheapest branded product is £2.00. The same goes for medication – a 16 pack of Nurofen tablets costs £2.00 at Boots. However, the generic Ibuprofen (which is pharmaceutically the exact same thing, just unbranded) is only £1.64 for 16 tablets.

55. Bulk buying. The MoneyMagpies are strong advocates of buying in bulk to save money Buy toilet paper, detergent and other household items in bulk from a wholesale supermarket, or from your regular supermarket when there is a special offer. Try specialist stores for cheaper prices. Wilkinson have super-cheap toiletries and household items .

56. Buy on the internet: If you’re looking for the latest designer beauty brands, check out our article “Top Ten Money Saving Beauty Websites “

SAVE MONEY ON FASHION AND BEAUTY

57. Homemade treatments. If your skin needs a bit of a pick me up then head to your fridge before splashing out on expensive beauty products. Egg whites, honey, banana, strawberries and avocado should all leave your face smooth and glowing. Crystal sea salt can also be used as a brilliant exfoliator. If you fancy making some money you can sell your homemade treatments.

58. Dye your hair back to your natural colour. If you spend a considerable amount of money dyeing your hair or getting highlights every few weeks, try using a home hair dye kit and go back to your natural colour to save significant bucks.

59. Free beauty products. What’s better than saving money on make-up? Free make-up! Get free goodies to test out for Toluna. They have loads of products they need to have tested so if you sign up for the testing side you can get new things every month. In the past they’ve given away Garnier Hand Cream, Nivea lipbalm and Dove

beauty cream bar. So you can see the kind of things you could get to try for nothing. Click here to join up now and get all these great freebies.

60. Cut back on clothes. If you know you’re a bit of a shopaholic this is a really good tip to keep the habit under control. Make a list of all the clothing items you and your family need. Put it in your wallet and keep it there. Then when you are out and do a bit of impromptu shopping, you know exactly what you should be looking for. This way you can say “no” to items you don’t need and stop spending money on stuff you’ve already got.

61. Buy neutral clothing. Wearing black, white, and gray clothes means that you can mix and match easier without having too many different outfits. (Hint: Make them stand out with fun, bright accessories, which are more affordable than a bunch of new clothes.)

62. Throw a swap party. Have your friends and neighbours round for a swap party, which is where you all bring stuff you no longer want and swap with each other. This can be a great way to get some new clothes or used baby items for free and it’s a great way to get rid of all those old items you no longer wanted. If not, sites like Freecyle and Snaffle Up can help you swap stuff online.

63. Make old jeans into draft excluders by cutting the legs off, stuffing them and then sewing up the ends. If you’re more adventurous try making your own snake draft excluder in our Survive This Years Winter Blues article.

64. Tights are great for making cress heads, storing onions and bulbs, packing together to make abrasive cleaner for your sink or wrapping around ordinary coat hangers to make them padded ones.

65. Make the most of your winter woollies. We’re not talking outside. Wearing your winter woolies indoors can save you big bucks. The human body gives off heat at about 390 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour for a man and around 330 BTUs for a woman. Wearing closely-woven fabrics can help you retain an extra half degree in warmth and a light long-sleeved

sweater is another two degrees. Go for a big woolly jumper or hoody and you can gain up to 3.7 degrees more. Plus the air between the layers serves as insulation to keep more body heat in. What this all means is, you can turn the thermostat down and save money. So don’t walk around your house in a T-shirt and shorts in the winter if you need to turn up the heat to do it. Layer up just a bit so you can turn the heat down.

66. Sell your old junk. You could have hundreds of pounds worth of unused stuff lying around in your house. All you’ve got to do is gather up all the old junk/clothes/items that you don’t need and sell it off at a car boot sale. Have a look at our Turn Your Trash into Cash article to get some tips on how to make the most profit from a car boot sale.

67. Designer deals. Designer clothes, shoes and handbags are more often than not worth the money – especially if you’re trying to save money. But if you can’t live without your designer fashion you must search around for the best deals to make your money go further. Here at MoneyMagpie we like Brand Alley, where you can get between 30% and 70% off loads of designer labels and receive £10 when you refer a friend who goes on to buy something.

SAVE MONEY ON CLEANING AND WASHING

68. Forking out for ‘miracle’ cleaners that don’t work is a pain. But there’s no need. Have a go with an oldstyle cleaner instead. White vinegar will unblock sinks, remove limescale and clean your workshops. All you need to do is mix it with a bit of water and a few drops of essential oil to mask the smell. Find out more about 10 miracle products you probably already have in your home.

69. Cheap cleaning products. There are many cheap and green cleaning products you can make yourself or find around the house. Bicarbonate of soda works on descaling teacups and teapots and is a great microwave cleaner. Just make a paste with a small amount of water for cleaning – or mix with water and leave to soak for de-scaling.

as a furniture polish and fingerprint remover for stainless steel.

72. Burnt food remedy. Use orange juice to get rid of pesky burnt food which has stuck to your cooking pots. Cover the crusted pots with orange juice, allow them to soak for an hour and then you’ll be able to remove the crust easily with a spoon. You can also do this with salt – pour salt on, leave it to dry on the burnt area then attack with a scourer.

73. Love lemons. Stock up on lemons and use them as an alternative to expensive cleaning products. Mixed with a little salt or baking soda lemon juice is an effective surface cleaner and polish. Lemon juice can also be used to remove stains, and can add a tangy twist to loads of recipes. For more handy hints and tips check out our article; Cheap Green Cleaning Products You Can Make Yourself .

74. Floors need a revamp?

70. Another use for Bicarbonate of Soda. Bicarbonate of soda is useful as a deodoriser. To clean surfaces, sprinkle on a damp cloth. Washing soda is good to add to your wash in small quantities for an extra cleaning boost (using it in hard water areas will cut down on the amount of laundry detergent you need) and cleans grease from blocked drains. These products are much cheaper than cleaning products – see below for a few more tips.

71. Goodbye to grease spots. To remove grease spots use talcum powder. Just sprinkle the talcum powder onto the spot and rub it in. Brush down if necessary. It only takes seconds! Use olive oil sparingly

Replacing your carpets can cost a small fortune. However, giving them a good clean can restore them to almost as good as new. At HSS you can hire a professional carpet cleaner for just over £40 per day or around £50 for a weekend. Put some legwork into it and your newly-restored carpet will be looking great for the fraction of the price of a new one.

75. Tumble dryers are one of the most power hungry appliances in the home. They take twice as much power to dry your clothes as they do to wash them. According to the Energy Saving Trust, only 35% of us have a tumble dryer. Those who don’t are already ahead in the energy saving race. Those who do can save easily by ditching the tumble dryer altogether. Or if you are really attached, try spin drying your clothes before putting them in the tumble dryer. This way they won’t take as long to

dry in the tumble dryer. You can also dry your clothes outside or on radiators and then just finish them off in the tumble dryer.

76. Look after your lint screen. If you can’t give up the dryer make sure you keep your clothes dryer’s lint screen clean, and its outside exhaust free of obstructions. Clean the lint screen after each load of laundry and check the exhaust regularly. A lint screen in need of cleaning and a clogged exhaust can lengthen drying time and increase the amount of energy used.

77. Dry it yourself. An alternative to the tumble dryer is the brilliant Dry-Soon heated towel airer from Lakeland. It costs less than 5p an hour to run and will dry up to 15 kg of washing in around three hours. We love this one!

78. Reducing drying time by up to 25%. If you’re committed to using a dryer, Lakeland have come up with another genius invention – Dryerballs. You pop them in your machine as it dries and their gentle tips massage the textile fibres, reducing the need for chemical fabric softeners. They also reduce drying time by up to 25% because they help air to circulate more freely around the machine.

79. Only run full washing machines and dishwashers. We know you’re not supposed to overfill them, but running them half-empty defeats the purpose. Both dishwashers and washing machines use the same amount of water and heat, no matter how full they are. Get your money’s worth by filling them up as much as you can before they are overfull and won’t work properly. This will save you money in the long run and it’s better for the planet.

SAVE MONEY ON HOME ENTERTAINMENT

80. Have you got Sky? If so, it’s worth bearing in mind that the basic Sky package is very similar to the service you’d get with a freeview box. You can get one of these for as little as £10. Plus, there’s no monthly fee.

81. Use your computer as your TV. Instead of buying extra TVs, use screens you’ve already got. The major television channels now let you watch their programmes online, so if you have a computer in a room you don’t really need an extra TV in there. You can also buy a television aerial that plugs into the USB port on your computer – have a look on Amazon for some examples. These cost less than £20, much cheaper than buying a whole new television.

can find your nearest facility on your local council’s website.

83. Try e-books. You don’t have to have an e-reader to benefit from e-books; you can download the programs onto your computer for free and read them right there. They are significantly cheaper than paper books if you are buying, and you can still get them for free from the library at most locations. You can also read MoneyMagpie’s carefully written eBooks on how to make money and how to save money.

84. Make your own fun. There are loads of ways to entertain the kids in the home for very little or even for free. Recycle old paper by letting them draw and make collages on the other side. Make anything you can out of leftover packaging. Add a little glue and paint to some cut-up cereal boxes and they can create some great 3D pictures. Make your own ice lollies and sweet treats. It’s fun and a lot cheaper than buying them in the supermarket.

82. Use your local library. Give up buying expensive DVDs, CDs or books. Your local library will let you rent them for a small fee or for nothing. It is free to register at all local libraries and prices for DVD rental are usually more than 50% cheaper than from your local rental shop. Plus if you want to keep it for a bit longer, you can often just renew the item online, rather than paying hefty late fees. You can also take out cookery books or hardback memoirs for free that would cost in excess of £10 to buy. Libraries also offer free internet facilities. You

85. Free music Go to Musicovery to listen to music for free online. You get to choose what you listen to by mood (such as energetic, calm), or by year or genre and the site forms a playlist for you. Last.fm is another site that allows you to listen to music for free by creating your own personalised streaming playlist.

86. Spotify is another great website – a streaming service which allows you to listen to millions of music tracks online completely free (and completely legally!) – all you have to put up with is the occasional 30-second advert every five minutes or so – a pretty small price to pay for free tunes.

SAVE MONEY BEING GREEN

87. Use energy-saving light bulbs. They’re a lot more glamorous than they used to be and generally give a really decent level of light. Switching over to energy-saving light bulbs means saving money on expensive electricity bills The bulbs themselves are roughly the same price as conventional ones, but they last much longer and are cheaper to run.

88. Get energy efficient appliances. If you’re buying new appliances, getting the energy efficient one will save you loads. By replacing a 10 yearold fridge-freezer with a modern, energy efficient A-rated appliance you can save £45 a year. The government has put several

grants in place to help people replace their appliances; with just a bit of research you can scoop up free money to buy new appliances that will help reduce your budget.

89. Use rechargeable batteries. These batteries cost a little more than normal batteries initially but they’re much cheaper in the long run because they can be charged hundreds of times. Go for a larger capacity battery (check the milliamp hours) which won’t need recharging as often.

For more tips on saving energy read our article; Money Saving Low Energy Products –Beat The Price Hike

SAVE MONEY IN THE GARDEN

90. Gardening doesn’t come cheap! Especially if you’re just starting out or if you want to get a bit more advanced with the tools and types of plants you would like to use. One of the best ways to try and cut your costs (and ultimately save money) is by seeing if you can get any free gardening equipment.

Community freebie sites such as Freegle and SnaffleUp along with the free sections on Gumtree or Freecycle are well worth taking a look. For whatever reason, people will always need to shift some of their stuff and these guys are giving unwanted goods away for free – you never know what you might find that could be useful in the garden and home. So before you head down to buy a new hedge trimmer or other gardening must-haves, take a quick look at some of those sites to see what you could get – as long as you’re willing to collect.

91. Make use of your local recycling centre. It’s also worth having a root around your local recycling centre –one person’s junk is another’s treasure. You

might be surprised to discover what people throw away in order to make some space. Good-quality and rarely-used gardening tools often end up on the ‘junk’ pile. For more money saving tips take a look at these 13 ways to save money in your garden.

92. Get free gardening seeds. Many people buy seeds but end up storing them away never to be used, so you may be surprised that plenty of people would be willing to donate them to a good home.

93. Free cuttings. Ask family and friends for cuttings or any spare seeds they might have to help your garden grow. You could arrange a swap so that you have a range of different plants and seeds to add to your collection. Lots of gardeners will also be happy to furnish you with free cuttings from plants they already grow. You might want to check out gardening swap sites like Garden Swap Shop. Most are free to use, and allow you to swap seeds and plants with other community members.

SAVE MONEY RENTING YOUR HOME

94. Get a roommate. It doesn’t matter how old you are, getting a roommate is a great way to save significant money on your expenses. If you’re looking for a lodger, have a look at Easyroommate – it’s free to post an ad. If you’re worried about sharing your space, be sure to rent to someone who is mature and will respect your belongings. Find out how to rent a room for tax free cash.

95. Rent (almost) everything. Everything you own is worth something and most people’s biggest asset is their house. We’re not suggesting you give up all of your personal space, but what about the parts

that you don’t really use? Everywhere from your spare room and your garden, to your cellar and your attic can be rented out, you can even rent space in your freezer! See our article on how to make and save money from renting.

96. Rent out your driveway or garage. If you don’t use your driveway or garage turn it into a money-spinner by renting it out. If you live in a big city or near an airport you could make as much as £17,000 a year to go into a savings account or cash ISA. See our article renting out your driveway or garage for more information.

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR MORTGAGE AND INSURANCE

97. Get the best mortgage rate. Some mortgage providers are loosening up and cutting their rates. Some are even willing to waive the arrangement fees, which makes re-mortgaging even easier. We’ve got a guide to how to re-mortgage your house that will tell you exactly what you need to do. If you don’t find a better deal, save by paying off your mortgage in doublequick time.

98. Can you get a better deal? You should always be checking to see if you can get a better deal on your insurance. With road tax on the rise, reducing your car insurance costs are a must. Lots of companies are also offering 12 months home insurance for the price of nine, or 25% off when you buy online.

99. Get organized. Always check your receipts, bank statements and bills. You never know who has got hold of your details. So you need to keep tabs on what is going out and what is coming in, this way if anything is amiss, you’ll be on it like a flash, saving time and money. And of course, always read the small print!

Read our article How To Spring Clean Your Finances for some tips.

100. Take control of your spending by sticking to a budget. Make a list of everything you spend in a week and weed out all the little extras you don’t need.

Total up the costs of things you really have to buy each month, take that away from the amount you have coming in each month and this will show you how much you have to play with. If you don’t have enough money left over each month, then more things need to go. Do you really need to buy lunch at work? Can you live without that DVD? Make your budget realistic and then stick to it. This should leave you with a little extra every month. You can use this to pay off loans, or make more money by putting it into a savings account. Read our article Making a Budget.

SAVE MONEY BY TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES

101. Get free financial help. For some free financial guidance you don’t even have to sign up for anything. There’s lots of advice in both our savings articles and debt articles

Also don’t forget to sign up to our free newsletter. We send an email once a week to thousands of people full of money-making and money-saving tips plus a whole host of bargains and freebies.