In the last of our How to save series, we're got a variety of reader-tested tips, ideas and advice for you to try to boost your savings! We know it can be hard to find the time to think about how to add some pennies to your purse, but whether you have a spare 15 minutes, a day, a week, a month, or even a year, you can be saying KER-CHING with these little wins!
Set up a crafting business
If you want to start a business, this is the one to go for. Craft beautiful products at home - anything from homeware to jewellery to gift items - then sell them for a profit at fairs and on Etsy.com. It requires skill but it’s not uncommon for good crafters to earn enough to make it their full-time job. For inspiration, get hold of our next issue of Take a Break Makes, on sale 5 March.
TaB reader Heidi says: ‘Five years ago, I was unemployed and bored silly. I struggled to find work that fit around my life as a single parent of a child with behavioural issues. My sister came up with the idea of making hand-painted, personalised bags to sell. And it worked! Within a year, I’d earned around £3,000 - and it had kept me sane.’
Rent out your home
People will pay to rent spaces from you, whether that’s a spare room (visit spareroom.com), a parking space (Gumtree, Just Park), storage space (Storemates) or even to use your garden as an allotment (advertise locally). If you don’t fancy it full-time, rent out your spare room on Airbnb - but make sure you’re ready and willing to have a stranger around, and keep organised with cleaning and payments. Alternatively, rent out your entire place when you’re away. Airbnb.com also lets you host experiences, paying you to host guided tours, pub crawls, exercise classes or even Instagram shoots.
Tutor
If you have specialist skills, work from home by teaching students online. You can even teach English as a foreign language to adults abroad. It requires dedication but it can be fun, tackle loneliness and bring in some cash. Try Education First and Course Hero.
Turn off your TV for £200
Savvy savers swear by pulling the plug on their telly. There are obvious savings – no TV licence is needed and you’ll reduce your electricity bill. But you may also find you go on to spend less on goods, as you’re no longer tempted by TV adverts. Use the time you’ll save to try one of our money-making ideas.
Quit takeaways for £1,000
If you treat yourself and your family to a takeaway once a week, you’re spending an average of £20 – that’s over £1,000 a year. Ditch the pizzas or fish and chips for cheaper and healthier home-cooked alternatives. Your wallet and your waistline will thank you.
TaB reader Amy says: ‘I’ve given up not just takeaways, but also chocolate, fizzy pop, alcohol and clothes shopping in a bid to pay off my debts quicker. I’m three months into my new lifestyle and have saved £400 – that will be £1600 in a year!’