Bills are such a part of our lives that we think nothing of paying them (other than worrying about whether we can afford them all).
However, it’s so easy to add to the regular payments going out of our bank accounts each month now that your expenditure grows without you noticing until it’s too late. Here’s a guide to ten things you can get for free or cheap instead or splurging on them as a regular expense.
Streaming TV
If you watch live TV, you need a TV License. That’s the current rule anyway, although it looks like the licensing rules will be shaken up in coming years. This includes live TV on streaming services, so if you only watch Amazon Prime but also watch live sports from it, then a license is required.
However, you can watch TV for free online. You don’t need to pay for streaming subscriptions, either. There are online channels and apps that let you watch broadcast TV on catchup, for free (except BBC iPlayer which requires a license). ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 all have their own version of a catch-up app, available for free. There are paid versions to eliminate adverts – but the free version does the same job.
Books, magazines, and eBooks
If you’re an avid reader, a chunk of cash probably goes to new books every month. This can quickly add up – especially if you read fast! Borrowing might have gone out of fashion in recent years, but libraries are a fantastic resource. Not only can you borrow physical books from them – these days you can borrow eBooks for your Kindle or eReader, too. They’ll even have magazines!
If you’re a magazine fan, it’s also worth looking at Readly. Yes, it’s a paid subscription of £12.99 a month – but you can often nab a free trial to test it out first, and the price is the same as two or three magazines a month. So, if you read four or more, you’ve made a saving. It also gives you access to back catalogues, so you can read loads of past issues, as well as daily newspapers.
Board games
Adults and children who love board games are never bored! However, they can be costly and take up a lot of storage space. There are a few ways to save on your board game buying habit. First – you guessed it: go to the library! Many have games you can borrow for free. Next, if you want to try a new game before you buy, head to a board game café with friends for an afternoon of fun together.
It could save you lots of cash on games that don’t quite stack up to your expectations. Finally, do a swap with your board gamer friends. Or, host a game night each month together where you rotate whose game you play – it’s a great sociable activity and means you don’t have to buy new to enjoy a new game.
Extended warranties
Step away from the extended warranty. We’re often given the hard sell on these when we buy something more expensive or a piece of technology – but the warranty is often very limited in what it covers and it can be very hard to claim. And that’s if you even need to make a claim!
If something breaks when you’ve used it for only a short period of time, the damage could fall under normal consumer laws. You have the expectation for an item to be functioning for a reasonable period of time – so, if you’re out of your year’s warranty but your washing machine fails after owning it 14 months, you could still have some statutory rights on getting a repair.
Cheap furniture
OK bear with us on this one, because it sounds backwards, right? However, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ often applies when it comes to home items like furniture. We use things like beds, armchairs, and sofas every day. They take a lot of hard use, and cheap ones can’t stand up to that for very long.
So, if you’ve got a tight budget for furniture but need something new right now, check out your local Freecyle and Gumtree networks – there is bound to be someone giving away what you’re looking for, for free. Bulky items can be a pain to get rid of, so they’re often advertised as free providing you can pick it up yourself.
Stock your home with second-hand finds until you can save a proper furniture budget. High quality furniture is more expensive, but can last decades if you choose well. Working out the cost-per-use or cost-per-year of its anticipated life will help you see that it’s cheaper over time to save up and buy the good stuff instead of buying a new, inexpensive item every year or two.
Gym membership
This one doesn’t need much explaining! We’re often tempted into the gym by introductory offers that then lock us into unfair contracts that are hard to escape. Gym memberships are often £40 or more a month, which is a lot to waste if you don’t go often. Instead, look at free activities like walking or running, volunteer at a green gym, or find a weekly class at your community centre for a much lower price. There are plenty of free workout videos online on YouTube, and you don’t need expensive equipment to work out at home either.
Bottled water
This is a niche one but one that is growing in popularity. If you insist on only drinking bottled water, think twice. Not only is it expensive, but you’re not doing the environment much good, either! If you need bottled water because you live in a particularly hard water area, consider investing in a water softener for your main tap. Then you can drink from the tap without using lots of plastic bottles! And for those who buy bottled water for being out and about, remember that most places will refill your own reusable water bottle for free – just ask.
Brand name food
We all have that one thing we just won’t give up – our favourite coffee, ketchup, or ‘best range’ oven pizza. That’s fine and actively encouraged, because a budget shouldn’t mean deprivation. However, if you haven’t tried swapping things out for a while, give it a go. You might find that many supermarket own brands taste just as good (or even better) than the branded product. In fact, many are even made by the same companies with just small recipe tweaks! Changing a few things from branded name to own brand each week could save you hundreds of pounds across the year.
Credit card interest
You DO have to pay your credit card interest, it’s not optional! However, you can also get around it to give yourself some breathing space and pay off your debts. If you’re only paying the minimum each month on your credit card, it will take a long time to clear debt. Consider shifting your credit card to a balance transfer card.
There are some great deals out there right now – Natwest is popular, with a 13-month interest free period and a three-month fee free balance transfer window when you set it up. This means that when you’re paying towards the balance each month, it’s going on paying off the debt and not the accrued interest.
Balance transfer cards are NOT to replace purchase credit cards, because the interest rate on purchases is very high. Use them only to consolidate your credit card debt and pay back the debt rather than the accruing interest. Make sure you clear the balance before the end of the term (or shift it to another balance transfer card) otherwise the interest rate will be high.
Buying new clothes for every occasion
While it’s winter now, wedding season will soon be upon us as spring and summer arrive. It’s one example of how we’re often in the habit of buying an entirely new summer wardrobe because we want a new dress or suit for every occasion. Raid your closet, first and foremost. Find older items you haven’t worn in a while and either use those or upcycle them into something new – there will be tailors and seamstresses in your area willing to take on the challenge!
Next, check out charity shops. If you know you’ve got weddings or other occasions coming up that require fancier clothing than usual, now is a good time to go thrifting. People love to do a springtime clear out of their wardrobes, and you could nab a fantastic bargain. Finally, if you really must buy something new, buy just the one. You can use your existing accessories to change the outfit each time you wear it, too.
Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of MoneyMagpie.com. However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
