Eleven simple swaps to save you more than £550 in just one month

CHANGING your routine can kickstart a savings habit and help you stash away more than £550 in just one month.

Small swaps like going without a takeaway coffee, ditching fast food deliveries and walking rather than driving can help you build up a rainy day fund.

1

If your resolution for 2022 is to get your finances in order, these tips from investment platform AJ Bell could help you get started.

Some of swaps won’t work for everyone, but if you choose the ones that apply to you, you could still save hundreds.

The amounts you’ll save will also differ depending on how much you currently spend.

We explain which swaps to make to help you save hundreds of pounds in a month.

Stop buying lunch at work – £60

When you’re pushed for time it can be tempting to buy a meal deal or grab lunch on the go at work.

But it’s much cheaper – and can be healthier – to make something at home.

Taking your own lunch to work could save you as much as £60 a month, according to AJ Bell.

That’s based on someone buying five meal deals a week at £3 a pop.

Cut out the coffee – £90

A coffee can help you kickstart the day – but the cost soon adds up if you buy one every day.

Someone popping to a coffee shop for their £4.50 cup five days a week could spend a whopping £90 a month on the habit.

You could get a keep-cup or flask so you can make coffee at home and take it with you.

Many coffee chains have their own loyalty schemes, giving you a free drink after you’ve bought a certain number.

So if you’re planning to continue your caffeine habit, make sure you’re getting the freebie you’re entitled to.

Some will also offer you a coffee on the house when you download their app and keep your eye out for special offers.

Walk or cycle more often – £83

It won’t be possible for everyone, depending on the length of your commute and when you work, but if you can walk or cycle to work it could save you money.

You could always check if your company has a cycle to work scheme, which reduces the price of a new bike and spreads the payment across your monthly salary.

AJ Bell estimates that someone with a 30 mile round-trip to work in an unleaded petrol car, driving five times per week, could rack up £83 just commuting.

Ditch the takeaways – £75

There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to a takeaway, but it could cost you £75 a month if it becomes a weekly habit.

Making it a once-a-month indulgence instead can make a big difference to your budget.

Turn your thermostat down – £100

With energy bills rocketing, it’s never been more crucial to look at how you can reduce your gas and electricity use.

We previously reported that turning your thermostat down by just one degree can help you save money.

In fact, it could knock up to £100 off your energy costs – and you probably won’t even notice the difference in temperature.

If you’re concerned about rising bills you should contact your energy supplier to see if they’re able to help.

There are schemes available to support households who are struggling to pay for heating and electricity.

Check you’re getting all the benefits you’re eligible for and whether you might be able to access the warm home discount or cold weather payments.

Quit smoking – £80

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health and your wallet.

Quitting the habit could help you save £80 and reduce your risk of illness.

The average cost of a pack of cigarettes is £10, so someone getting through two packs a week would quickly see the costs rise.

It can be hard to ditch the cigarettes, so get in touch with your local NHS stop smoking team for free support.

Do one big shop – £20

Doing a big weekly shop can cost a lot but it’s cheaper than regularly popping into convenience stores.

Smaller shops like Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local are often more expensive than the bigger versions.

You’ll be able to make the most of more budget options and better deals, and it could save you £20 a month.

The saving is based on someone buying five extra £1 food items each week.

Date night at home – £60

Swapping a meal and the cinema for a special dinner and film at home can help you reduce your spending.

Date nights out could cost you £60 a month, based on dinner and two cinema tickets.

Obviously it’s nice to treat yourself on special occasions, but consider swapping a restaurant for a home cooked meal once in a while and you could add to your savings.

Cancel your gym membership – £40

Many of us sign up to the gym with the best of intentions, but it’s a big expense especially if you’re not making the most of it.

Cancelling your membership could save you around £40 a month, depending on how much your membership costs.

If you want to bin the gym but you’re still keen to exercise, you can find free or cheap classes online.

You could also join a local sports team or running club, which may charge a fee but it’s likely to be cheaper than your gym membership.

If you want to keep going to the gym, you could look at whether there are any cheaper membership options available.

For example, you might be paying for the gym, classes and the pool – but if you only go swimming then a pool-only membership is a better deal.

There are budget gyms available too, so you could check your local area to see if swapping can save you money.

Before you cancel your membership, make sure you double check what kind of contract you have.

Some gyms need you to give notice before you end your membership, and others might have you locked in for a certain time.

Cancelling your membership out of the terms of contract could result in you being hit with extra fees.

Meal prep – £20

Preparing meals ahead of time can help you save money as you’ll always have something ready to eat rather than splurging on a takeaway or last minute ingredients at an expensive shop.

It’s often cheaper to buy in bulk at the supermarket, too.

Batch cooking and freezing spare portions will also cut down on food waste and help you get more out of your supermarket spending.

AJ Bell estimates that meal preparation could contribute an extra £20 a month to your savings.

Use vouchers and loyalty cards – £20

For example, if you shop at Tesco you can get lower prices if you sign up as a Clubcard member.

Other shops have their own perks for shoppers, such as Nectar points at Sainsbury’s which can be spent on groceries or traded in for other treats and days out.

A previous investigation by The Sun found that people with a Tesco clubcard paid up to 50% less for the same items than non-members.

“Make sure you’re clued in on all of the loyalty schemes for your favourite shops and also keep an eye out for vouchers you can use,” AJ Bell said.

“Technology has made savvy spending easier than ever; there are apps that find voucher codes for online purchases, give you cashback for shopping and help you keep track of all of your loyalty cards.”

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk