Practical Money Saving Tips
The Best Ways To Save Money

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Practical Money Saving Tips:
1. Plan Your Shopping

Never go shopping without planning what you are going to get in advance. Prepare a list and stick to it. Your list should be based on what you have calculated you can afford to spend. Only go food shopping once a week, and resist the urge to do top-up shopping - learn to get your list right in the first place and stick to it. Never go shopping for food when you are hungry.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
2. Don't Take Your Plastic Out With You

If you leave your credit and debit cards at home, you can't be tempted to use the hole in the wall or by something on credit. Take only cash that you have decided in advance that you can afford to spend.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
3. Don't go window shopping

Don't kid yourself you are only looking - you know from experience you could end up buying something. Avoid the temptation in the first place - don't go looking in shops unless it is with your prepared list as above.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
4. If shopping is your hobby - find a new one

If you use shopping as a recreational activity, you have to stop. The best way to do this is to find something else to occupy your time and replace the satisfaction that shopping gave you. Find yourself a new, free hobby.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
5. Don't be proud

Don't be shy about buying things from charity shops, accepting goods from friends and using useful sites like Freecycle. However, even if you are buying second hand, remember to only look for things you know you need - don't let second hand shopping become your new replacement vice.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
6. Have a pocket money budget and stick to it

Set up all your bills to be paid by direct debit, and work out how much you have to spend on other things - take this out in cash as your pocket money. Make sure that you arrange your activities to stay within your pocket money budget.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
7. Do it yourself

Whatever it is you like doing - see if you can do it yourself at home cheaper. If you like eating in restaurants or visiting cafes, regular outings like this will quickly put a massive hole in your pocket. Learn to create your own equivalents at home. If good food is your thing, you don't need expensive recipe books - there is a wealth of information available on the web.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
8. Before you Buy Something - Consider How Long You Have To Work To Pay For It

Whenever you are about to make a purchase, think about how long you will have to work to pay for it. You should also relate this to the amount of use you are going to get out of it. If you earn £7 an hour and buy a party dress for £140 that is 20 hours you have to work to get it. If you only wear it twice then you are working 10 hours for each time you wear it. Is it worth it?

Practical Money Saving Tips:
9. Don't eat out

If you buy takeaway food every day at work, or regularly when you are out, this will cost you a huge amount over the course of a year. Take your own lunch to work and save a fortune. Similarly, if you are going out, try to plan it so that you will not be starving while you are out. Eat just before you go, or try to get back in time to eat, or take something with you.

Practical Money Saving Tips:
10. Sign up to MoneySavingExpert's weekly email

Martin Lewis has a massively popular email which covers all sorts of up to the minute ideas for saving money. The email has all the latest and best advice, and the website has constantly updated information on the best savings rates, credit cards, and special offers.

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