15 ways to save money at home

Over 1.5million TV streaming subscriptions were cancelled in the UK in the first three months of 2022. And it’s easy to see why, given how much of a dent they can make on your bank balance each month. 

So, rather than keeping multiple subscriptions on the go, try sticking to just one at a time, binging on what’s available, and then switching to another one. Also, be sure to make the most of free trials for the likes of Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime.

Millions of people are missing out on thousands of pounds that they’re entitled to from the government.

So use a free benefits calculator, such as those listed below, to find out what benefits you could get, and how to claim them.

• Turn2us
• Policy in Practice
• entitledto

There are 16 million people out of contract on their Broadband and mobile deals, potentially paying more than they need to. A quick search on a price comparison site can help you save crucial pounds each year. 

Sometimes you may not even need to switch to save. Suppliers want to keep your custom, and may well offer you a better value package if you’re thinking of going elsewhere.

See our full guide to changing your household bills.

You may well have used cashback sites, such as Quidco and TopCashback, which pay you a cash reward when you click through from them to buy goods or financial products. 

But it can really help to take full advantage of what they have to offer, with cashback available on a huge variety of goods and services, such as car insurance, flights and even high street purchases.

As well as taking advantage of cashback sites yourself, it can also be worth nudging your friends to sign up, as some cashback sites pay a bonus if you refer them to a friend.

Go through your bank statements and look carefully at all of your recurring payments. 

Then have a think whether you really need each. If you don’t - and you’re not tied into a contract - then cancel them. 

Energy bills are a big household expense, especially as prices have risen so much recently. 

One way to save just a little money on energy is to use less of it. By turning your thermostat down just a smidgeon, you can save money, probably without feeling much difference. 

Energy Saving Trust says that if you turn down your main thermostat by 1 degree, you can save around 10% on your energy bill. It says the ideal temperature range to set your thermostat is 18-21 degrees.

A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. So insulating your loft, attic or flat roof is another way to cut your heating bills.

In a semi-detached house, insulating an uninsulated loft with 270mm of loft insulation could cost you an average of £530, but you’d then potentially save £255 each year. 

If you can remember to get ingredients out of the freezer in plenty of time to defrost at room temperature, then you can save on constantly defrosting things in the microwave, or putting them in the oven for longer. 

Bear in mind some food needs to be cooked from frozen, so check the label first!

You can save around £55 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off at the wall, to eliminate costs incurred in standby mode. This can be a pain to remember, so it can help to invest in a standby saver or smart plug, which allow you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go.

Also, remember the classic trick of turning off the lights when you leave a room. This could save you another £20 a year. Find out more tips to making your home more energy efficient.

Don’t pay for any software when there are free alternatives available. 

For example, free image editing software GIMP does a good job at replicating many of Photoshop’s features, and Libre Office can replace Microsoft Office.  

PC Mag has a handy list of some of the best free software available in 2022.

Disposable razors, especially the multi-blade ones, can cost a fortune. They’re not great for the environment either.

You could try a safety razor instead. They take a little getting used to, but are cheaper than multi-blade razors and less intimidating than cutthroat blades.

And best of all, you can save money. After buying a handle that you’ll use permanently, a pack of 100 blades, each of which can be used several times, costs less than £10!

There may be more to your local library than you realise. 

For example, they’re brilliant for free audiobooks for kids and adults. Some allow you online access to an immense selection of the latest magazines, comics and newspapers from the UK and around the world - including some that are normally behind a firewall.

Other benefits include frequent free events, such as story time for kids, or clubs and conversation groups for adults.

And of course, free book borrowing isn’t to be sniffed at if you're a keen reader and regularly spend a fortune on your Kindle or in book shops.

It can be really rewarding to do it yourself, rather than pay for professional help, not to mention a fair bit cheaper.

So while there are some DIY jobs - including those that involve electrics or gas - that you should leave to the pros, there’s plenty you can get stuck into (possibly with the help of YouTube).

Even DIY doesn’t come free though. Read our guide to DIY money-saving tips.

Your food shopping is one of the biggest costs you have to budget for. One of the best ways to cut costs, without taking any drastic measures, is to try and plan ahead a little more. 

Make a meal plan so you can only buy what you really need and avoid waste. Articles like this one on meal planning can help, as can sources of cheap recipe suggestions like the one pound meals YouTube channel.

Another way to save money on food is to try to grow some of your own. It can seem like a lot of hassle at first, but - alongside some small savings - growing your own feels great.

You don’t need a large garden or lots of gardening gear. You can grow herbs and small veg in window boxes, pots or growing bags (or old wellies and buckets). Read our tips for growing your own vegetable garden.