Money expert reveals 5 small ways you can save money without realising it

With the cost of living rising and debt being on the minds of many, working out what’s best for your finances can feel overwhelming. Laura Howard, money expert at Forbes Advisor, offers 5 tangible tips to help keep your head above water.

1. Ensure that a credit card is your servant, not your master

If you start to pay interest on your credit card however, the cost will soon outweigh any of these benefits. And if you find you are leaning on credit cards to meet the cost of everyday essentials which you are unable to clear every month, it’s definitely time to reconsider your options.

2. Protect your credit score

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Your credit report is nothing less than gold when it comes to accessing credit agreements, ranging from a mobile phone contract to a mortgage. It even counts when it comes to being accepted as a tenant on a rental property or opting to pay for your car insurance in monthly instalments.

Now more than ever then it will pay dividends to take good care of your credit report. If you haven’t checked your report in a while, you can sign up to a free trial with credit reference agencies such as Experian or Equifax.

3. Consider a smart meter

4. Take advantage of rewards

If you’re a frequent shopper at a particular store or supermarket, find out what loyalty cards or apps, if any, it issues. It’s a hassle-free way to rack up rewards which you can then use for discounts on future spending – what’s to lose?

5.  Download a budgeting app

Budgeting apps, such as Snoop, allow you to keep closer tabs on your spending by grouping all of your financial accounts together in one place.

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They allow you to set budgets, break your spending down into categories to identify any potential waste, and ‘round up’ spending to the nearest pound, automatically saving the difference. Many of the apps offer at least a basic version which is free to use.