Great British Budget Round Up, Tips and Is This The End?

Wow, I can't believe how quick this month has gone!

Sadly, today, is the last day of the Great British Budget.

I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this campaign and I have become quite passionate about saving and becoming more thrifty! I never thought I'd say that! But yes, it is true!

Before I tell you how we have done this last month I have a few last money saving tips to share...

Are you paying too much for your water? As well as the water you use, bills can also include a charge for the treatment of water that runs off your property (rain) and into the sewers. This is known as a "run-off charge" and not everyone needs to pay it. If the drainpipes that carry water off your roof aren't connected to the sewerage system then you may be able to apply for a rebate of between £17 and £50 a year. You'll probably have to fill in a form and the water company may want to visit your home, but if you can prove that no water runs from your roof into the sewerage system, then you won't have to pay the charge."

This is something the we will be looking into as I was unaware of this. We pay our water bills by direct debit for 8 months of the year and don't pay that much so I doubt that we'd get a rebate but it is certainly worth looking into!

Many of us now shop online for anything from clothes to holidays. Although it's possible to find good bargains online, there could be even more savings if you know where to look. Voucher codes can help you to save money on everything from groceries to luxury goods and meals out. If you're short on time, websites like vouchercodes.co.uk collect voucher codes for you - so all you have to do is find the code and enter it when you shop. But remember to check when the code expires!

This is a website that the hubby regularly checks if we are going out to eat as they often have vouchers for our favourite restaurants! We often take out with us 20% off vouchers which are a huge help as we cannot afford to go out often!

If you're struggling to stick to your budget, have you tried only using cash? It's likely that your essential spending such as bills will come out of your account by direct debit, but sticking to cash could help you keep your disposable income on-budget. You could work out how much "spending money" you have at the start of the week, withdraw it from an ATM and then put your bank card in a drawer for emergency use only - that should help you avoid impulse purchases!
This is a tip that I am a huge fan of! In the first week of the Great British Budget I took the leap and went shopping without a card and only took cash and my calculator! I did save money by only buying what was on my shopping list and even got some change!

Consider turning that weekly lottery ticket into a savings plan! If a weekly lottery ticket costs £2, if you save what you'd spend each week that's £104 a year. Likewise other small spends such as a bar of chocolate at the paper shop or a daily coffee can quickly add up. Why not consider contributing your weekly lottery spend, or other weekly expenditure to a savings account instead? It might not give you the same rush, but it can actually be pretty exciting watching your money grow!
I used to do the lottery, but after realising how much it amounted to over the year I did stop! If you win it is fantastic but for the majority of us it is money wasted! It is better being saved and you will then see some benefits!

Our Round Up

This month we have had a successful month.
Yes we have had extra outgoings as it has been the twins birthdays and things have gone on the credit card. However, what we have got on the credit card is a manageable amount. We know that we can pay it off before we get charged any intrest. We have simply cut back in other areas, we have been budgeting more on our weekly shopping and simply watched what is spent and where!
This Great British Budget has made us think more about ways to save money and we have picked up some tips which will continue to be used!
We are still working towards our goal of not needing to use our credit card but with so many other things to pay for it is difficult but I am sure that we will get there, one day!

Great British Budget - The End?

I have really enjoyed taking part in this campaign and certainly do not want it to end here!
I am planning on doing a new weekly post of a budget meal.
I hope to show you that you can still make delicious, tasty, home cooked meals on a budget and want to post a budget recipe each week.
So keep an eye out for this and also a Great British Budget twitter party on Monday!

Disclaimer: I have volunteered to take part in the Great British Budget as it is a subject that is close to my heart. However there is a prize draw for the panelists who are taking part.