Financial Blogger

The new year is here, and for many of us, that means it’s the perfect time to start making some positive changes in the way that we live our lives. For some people, the new year is a new chance to start a diet and lose some extra weight. Other people make a resolution to stop smoking or cut down their drinking habits.

One resolution that most Brits can afford to make this year, however, is the decision to cut costs and improve their finances. Even if you’re not struggling to make ends meet, it’s always a good idea to check out some ways that you can keep extra cash aside for the future. That’s why we’ve put together this list of easy ways to improve your finances in 2020.

Keep Your Receipts

Some purchases are easy to keep track of. When you take out a loan for your new car, you can easily see how much you’re spending for it each month. However, one-off expenses are easy to overlook when they’re only very small. If you’re only spending a pound or two on some extra treats for the kids when you’re out grocery shopping, it’s easy to forget all about it.

However, keeping track of all of your expenses will ensure that you’re the first to know when you’re developing a spending problem. Keeping your receipts, or tracking your costs with your online banking system will help you to figure out where you’re overspending.

No matter where you might be in your financial journey, it’s always possible to learn how to be better with your money. Whether you’re starting out with your first job and you’re putting money away in a savings account for the future, or you’re planning for retirement, we’ve all got goals in mind for the cash that we earn. Fortunately, there are lots of things that you can do to make sure that you’re set up for success with your cash.

Sometimes, all it takes to transform your relationship with money is one step in the right direction. For some people, it will be the decision to start using and managing a budget. For others, the decision to use envelopes of cash could change everything.

Here are some quick ways that you could start saving more money, pronto.

Stop Automatically Renewing

Automations make life easier more often than not. Being able to pay for your bills using direct debits that you set up through your bank will mean that you’re less likely to spend a fortune on things like late fees and overdrafts. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be automatically paying for everything.

Many companies, including the ones that provide your gas, electricity, and insurance, will assume that you automatically want to renew your service for another year if you don’t’ cancel when your subscription is about to run out. While allowing that renewal to happen can be a convenient option, it also means that you might not be getting the best deal. Take some time to look around for better offers before you allow yourself to renew.

Keeping all money in the bank is a common practice, and if this is something that you do then you’re certainly not the only one. But while it may seem like a good idea thanks to statutory protections, this is not necessarily the case. Inflation can also have an effect, which ought to be taken into account. This article will explore the pros and cons.

Yes: it’s the ultimate safety net

Deposits made to banks in the UK are protected under a scheme known as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Deposits made with each banking company (not each bank brand, and some companies own several banks) are protected up to £85,000, meaning that if the bank goes out of business, you’ll get your cash back. Investment vehicles which can rise and fall in value are not protected, meaning that banks are often seen as especially safe.

There are more advantages to using a bank, especially when it comes to quick withdrawals. Bonds, stock portfolios and more often insist that you lose access to your money for a fixed period of time in return for higher returns, or they may take a long time to withdraw simply due to the level of administration required.

It can be hard to stop yourself from overspending at Christmas, no matter how strict you are the rest of the year. Many people admit to over spending on their credit card or taking out a high cost to help them pay for their perfect Christmas. Spending on your credit card is no crime, as long as you can pay it back.

With the average UK household spending £500 upwards on Christmas this year, keeping an eye on your costs is important to avoid being caught in a spiral of debt and taking several months to pay off your holiday season.

The key is to be realistic with what you can afford and to save if you want to spend more than you usually would in a month. Preparation is key. So, to help you avoid overspending this festive period, we have put together ways in which you can do so.