Tips and tricks to help you save, whether its a big life event or a rainy day.
Setting clear goals
The strongest starting point for successful saving is having clear goals in mind. What are you saving for? How much time do you have to save? Then you can work out how much you need to put by each month. Like anything in life, having clearly defined goals makes it easier to stay motivated and on the right track.
Set your budget
One of the most effective ways to kick start your saving is to plan a household budget. Take an honest look at your monthly expenditures and you'll soon see where you can reduce your outgoings. Maybe you could skip buying the Sunday papers and read the news online instead? Or could you cut back on the amount of channels you have in your TV subscription? We have some very handy tools to help you plan your monthly budget and your outgoings over the whole year.
Shop around
Whether it's your energy provider, television or internet supplier, or mobile phone company - it's worthwhile to compare the rates you're getting with other providers. Switching is usually simple, hassle-free and might save you money. Use an online comparison website to find impartial comparsion of gas and electricity prices. The Economiser is another handy interactive tool to help you compare your spending with others in areas like mobile phones, broadband, groceries and energy.
Don't forget your tax back
Another great way to save money is to pick up tax relief on expenditures. Did you know that you can claim tax back for many things like: Medical fees, renting your home, mortgage interest, and more? Check out Revenue.ie for a full list of tax reliefs available.