It’s not uncommon for us Brits to splurge some unnecessary cash now and then.
Splurges
Whether it’s biting into a takeaway, stocking up on the booze, or executing a home improvement project, it’s easy to carelessly spend more than we ought to on certain luxuries.
However, saving money is as important as ever, with the UK currently battling a cost-of-living crisis.
According to Online Betting Guide’s (OLBG) Discretionary Spend Index, this is not exactly what we’ve been doing.
OLBG’s research across 12 categories of spending, revealed Brits are spending over £13,000 a year, which is over £3,000 more than what experts suggest.
So, how can we avoid these unnecessary splurges on luxuries, and start saving a lot better.
Read on, to find out our top five tips for saving costs on the UK’s most popular luxuries.
1. Branch out your spending
A great tip to help you spend more efficiently, is to broaden your search for the best places to spend.
A perfect example is when you’re buying fuel. With prices on the rise, it can be difficult to save as much money as possible when re-filling your tank.
However, make sure you don’t just go for the first petrol station you try, or the one that’s always most convenient, as there may well be other places where you can get the same fuel for a much cheaper price.
By branching out a little bit, you’ll save major costs on your regular fuel top-ups, and avoid spending more than you need to.
2. If you’re going to do it, do it right
Another essential trick for removing unnecessary spending, is to make sure with any projects you take up, you do it right first time.
Take Do It Yourself (DIY) projects, for example. So often, people like to cut corners to save time, but as a result, they encounter even more issues during the project, and have to then spend more money to fix or completely redo it.
If you make sure you follow instructions appropriately – right tools, correct application, etc. – you won’t have to spend unnecessary cash on fixing mistakes which could’ve been easily avoided.
3. Healthy life, healthy wallet
A large amount of our unnecessary spending each year, comes from the way we handle healthy lifestyles. This not only applies to us, but to our beloved pets too, and their diet and grooming.
If our pets aren’t healthy, it means we need to take them to the vet, and naturally, this comes with some huge costs.
Therefore, ensure you’re fully aware of all the ways you can maintain your pet’s health – such as teeth brushing, regular check-ups, and buying more nutritious food.
This will keep your pet healthy and happy, and in turn, save you from the unnecessary costs of any expensive treatment.
4. Discounts are your friend
Avoiding unnecessary cash splurges can also be achieved using deals and discounts.
These can be applied to various sectors, especially one that’s so often taking huge chunks from our wallets – the food industry.
Takeaways and restaurants are beloved by us Brits, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of taking more from our bank accounts than they should.
To help avoid this, make sure you search for any available deals or discounts when looking to buy food.
This can drastically cut the cost of your total food bill, and allow you to enjoy your delicious treat, without overspending.
5. It pays to have a plan
Another great way to save money on a range of things, is to make sure you have a spending plan and budget.
This is essential when it comes to spending money on gambling, for example. Regardless of whether you’re trying your hand at online casino, or placing a bet on your favourite sports team, you need to ensure you have safe spending limits in place.
These can either be limits you set for yourself, or ones you’ve established on your gambling/betting platform.
With spend limits, you’ll be able to gamble more responsibly, and have much safer spending habits, which help you to avoid spending more than you can afford.
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Now that you’re equipped with these five top tips, you’ll be able to spend on the luxuries you love, without splurging an unnecessary amount of cash where it’s not needed.
Tagged in Money