Top money-saving tips

Everyone wants to save money; most people hate waste and embrace the idea of selling unwanted items like bric-a-brac or phones for cash. There are also great savings to be made by planning a weekly menu and sticking to it; shopping for it weekly and not spending anything on food in between. You save because you can plan to use left-over food in a variety of ways, such as soups and casseroles. You also save on time and money by making one trip to the shops and taking advantage only of bargains that fit your menu. You now have more time to learn how to cook, thereby saving even more cash. If you can make a sauce from raw ingredients, rather than buying it in a bottle, you are on to a winner. The sense of satisfaction you get from preparing and cooking your own food can't be beaten.Re-cycling your clothes and buying “new” ones from charity shops is a creative pleasure. If you choose carefully you have the chance to put together your own vintage look, definitely a step up from chain store buys. If you do not like the idea of shopping in charity shops, why not get together with a few friends and swop unwanted clothes at a “pre-loved” clothes party? You are sure to have a hilarious evening trying on each others’ treasured items. If you are handy with a sewing machine you can make little alterations and additions. Certainly, learning how to sew is another essential skill that we need to revive, as well as knitting and crochet.