Helpful savings tools and tips

Whether you're new to saving or looking for easier ways to save, we can help. Use these ideas to help you reach your goals, reduce spending and develop some new saving habits along the way.

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How to grow your savings

Ways to reduce your spending

Try a savings challenge

The two golden rules

How to grow your savings

Start small

Start with saving little and often to get into a healthy savings habit. Setting up just one standing order on the day you get paid to go into a savings account can help you grow your savings.

Pocket the small change

Instead of spending your change, save it. Go traditional and save your small change in a pot. Or, if you sent £1 a day to a savings account, you'd have £365 at the end of the year.

You can turn on Save the Change® to save your change automatically.

Reduce your gifting stress and expense

Reviewing your gift list for events like Christmas could make things easier and cheaper for you. Perhaps try a gift exchange, give to charity or agree to save what you would have spent on each other.

Get clear in half an hour

Review your incomings and outgoings. Half an hour could be all you need to sort out exactly what is coming into and going out of your bank account each month.

Pay in what you were paying out

Once you have paid off your borrowing, you could send the same payment into a monthly savings pot. You’ll be paying yourself each month, instead of someone else.

Fight food waste and save

Plan your meals ahead. It sounds simple, but when you know exactly what ingredients you need for the week ahead you're on the right track to both reduce food waste and save money.

Ways to reduce your spending

Switch to SIM-only

If your phone is included in your contract, you've already paid it off when the contract ends. So, switching to a SIM-only contract at that point could save you money.

Take advantage of family offers

If there are multiple people in your household with music streaming subscriptions, you could make use of a family package. Sign up together and split the cost.

Switch providers and haggle deals

Comparing deals on your household bills and switching could save you money. Use a price comparison website or contact your existing provider - and don't be afraid to haggle.

Save as you spend

Loyalty schemes and cashback offers are easy ways to turn spending into savings. Use cashback to get money back on purchases, or a loyalty card that accrues points as you spend.

Savings challenges

The £10 challenge

How easy is it to spend £10? Set up a standing order to your savings account for £10 a week and you'll have £520 by the end of the year.

Save over £1,000 a year

A takeaway and a bottle of wine can easily come in at £20 a week. But swap out the habit and send it into a savings account and you'll have made £1,040 in one year.

The 24-hour rule

Try not to make any purchases within 24 hours. Instead of clicking 'Buy now', wait a day and see if you still want to go ahead. You might find you save on unnecessary splurges.

The no-spend challenge

Try a day a week with no spending at all. This can be as simple as staying off your devices and reigning in on those online purchases. Or plan out activities and treats that are completely free.

Choose specific savings goals

Get specific and set a goal. You could be saving for a house deposit or a house plant, but when you have a goal it's easier to get into a savings mindset.

You can have different accounts for each goal. You can rename your accounts to help keep track of them.

Set your limits

A realistic limit can help you stay aware of your spending. So set yourself a spending limit, per day, per week or per month, and stick to it.

Golden rules

Emergency cash

Create an emergency cash pot. Aim to save the equivalent of three months' salary and put it aside for emergencies and rainy days.

The 50-30-20 rule

Manage your monthly pay by splitting your spending. Allocate 50% to your essentials, like bills, mortgage or rent, transport and food. Then send 30% to a savings account, and the final 20% is to enjoy.

We're here to help

If you'd like face-to-face guidance, you can book a personal review in branch to check you're making the most of your money.

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