Life is expensive, and there are many things that can’t be avoided. We all need somewhere to live, we all need to be able to travel around whether it’s by car or public transport, we all need to eat, and we all need clothes to wear. Even the basic essentials are costly, but there are some ways you can get cheaper options and still keep the quality.
Buying A House
If you don’t think you can afford to buy a house, then there are options to buy a property via shared ownership which means that you can own a share in a flat or house without having to come up with such a large deposit as you would if you were to buy the property outright. Even with a small deposit, you could benefit from growing equity as you pay your mortgage if your home increases in value. Alternatively, you could look at building your own home; if you buy a house and land package, this can help you to save some money.
Buying A Car
Buying a brand new car is very expensive and often unnecessary when there are so many used cars in almost original condition. Visiting a used car dealer means that you can view a wide range of makes and models rather than having to visit different companies who only specialize in one make, and there are cars to suit every budget. Then there are the payment options such as part exchange rates for your old car and finance solutions.
Buying Clothes
Why not try selling some first. This is a great way to declutter and to see what you really have, what you really wear, and what you really need. Then once you have done that and made a bit of money yourself, your attitude will likely change to buying more clothes. However, you will still need clothes, not just to keep you warm and covered, but for specific occasions. There are plenty of budget shops but for real quality, shop second-hand and keep an eye out for sales all year round. Also, make the most of discount codes and offers.
Buying Food
Preparation is critical when trying to save money on food. Planning the meals for the week and then only buying the ingredients for them is the best way to do this as well as cooking everything from scratch. Do away with packets and sauces and purchase the ingredients, it doesn’t take that much longer, it tastes way better and is far healthier. If you find that you waste a lot of food and your life can’t be as organized, then start buying more frozen foods like peppers or onions as they are so easy to throw into a Bolognese or chilli.