If you have a large amount to save up, debts to repay or even just trying to turn over a new thrifty leaf, it can be quite daunting to think of changing all your habits and cutting off all the little luxuries at once! Sometimes just looking at your habits and picking a couple of areas where you may be able to cut back can be more effective ways to save money.
Leeds Building Society have created a new “Kick My Habits” resource which helps you to assess which of the most common areas you are spending extra money on and where you may be able to cut back. It takes you through a series of categories:
- Takeaways
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes
- Partying
- Fashion & Beauty
- Lunches out
- Technology
- Evenings out
You can put in how much you spend weekly on each of these, in a usual week and it will tell you your potential weekly and yearly savings if you were able to cut these out. Of course it may be hard to cut them out all at once but even focusing on a couple would give you some ways to save money.
I didn’t do too badly on the tool – as I don’t drink, smoke or party that is good for my finances. We don’t really have a lot of evenings out either as we find it hard getting baby sitters, so the areas for me to look at would be: Takeaways, fashion and beauty, lunches and technology. Even those I don’t spend a massive amount on, but I do think I could cut out takeaways by meal planning more and that would definitely be a good way for me to save money.
Click through below and see how much you could save. Let me know in the comments how you get on!
Kick My Habits in collaboration with by Leeds Building Society
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
I only saved just under £2k, but I think I need that to save my sanity! 😀
I could definitely save on lunches. I spend so much in Pret every week!
ours came to £97 per week which could be a saving of £5044 per year plus over £83 of interest! oops.
We are quite good, we don’t have too many bad habits (mainly because we can’t afford them!). Once I manage to kick smoking for good the only thing we have are a couple of beers at the weekend which we will not be giving up!
Oh that interactive thing is fabulous and fun to play with x
I saved £40 pw / £2,080 pa though I deliberately over estimated amounts as I don’t spend on things regularly. I do use Quidco though if I’m buying anything online so as to get cash back – I’ve made £120 in just over a year that way!