7 Ways to Find Extra Money in Your Cash-Strapped Budget (2024)

As a general rule, we all want to save a little more money. Whether you are massive spenders with a habit, you want to squash, or in need of extra cash for Christmas gifts, a little extra cash can go a long way.

It can be plausible to dig up a little extra cash if you are willing to apply the effort. Sometimes, it is as simple as taking a single step in the right direction to have things going your way.

Here are a few ways for you to start saving some extra money. On their own, none of these tips will see drastic changes, but combined they could create quite the #treatyoself fund.

So settle in, find the tips that suit you best, and let us help you save more money than you thought possible.

Search the Collectables

In today’s world, we are all guilty of a little hoarding. When we talk about hoarding, we don’t mean carrier bags full of newspapers like those people you see on television. No, we’re referring to all the random collectable and items we just have no use for.

These items most of the time, have no real sentimental value and only exist to gather dust. Over the past few years, one of the most collectable things has been Pop Vinyls. For all of you collectors of Pops low on cash, why not part with some of your collection?

The truth behind Pop Vinyls is simply this; most collectors have one or two in their collection that has been vaulted. When a Pop Vinyl is vaulted, its value soars and can go into the thousands. For somebody that wants to start saving, parting with one of these collectables is a great way to begin.

Eat Before You Shop

Something we are all guilty of from time to time is going shopping while hungry; when you are trying to reduce costs, this can be a surprising money saver. If you go shopping while hungry, this can see you walk around the supermarket and buy items that you are craving at the time of shopping. The problem is that is can cause you to spend up to 30% more than you would if you had a list and it was followed.

Having a shopping list and not veering from what you need can be a considerable cost-saving measure. Shops are often set out in order to get you to buy what you don’t need. Some of the larger supermarkets have even introduced the centre aisle bargains.

Centre aisle bargain is a smart marketing technique where a supermarket offers a range of household items at a seemingly lower price. The fact behind them is that they are no cheaper than anywhere else, but they may be of lower quality. These low-quality items just add an impressive spend per customer ratio to the supermarkets’ end of year figures.

Pay Attention To Your Phone

One of the biggest monthly costs for some people is the price of their mobile phone contract. Many people are suckered in by mobile phone companies claiming to offer the next best thing to sliced bread.

The truth is these offers will only serve to take a massive slice out of your wallet. If you are trying to save money, one of the most advisable things to do is look at sim plans. There are some great offers out there, such as the SMARTY unlimited data sim which can save you a fortune.

One thing that seems to put people off leaving the big four companies is down to signal strength. Well, the truth is pretty much every mobile phone company partners with another when it comes to the use of a mobile phone mast. So the great news is, no matter who you are with, you will always have a signal.

Spend Some Time Online

Getting online is not only a great way of saving you some money, but it’s also a great way of earning a little bit extra too.

One of the most important things to do when shopping is to search for voucher codes, especially if you do your grocery shopping online. If we look back to the beginning of 2019, for example, Sainsbury’s offered £18 your first online shop, and Ocado also offers 30% off. These deals come around often. Using Ocado for a large shop of frozen and long-lasting goods turned out to be quite a money saver.

Taking advantage of saver codes, surveys and online discounts really can add up to a mighty saving over the space of a year. You may not think so, but the saving could cover the cost of Christmas.

Remove Temptation

When it comes to spending, sometimes it’s just too easy. We often save our payment details with our favourite online suppliers as we often preempt our next purchase before we have made the first. By removing these payment details, it stops us from spending on a whim. We are all guilty of click to buy, and before you know it, your bank account is almost empty again.

Find A Good Hobby

Most of the time, we tend to spend out of boredom. If we are shy of something to do, we quite often head to the shop and end up spending money needlessly.One of the best ways to avoid this is to find a hobby that can keep us distracted. Hobbies may initially cost a little bit of money, but in the long run, they can actually save you a small fortune. There are tons of hobbies out there that are very cheap to take up and others that are even free.

Another great way of distracting from spending is taking up some form of exercise routine. While working out may not be for everybody, it can be a great way of filling some time and an even better way of saving some money.

More often than not, people who exercise find they become more conscious about what they eat. When somebody starts to monitor their diet, they tend to cut out the processed foods, fats and sugars.Fortunately, when it comes to shopping, the items that are fatty and sugary tend to be the most expensive items you can buy.

Be Motor Efficient

One of the most significant costs in any household can be a vehicle. When it comes to saving money, sometimes the wisest thing to do is search for something with a little more viability behind it.

Cars can cost an absolute fortune to run, and it is always best to own something that runs well on fuel. Most people are duped by the car dealer when buying their car as they are given manufacturer-given costings. Unfortunately, these figures are never accurate. Doing some research on the most efficient cars is the best way forward and will always save you a ton of money in the long term.

Another crucial thing to pay attention to is your car insurance. Car insurance quotes seem to be going crazy lately, but there are a few money saving solutions. Some companies will shave a ton off your insurance quote should you have a dashcam. Why most people don’t have a dashcam, you can pick one up online for around £20, and it could end up saving you up to £200 on your car insurance. That’s a great deal to anybody.

So, there you have it, a few money-saving tricks and tips that can hopefully get you on your way to a stronger financial future. While these tips may not be for everybody, we are sure there is something here that can inspire you into cutting back.

Related

7 Ways to Find Extra Money in Your Cash-Strapped Budget (2024)

FAQs

How can I find extra money in my budget? ›

8 tips for finding discretionary money in a tight budget
  1. Make a list before you grocery shop. ...
  2. Consider a side hustle. ...
  3. Save any cash you're gifted. ...
  4. Re-evaluate recurring expenses. ...
  5. Pay attention to your credit cards. ...
  6. Use a rewards credit card. ...
  7. Reassess your bills. ...
  8. Implement a monthly spending cleanse.

What is the 50 20 30 method? ›

One of the most common types of percentage-based budgets is the 50/30/20 rule. The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. Learn more about the 50/30/20 budget rule and if it's right for you.

What are some ways to budget your money? ›

In the 50/20/30 budget, 50% of your net income should go to your needs, 20% should go to savings, and 30% should go to your wants. If you've read the Essentials of Budgeting, you're already familiar with the idea of wants and needs. This budget recommends a specific balance for your spending on wants and needs.

What are some examples of how someone saves money if money is tight? ›

13 ways to save money on a tight budget
  • Focus on small changes in various budget categories.
  • Automate your savings into a high-yield savings account.
  • Earn interest on your checking account.
  • Use those three-payday months to save more.
  • Keep a budget.
  • Shop around for insurance rates.
  • Refinance your mortgage.
Oct 19, 2023

What is the 40 30 20 10 rule? ›

The most common way to use the 40-30-20-10 rule is to assign 40% of your income — after taxes — to necessities such as food and housing, 30% to discretionary spending, 20% to savings or paying off debt and 10% to charitable giving or meeting financial goals.

What is the 60 20 20 rule? ›

If you have a large amount of debt that you need to pay off, you can modify your percentage-based budget and follow the 60/20/20 rule. Put 60% of your income towards your needs (including debts), 20% towards your wants, and 20% towards your savings.

What is the 30 savings method? ›

Our 50/30/20 calculator divides your take-home income into suggested spending in three categories: 50% of net pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and debt repayment. Find out how this budgeting approach applies to your money.

What is the rule of thumb for savings? ›

Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

How to budget $5,000 a month? ›

Consider an individual who takes home $5,000 a month. Applying the 50/30/20 rule would give them a monthly budget of: 50% for mandatory expenses = $2,500. 20% to savings and debt repayment = $1,000.

What are the 7 types of budgeting? ›

The 7 different types of budgeting used by companies are strategic plan budget, cash budget, master budget, labor budget, capital budget, financial budget, operating budget. You can read about the Union Budget 2021-22 Summary in the given link.

What is the easiest budget method? ›

Basic Budgeting Method #1: The Classic Budget

Listing out your expenses, line by line, is a tried-and-true budgeting strategy. Get started by listing all of your monthly expenses in rows. This includes the needs (your rent or mortgage payments, car payments and insurance, cell phone bill, groceries, etc.)

How can a 12 year old save money? ›

  1. Make a habit of saving.
  2. Set up saving goals.
  3. Visually track savings progress.
  4. Keep money safe in an app like GoHenry.
  5. Earn allowance for doing chores.
  6. Spend less money.
  7. Offer saving incentives.
  8. Leave some room for mistakes.
Nov 30, 2022

What are the safest ways to keep money? ›

Like a savings account, a certificate of deposit (CD) is often a safe place to keep your money. One big difference between a savings account and a CD is that a CD typically locks up your money for a set term. If you withdraw the cash early, you'll be charged a penalty.

How do you spend money wisely? ›

How to Manage Your Money Wisely
  1. Make a plan. Having a financial plan is about more than figuring out how much of your paycheck is left after the bills are paid. ...
  2. Save for the short term. ...
  3. Invest for the long term. ...
  4. Use credit wisely. ...
  5. Choose a reasonable rent or mortgage payment. ...
  6. Treat yourself. ...
  7. Never stop learning.

What is leftover money in a budget called? ›

The term budget surplus refers to a situation that occurs when income exceeds expenditures. The term is often used to describe a corporation or government's financial state, unlike individuals who have savings instead of budget surpluses.

How much extra should you have in your budget? ›

Key Takeaways. The 50/30/20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should be split between savings and debt repayment (20%) and everything else that you might want (30%).

How do I find my government budget balance? ›

Budget Balance - Key takeaways

A negative budget balance is called a deficit and a positive budget balance is called a surplus. The budget balance equation is S = T - G - TR, where S = Government Savings (Budget Balance), T = Tax Revenue, G = Government Purchases of Goods and Services, and TR = Transfer Payments.

How to budget $1,000 a month? ›

How To Live on $1,000 Per Month
  1. Review Your Current Spending. ...
  2. Minimize Housing Costs. ...
  3. Don't Drive a Car. ...
  4. Meal Plan on the Cheap. ...
  5. Avoid Subscriptions at All Costs. ...
  6. Negotiate Your Bills. ...
  7. Take Advantage of Government Programs. ...
  8. Side Hustle for More Income.
Oct 17, 2023

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