Best ways to save money - Which? (2024)

Which? has rounded up 50 of our favourite money-saving ideas, including tips on how to reduce the cost of eating out, motoring and heating your home.

If that’s not enough, we’ve also suggested 47 ideas for generating extra cash.

Fix your finances

Here are nine quick financial fixes to help you make the most of your earnings.

1. Transfer expensive credit card debt

If you're making large interest payments on credit card debt, it might make sense to move it all onto a 0% balance-transfer credit card deal.

These credit cards won't charge any interest on transferred debts for a set period, giving you the opportunity to make sure all your repayments go toward clearing the balance.

However, the interest tends to jump at the end of the promotional period, so make sure you pay off the balance in full before this happens.

2. Organise a free overdraft

If you regularly dip into your overdraft, you could be charged up to 39.9% EAR (effective annual rate) for going overdrawn.

Luckily, some bank accounts offer interest-free buffers up to a certain amount. Which? Recommended Provider First Direct, for example, currently offers a £250 interest-free overdraft with its 1st Account.

All overdrafts are subject to eligibility and affordability.

• Find out more:best bank accounts for authorised overdrafts – compare borrowing options

3. Reduce your tax bill

You can keep hold of a bigger chunk of your earnings by claiming all the tax reliefs you're entitled to.

The marriage allowance, rent-a-room relief and potentially exempt transfers (PETs), can all save you heaps of money, yet relatively few people are aware of them.

• Find out more:35ways to save on tax – this guide covers the obscure tax reliefs you need to know about

4. Use price comparison websites

Price comparison websites let you compare hundreds of financial products and ensure you choose the best one for your circ*mstances.

Whether you're looking to buy car insurance, credit cards or a broadband bundle, there is normally a huge difference between the cheapest and most expensive providers, so it's worth browsing for the best offers on these websites.

5. Sign up for loyalty cards

A whole host of retailers, restaurants and supermarkets reward customers by allowing them to build points every time they make a purchase. These points can be converted into money-off vouchers.

You can make your points go further by exchanging them with partners that boost the value. Tesco Clubcard vouchers treble in value when you spend them with third parties and Nectar points, and can be cashed in for hotel stays.

• Find out more:loyalty cards – we review some of the UK's most commonly used loyalty schemes

6. Cancel unnecessary direct debits

A quick browse of your monthly statement can help prevent any unnecessary payments lasting for months or even years.

Get into the habit of logging into your online bank account once a month and making sure you're not shelling out for services you no longer need or use.

• Find out more:how to cancel a direct debit or standing order – a step-by-step guide

7. Get a better mobile phone, TV and broadband deal

Our survey of more than 5,000 people whose contract had ended in the past month found that around half had haggledwith providers to get a better deal for their broadband, TV and broadband or mobile phone network.

• Find out more:how to get the best mobile phone deal – would you be better off on contract or pay-as-you-go?

8. Use budgeting apps

The days of a pen-and-paper budgeting book are long gone, thanks to the large number of mobile phone apps that’ll help you fix your finances.

Using open banking, many of these will let you add accounts from multiple banks so you can keep track of the bigger picture.

• Find out more:open banking budgeting apps

9. Save on your subscriptions

Sharing your streaming subscriptions within your household is one of the quickest ways to save money.

Spotify, for example, offers a Premium Duo plan for £13.99 a month, perfect for two people in the same household, saving £71.88 a year, versus the price of two individual subscriptions.

To save extra cash, you could also try rotating your streaming platforms each month — you could save £113.88 a year rotating Disney+ and Netflix.

• Find out more:11 ways to save money on your subscriptions

Save money on food

Here are our tips that could save you a fortune on groceries over the course of a year.

10. Switch to supermarket own brands

Buying supermarket basic and budget ranges can produce significant savings – and you may find that avoiding big brands doesn't mean compromising on taste.

We regularly put brands, such as Heinz and Kellogg's, up against supermarket own brands in our Which? taste tests, with surprising results. We recently found own-brand crisps, mayonnaise and oven chips tasted better than the big-name alternatives.

• Find out more:how to spend less at the supermarket

11. Get rewarded for your spending

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Waitrose all offer reward credit cards so if you do most of your weekly shop at one of these supermarkets you could benefit. You’ll be able to convert your points into vouchers which can then be used to save money on your shop.

If you shop at a few different places you may benefit from a cashback credit card instead. These will pay you a percentage of what you spend and some offer up to 5%.

Just remember to pay any supermarket reward credit card or cashback credit off in full every month, or the savings will quickly be wiped out by any interest accrued.

• Find out more:best cashback credit cards – find a great deal

12. Avoid convenience stores

Regularly shopping at local supermarket convenience stores could be costing you hundreds more each year.

Which? analysed the prices of a trolley of own-label and branded products available at Tesco and Tesco Express and found you would have paid £817.91 more in 2022 if you regularly shopped at Tesco Express.

• Find out more:how much more does it cost at convenience stores?

13. Make your own

Many people drink smoothies as a healthy shortcut to their five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables, but there's nothing healthy about the price of these drinks.

Buying a smoothie maker or jug blender and blending your own could save you a significant sum if you're a regular smoothie drinker.

• Find out more:jug blender reviews – find out which models our Which? experts rated highest

14. Stock up when you can

Our statisticians crunched more than one million prices and found grocery prices can fluctuate by 284% a week.

This so-called 'yo-yo' pricing means it's worth stocking up when items you buy regularly are discounted, so you don't have to buy them when they're full price. But of course do factor in use-by dates — this approach can work better for store-cupboard items than things you need to eat quickly.

• Find out more:the groceries you should never pay full price for

15. Switch supermarket

Every month we compare how much the biggest supermarkets charge for a big and small trolley of groceries, including everything from bread to toothpaste – and you might be amazed by how much the differences can be.

• Find out more:the cheapest supermarket of the month

16. Use Healthy Start vouchers

Which? research has found many parents with young children are missing out on free NHS Healthy Start food vouchers.

The NHS scheme provides extra help to pregnant women and families with young children who are both on a low income and qualifying benefits. It comes in the form of a card, which can be used to pay for healthy food such as milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables. Those eligible can receive top-ups of £4.25 or £8.50 a week depending on the age of their child.

• Find out more:over 200,000 missing out on free food vouchers

17. Compare unit prices

Use the unit price, rather than the overall pack price, to work out if you're really getting a good deal – it will make it much easier to compare the product against alternatives.

Unit prices, such as the price per 100g or the price per 100ml, are required to be displayed on most groceries by law. But an investigation we conducted in August 2022 found that unit pricing is missing on multibuys and loyalty card prices.

The issues we uncovered with unit pricing are worrying as we found you could pay up to 346% more by going for different sizes of exactly the same product.

• Find out more:can you spot the cheapest groceries?

18. Check the 'reduced' aisle

As long as you know you’re going to use them before they go off, you can make big savings by buying discounted products that are near the end of their life cycle.

You’ll usually find these in a special aisle with a yellow sticker on them and sometimes sprinkled throughout the supermarket shelves.

19. Don't shop on an empty stomach

Several readers have told us shopping while hungry leads to overspending. Try shopping after a meal or a quick snack to avoid this.

• Find out more:tried-and-tested money-saving tips from real savers

20. Keep food fresher for longer

Freezing leftovers instead of binning them will save you money and time, as you've got an instant meal for a day when you don't fancy cooking. And storing food properly in your fridge will give it a longer shelf-life.

For example, cucumbers turn soft because the fridge is too cold, so wrap them in a tea towel to keep them crisper. And avoid putting milk in the door rack, as it's warmed whenever the door is opened.

• Find out more:fridge reviews – see which fridges were rated as Which? Best Buys

Save money when eating out

Here are nine simple tips that could slash the cost of a restaurant meal.

21. Order takeaway direct from a restaurant

If you’re having a fine dining experience at home, it’s often cheaper to order food directly from a restaurant, rather than through an app delivery service such as Deliveroo or Just Eat, according to our research.

We found one meal that cost £11.62 more from an app than it did from the restaurant.

• Find out more:the hidden costs of the food delivery revolution

22. Search for discount vouchers

Many restaurants offer online promotional vouchers. For example, Pizza Express regularly runs two-for-onedeals on main courses.

Check newspapers for vouchers regularly and make sure you visit websites, such as VoucherCodes, HotUKDeals and MyVoucherCodes, to check for discounts and deals before you go out.

It can be worth checking daily deal websites, such as Groupon and Wowcher, for restaurant deals too.

23. Book your night out online

Websites such as Opentable, and 5pm specialise in two-for-one deals, 50% off offers and promotions where wine might be included with your meal. You can search for the deals currently available in your area, then book a table at your chosen restaurant.

When you arrive at your dinner destination, you'll simply need to remind your server that you booked through a special deal online.

24. Sign up for chain restaurant discounts

Joining some chain restaurants' own clubs can save you a lot of money. These tend to be free to sign up to via email, and are run by large chains such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Pizza Express and Wagamama.

Once you're on a company's mailing list, you'll get details of special deals sent straight to your inbox as soon as they are launched.

25. Join a dining club

Become a member of a loyalty scheme and save up to 50% at participating restaurants.

Tastecard offers a 60-day trial for £1 and costs £34.99 for an annual membership. The Gourmet Society offers a 60-day free trial and renews at £5.99 a month or £34.99 for the year. Both can be used at more than 6,000 restaurants.

26. Bring your own bottle

There's a raft of restaurants around the country that allow you to bring your own bottle (BYOB) to have with your meal, and going to one could save you a tidy sum.

A typical bottle of house wine costs around £15, whereas you could pick up an equivalent one from a supermarket for around £5.

See the online BYOB directory on the Wine-pages website for a list of BYOB restaurants. Some charge a corkage fee of around £2, so check before you go.

27. Don't buy expensive bottled water

Establishments that serve alcohol are required by law to give customers free tap water, so don't be shy about asking for it. Some restaurants charge more than £3.50 for a bottle of mineral water, so twice-monthly diners could save almost £100 a year by switching to tap.

28. Remember your doggy bag

There should be no stigma attached to taking home leftover food. You paid for it, so why waste it? People commonly over order in restaurants, so it makes sense to ask for a doggy bag and take your leftovers home. This will save you money on lunch the following day.

29. Be social

If you regularly eat at a particular chain or have a favourite restaurant, sign up to its Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account. That way, you won't miss out on any special offers or deals.

Save money on transport

Follow our seven tips to help you save hundreds of pounds on your travel costs.

30. Cut the cost of your MOT

There's a maximum test fee of £54.85 set by the government for car MOTs, but service centres often run half-price deals. Check what's on offer in your area before you book.

Some garages try to attract customers by offering reduced prices. To avoid the cowboys, choose a garage through a personal recommendation.

• Find out more:Which? Trusted Traders – find reputable garages recommended by Which?

31. Save on train tickets with a railcard

If you're eligible for a Railcard and make a few off-peak train journeys each year, the amount you save will mean it more than pays for itself.

Most Railcards cost £30 for a year, and get you a third off both standard and first-class tickets. Notable exceptions are the Disabled Persons Railcard, which costs £20 a year for one-third off tickets, and the 16-17 Saver, which offers 50% off for £30.

• Find out more:how to find cheap train tickets

32. Walk or cycle where you can

Walking or cycling, where possible, can save you money on fuel or public transport tickets. And it’s better for your health.

• Find out more:how to buy the best bike

33. Don’t automatically renew your insurance

The ban on the insurance ‘loyalty penalty’ in 2022 brought an end to new customer discounts, but it’s still worth shopping around when your policy is up for renewal.

Use the best quotes you’ve gathered to negotiate with your insurer, and take your business elsewhere if your insurer doesn’t improve its offer. Some 48% of Which? members who haggled in the first six months of 2022 made savings.

• Find out more:best and worst car insurance

34. Rent out your car or parking space

There are plenty of websites that allow you to rent out your empty driveway or garage to motorists needing a place to park such as JustPark and YourParkingSpace.

Register your space free of charge, and you could earn anything from £50 to £800 a month.

Apps such as Turo, Hiyacar, Karshare and Getaround are making it easier to hire out your car for a fee. Some owners we spoke to said they earn an extra £400 a month.

• Find out more:should you rent out your car?

35. Join a car-sharing scheme

Joining a car-sharing scheme could halve your fuel costs. According to liftshare.com, sharing a daily commute can save you more than £1,000 a year.

36. Invest in a 'green' car

Cars with the lowest CO2 emissions are exempt from car tax charges, while the worst gas guzzlers could incur annual fees of hundreds of pounds.

Those buying a new petrol, dieselor hybrid car will likely have to pay more car tax. But those investing in electric cars are now exempt.

• Find out more:car tax explained – our all-inclusive guide

37. Shop around for fuel

To find the cheapest fuel nearby you can use sites such as petrolprices.com or the function in some sat nav apps. Petrolprices.com claims its users save an average of £220 each year.

Premium or ‘super’ unleaded petrol tends to cost 10p to 15p more per litre than regular unleaded, and contains greater amounts of performance additives. It won’t harm your car to use premium fuel, but it’s typically only beneficial in high-performance cars that require a higher-octane rating on petrol.

• Find out more:how to save on fuel

Save money on households bills

Here are nine tips that could help cut the cost of your council tax and utility bills.

38. Turn down the heat

If you are walking around indoors in a T-shirt in winter, you are burning cash. A simple but effective way to cut heating costs is to take control of your central heating thermostat.

Adjusting your central heating timer to switch off at night and during the day if the house is empty, will also minimise fuel consumption.

• Find out more:home heating systems – the most efficient ways to heat your home

39. Check you aren’t overpaying your council tax

Anyone who lives alone, or with people who are ‘disregarded’ for council tax purposes, can get a 25% discount on their council tax bill.

The average band D council tax bill in England for 2023-24 is £2,065, so that’s a saving of £516.25.

If the whole household is disregarded, there’s a 50% discount – which would mean a saving of £1,032.50.

The disabled band reduction scheme can also help if you, or someone you live with, has a disability that means you have to live in a larger property. If you qualify, your bill will be reduced to the next-lowest council tax band.

• Find out more:how to cut your council tax bill

40. Install insulation

Up to a third of heat disappears through the roof, so it makes sense to add insulation. Installing loft insulation if you don’t have it already could save you up to £215 per year in energy bills depending on your home.

• Find out more:how to buy loft insulation – see our expert guide

41. Find out how much your appliances cost to run

We've collected energy use data for the most common household appliances, including fridge freezers, ovens and laundry appliances, so you can find out how much each of them costs to run and how to cut back.

Our tests show that condenser tumble dryers are the most expensive appliances to run by quite a margin, costing on average £168 a year.

Coming in second place are American-style fridge freezers, which will set you back around £143 each year.

• Find out more:9 ways to reduce energy usage around the home

42. Deal with draughts

Stopping heat from escaping through unwanted gaps around doors and windows could help you save around £30 a year, according to Energy Saving Trust.

Professional draught proofing tends to cost £223 for a typical household, but there are plenty of DIY draught-proofing jobs you can do yourself.

43. Save on energy bills

For most people, it's not currently possible to save money by switching energy tariff or provider but there are still some things you can do to save.

• Switch to paperless billing: some providers charge customers for paper billing.
• Pay by direct debit: paying this way tends to be the cheapest option, rather than paying once you’ve received your bill. But make sure you question any direct debit increases that seem too high.
• Give regular meter readings:this will keep your bills accurate and prevent estimated bills.

Find out more:10 ways to save money on your energy bills

44. Don't heat unused rooms

If you have a spare bedroom that is rarely used, turn its radiator down to the lowest setting without turning it off completely. Fitting reflective foil behind radiators on external walls will also helpreduce the rate of heat loss in these rooms.

45. Check if you can get support

Getting expert advice to help you save money needn't be hard work. You can carry out a free, online home-energy check on the Energy Saving Trust website, energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Energy schemes and grants are available to help pay your energy bills or to support you with the costs of renewable heating. These include:

• Warm Home Discount – £150 (increased from £140 in October 2022) mainly to pensioners and those who get certain benefits;
• Winter Fuel Payment – £100 – £300 per winter for those born before 26 September 1955;
• Boiler Upgrade scheme – up to £6,000 to replace your current gas or oil heating with low-carbon heating;
• The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme – help with insulation and energy-efficiency measures for those on low incomes. The Great British Insulation Scheme, announced in March 2023 is the next phase of ECO.

Find out what home energy grants you're eligible for.

Save on health, beauty and clothing

Clothes and beauty products can be pricey. Here are five tips on how to save.

46.Recycle old clothes

These schemes all reward you for recycling old clothes:

• H&M – receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £25 shop) if you recycle a bag of unwanted clothes or textiles from any store in any condition at a branch of H&M.
• Marks and Spencer – receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £35 shop) if you donate items to Oxfam (either clothing or soft furnishings). The clothes must not be damaged or soiled because they will be resold. You can also donate items in M&S stores under the retailer's 'Shwop' scheme – you won't get a voucher but Sparks members get a free treat by scanning the QR code on the donation box.
• New Look – take good-quality, pre-loved fashion to a Hospice charity shop (find them here), scan the QR code on the counter and receive 15% off your next shop at New Look.
• Schuh – receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £25 spend) when you bring in an old pair of shoes (any brand).
• Sweaty Betty – receive a £10 voucher (to be redeemed against a £50 spend) when you recycle an old pair of leggings (any brand) to a Sweaty Betty store.

47. Shop second-hand

Our customer survey has rated marketplaces such as Depop, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Vinted to help you find the best and worst places to find bargains.

• Find out more:best and worst places to shop second hand online

48. Make do and mend

While you’re in a crafty mood, why not fix up old, damaged clothes instead of buying new ones?

You can buy needles, thread and spare buttons for a fraction of the price of a new shirt. Many garments come with spare buttons anyway, so you may as well put them to good use.

49. Save on prescriptions

Those that live in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales receive free prescriptions.

In England, you may receive free prescriptions if you have a certain medical condition or disability, or if you’re on certain benefits. Those that are under 16, between 16-18 in full-time education and over 60 also receive free prescriptions.

If you don’t qualify for any of those you’ll have to pay £9.65 per item, but you could save with a prescription prepayment certificate.

PPCs can be bought online via the NHS website. A three-month prepayment certificate currently costs £31.25 and a 12-month PPC will be £111.60.

• Find out more:how to save on prescriptions

50.Wash clothes at the right settings

We all know washing clothes at a lower temperature is good for the planet, but it’s also good for our wallets.

Washing at 20°C instead of 40°C could save you 62% on running costs.

Our myth-busting guide to cleaning clothes in a washing machine clears up all questions you might have about different temperature settings.