When I was at University, I got myself into a bit of a pickle money wise.

I spent what I didn’t have. I ran up credit card debt on a whim. I spent too much money on alcohol and cigarettes and not enough on things like my wellbeing and future.

But, lessons come to us in the weirdest of ways and there’s no doubt that my time at university gave me the best kind of financial lesson I could have hoped for. Because it was thanks to getting in such a pickle that I learned how to manage money better and also – and perhaps more importantly – how to save it.

Over the years I’ve become a bit of a dab hand at saving money. I’ve always loved a bargain and am proud as punch to say that I can usually spot them a mile off, but I’ve also picked up a number of tips since university that help me to save money and even pocket a little extra too.

Here are all the things, I always do, to help my money go that little bit further.

SHOP AROUND

This is such an obvious one, but yet so many people I know fail to do this! And as a result, can often end up spending a lot more money than they would have done if they’d just done a little bit of research first.

I know our lives are busy. I know sometimes you may only have five minutes in a day to get something sorted or to purchase something online, but shopping around really does work, particularly when it comes to those important purchases such as car insurance, phone contracts or mortgage offers.

Make sure you take advantage of all the fantastic comparison sites that are out there to help you find the best deal and give yourself a little time before you decide on a purchase too. We saved £85
last year by swapping to a SIM only deal found on Tiger Mobiles and even more on our Energy Bill
thanks to switching via Which. These two things really can save you lots of money and help you find the very best deal for you.

SHOP SMART

I enjoy shopping, particularly when it comes to fashion or buying clothes for the kids, but I’m well aware of how easy it is to spend more money than you intended. It’s so very tempting to think ‘sod it’ and throw a credit card at a purchase or to ‘forget’ about the overdraft, which is why shopping smart can be a big help.

What do I mean by shopping smart? Well for me, it means giving myself a few shopping rules that I try to stick to. So for instance, when I’m thinking of buying an item of clothing, I always think to myself:

• Can I afford it?
• Do I absolutely love it?
• Do I have clothes and accessories to wear with it?

If I can’t answer yes to all three, then it goes back on the rack and I move on. I can’t tell you how many times these three little questions have stopped me buying something either I didn’t need or even really want.

EARN CASHBACK

I use two well known cashback sites currently – Quidco and Top Cashback – whenever I’m purchasing something online. There’s a number of cashback sites out there and they’re a really great way to earn a little money or make your money go that bit further. Some even pay you for successful referrals too!

If you’re not using a cashback site when shopping online, you really are missing a trick. They’re so simple to use and with so many retailers who partner with them, you can earn yourself a pretty penny with just a few extra clicks. And just to give you an example, I’ve earned over £600 on Quidco alone over the past few years, which is not to be sniffed at!

SELL WHAT YOU DON’T NEED

I bet if you took a quick walk around your house or had a quick dig in your wardrobe you could find at least a handful of things that you no longer need or are using which could earn you some money.

From clothes with their tags still on to baby items you no longer use, all of these things can bring you a source of income when you need a little financial boost. For instance, I’ve found since having Leo that baby clothes from popular brands such as Boden, Frugi or JoJo Maman Bebe really hold their value and providing an item is in a good or excellent condition are very quick and easy to sell.

So do consider eBay or try selling locally (it’s much quicker and easier than you think!) to earn yourself some easy extra money. Or if you’ve got a good social media presence, you might even want to consider selling some items on there too. I recently set up a separate Instagram account to sell some clothes on after having a wardrobe clear out and that’s been surprisingly successful for me!

SHOP DIFFERENTLY

Times are changing and as living costs keep on increasing, more of us are looking to save money and shop smarter.

I’ve shopped in charity and vintage shops for years, since I was in my mid teens, but back then some people used to look down on these shops or even make fun of me for shopping in them! Now though, they’re all the rage and people are no longer afraid to admit that they’ve found a bargain in their local Cancer Research shop or that they’ve snagged a vintage dress online for a fiver.

So don’t be afraid of trying different shops or venturing into different supermarkets. I promise you, even if you’re a label snob, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

SHOP IN THE SALES

As long as you shop mindfully, you can pick up all kinds of bargains in the sales.

I like to use the sales as an opportunity not just to seek out lovely (cheaper) clothes but also to seek out discounted gift wrap, kids toys (great for all those school birthday parties!) or to buy and stash away potential Christmas or birthday presents for people.

Just be careful that you don’t get bargain blind and carried away by the price. Remember the golden sales rule, it’s only a bargain if you wanted or needed it in the first place.