Photo: Micheile Henderson/Unsplash

There’s never a bad time to save a bit of money, right? The good news is, there are plenty of ways to reduce unnecessary expenditure, giving you more funds to direct towards your goals. To help you get started, check out these five easy ways to slash your expenses today: 

One of the savviest things you can do to save money is to look for the same services you already use, but for a lower price. Maybe you can compare dental prices locally and switch surgeries, saving money on the family’s dental appointments. How about switching cell phone contracts for a better tariff? 

Don’t be afraid to shop around and switch up the companies you use for the services you need – it’s one of the easiest ways to cut your expenses quickly. 

More often than not, when expenses are running high, there is at least one ‘bleed.’ This is an area where money is spilling out of your account and you’ve not noticed. Your job is to find ‘the cut’ (aka, the source of the bleed). 

Good examples of this are things like gym memberships you still have despite not going for months, or insurance policies you pay for but don’t need. Where is the hidden financial wound that is causing you to lose more than you should be losing? Here are some ways to find out:

• Check all your paper bills

• Check all your digital bills

• Check any regular direct debits

• Look at any money management apps you use 

• Check joint account histories 

• Work out how much you pay on monthly expenses to compare against average costs 

By analyzing each and every outgoing that you have, you are likely to find at least one ‘cut’ that needs to be treated.

Society is hooked on buying stuff that is not only bad for your wallet but bad for the environment. Statistics tell us that if everyone lived like a Western consumer, we’d need five planets to support us. The way we all consume, consume, consume is depleting natural resources and polluting the planet at speed. 

Do you need all those new furnishings? Do you really need that new phone? Learn to live a simpler life for a healthier bank balance and planet. 

Making memories is definitely worth your investment. However, if you have more free fun, you get to bank memories and cut your expenses too. Here are some fantastic free fun ideas:

• Go hiking – nature is good for you and you can burn 300-650 calories per hour too! 

• Visit free museums and art galleries

• Go tidal pool rummaging 

• Go surfing or snorkeling 

• Have a picnic made from food you already have at home

• Go wild camping (if you have camping gear)

• Have a movie fest at home with all your favorite films 

Making memories doesn’t have to cost lots of money, especially if you’re creative. 

5.Budget

If you’re a spontaneous spender who grabs those items stacked at the checkout, or who buys a new outfit without thought, you can cut your expenses by budgeting. This is an easy way to look at all your incomings and outgoings and decide how much you want to save. 

The tips above are a great start when it comes to cutting your expenses. If you’re honest with yourself and motivated to make a change, you can spend less and save towards the bigger financial goals that really matter to you.