Is It Possible To Save Money On Basic Necessities? A Helpful Guide

Food shops, mobile phone bills and car insurance are just some of the basic necessities we need in life. However, for some, having enough money to afford them each month can be a struggle, particularly with prices soaring across the country.

Luckily, there are some things that you can do to save on basic necessities, and this helpful guide is here to show you how. From comparing SIM only deals to planning your food shop, this guide covers it all.

Write A Shopping List

Groceries are definitely something that we all need. However, it can be very easy for that weekly food bill to increase. One solution that can help, which is highly effective, is a trusty old shopping list. Many people do not realise how beneficial a shopping list can be. It can help you focus on the items that you need. This helps you avoid putting in additional extras that you don’t need, which will help keep the final cost down.

There are many shopping list apps out there that can also make the process a lot easier – no more writing out shopping lists on pieces of paper, only to lose them. Planning your meals before your weekly food shop will also help keep costs down. If you have dinner planned for each day of the week, it will also stop you from ordering a meal out. Although this is a nice luxury, you should try and eat at home as much as possible to help you save money.

Use Price Comparison Sites

Car insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, and all the other types of insurance are certainly a necessity in life. However, the cost of these can all start to add up, and it can certainly put a dent in your monthly budget. Luckily, there are some useful price comparison sites that can help. Price comparison sites can help you find the best and cheapest deal for you by comparing quotes from a long list of different providers.

The best thing about these sites is they are relatively easy to use. Simply type in a few details, and you can gain access to a long list of quotes. Conduct an online search to find some of the best price comparison sites out there. It is also important to note that you should never settle for the same provider for years. Always use a price comparison site to see if you could be getting a better deal elsewhere as providers change their prices all the time.

Compare SIM Only Deals

Most of us heavily rely on our mobile phones throughout our everyday lives. However, expensive contracts can soon become a problem, and most people can get tied in for a lengthy amount of time. This is where Lebara can help. Take a look at Lebara as an example. Their range of SIM only plans start as little as £5 a month. The plans are 30 days rolling, so you are not tied into a lengthy contract, and you can amend/cancel your plan at any time.

Choosing a SIM only plan over a traditional contract can have many benefits. Most importantly, it can save you a lot of money. This is because you are not paying for the price of a new device. You are only paying for the SIM. This means you can still have a mobile phone without the stress of a hefty monthly bill hanging over you. It is recommended that you use the internet to compare SIM only deals so you can find the best ones out there.

Identify Your Spending Habits

To afford the necessities you need, it is crucial that you look at ways to save money. To achieve this, you will need to spend some time identifying your spending habits. For some, stress can be a spending trigger. When they feel under pressure, they may go out and spend money on items they do not necessarily need, which can get them into a difficult financial situation further down the line.

Start by looking at your monthly bank statement. It will give you a clearer idea of your spending habits. You may notice that you spent a lot of money during one weekend. Try and identify the reasons for this. Research shows that emotional spending can make it very difficult for people to save money. Therefore, it is important that you learn how to overcome this. You don’t need to feel guilty about wanting certain items, but you need to set realistic expectations. Although you may want the item, can you really afford it?

Shop The Sales

Clothes and shoes are among some of the most popular items that we regularly shop for. You may have a job interview that requires some professional attire – or your children may need new school shoes. There is no doubt that items like these can put a sizeable dent in your monthly budget. The solution? To shop the sales. You will tend to find that there is always some sort of sale going on in the retail world. It’s time to start becoming more spend savvy by raiding those rails when a hefty discount is up for grabs.

You can really grab yourself a bargain in the sales both in-store and online. If there is a particular shop you enjoy, try signing up to their website as you will be the first to receive news on any upcoming sales. Some companies even give loyal customers early access. Although sales shopping requires a bit more effort, as you really have to look around for a bargain, it can certainly pay off. You could end up saving yourself a lot of money over the year. Try looking for online coupon codes if you prefer to shop online.

Lower Your Energy Usage

It is no secret that gas and electric prices have risen and will continue to rise throughout the year. You can learn why through various online news outlets. This can be quite daunting for many homeowners as gas and electricity are basic necessities that we rely on throughout our everyday lives. To help you save money on your monthly bills, you need to look at ways to reduce your energy usage. Luckily, this is possible with the help of some top tips.

Simple changes like turning off lights and devices that are not in use and reducing the length of your showers can end up making a huge difference. You can also buy energy-efficient appliances like clothes dryers, freezers and dishwashers. Although the upfront cost for these items may be significantly high, they will pay off in the end as they can dramatically reduce the cost of your monthly bills. For more ideas on making your home more energy-efficient, it is recommended that you conduct some online research as there are plenty of helpful resources out there.

Summary

Although basic necessities are hard to avoid, there are certainly ways that you can save money on them. Whether you need to compare SIM only deals or look at ways to lower your energy usage, with the right attitude, you can reduce those monthly bills and become more financially independent. Setting yourself a monthly budget can also help as it puts realistic expectations in place of what you can afford. It can help you identify areas where you are spending too much money so you can cut back.