Save money

For most people, saving hard is the main way to fund their career break. You can save money in almost every area of your life - here are tips on how to save money.

Save money on your house, car and bills

Look at switching your mortgage provider.Don't ask your bank, and be careful of independent financial advisors (they can be expensive and might not give the best advice for your situation, especially if they're on commission). Read the weekend newspapers (broadsheets, obviously, not the Sunday Sport) or ask a knowledgeable friend or relative.
If you're planning to rent out your house, you might consider switching to a buy-to-let or interest-only mortgage.
Fish out your last 3 lots of bills and visit www.uswitch.com to see if you could save money by changing electricity and gas suppliers.
Also see if you can switch your broadband provider and telephone company, or get a better deal.
See if you can get lower car insurance (www.confused.com is a good site for comparing prices).
Save money (and the environment) by not putting your telly on standby, using energy-saving lightbulbs, turning the heating down, and putting the laundry on the washing line instead of using the dryer.

Make sure you're earning a decent amount of interest on your savings.
Is your money in a high-interest bank account? If not, move it!
You might also consider putting your money in an ISA or mini-ISA.
Some career breakers open a separate bank account for their career break, and arrange for a certain amount of money to be paid into it each month.
You can also get Post Office savings stamps to help you save up for things like travel insurance or bills.

Get out your most recent supermarket receipt and circle or highlight all the items you bought on impulse. Add up how much these cost you.
When shopping, write your list before you go, and stick to it! Avoiding buying more than you need will stop you wasting things.
Buy things on special offer wherever possible (but only if they're the sort of things you would buy normally).
At the supermarket, take a handbasket instead of a trolley - you'll stop as soon as it gets heavy!
Buy perishable stuff, like fruit and veg, every few days, so it doesn't go off.
You've heard it before so we won't tell you again that giving up smoking will save you money. Instead, we'll point you in the direction of this Firefox extension which will help you quit smoking and the NHS stop smoking website.

Cutting down on luxuries can save you a huge amount of money.
Look at our cash maths sheet (printer-friendly, opens in a new window) to see how much you could save and what you could spend it on.For example, giving up your daily latte could save you £580 in a year.
Look after your clothes and they'll last longer! Hang them properly (inside-out) and wash them according to the label instead of just flinging them all in together on a medium wash.
Buy big-ticket items in the sales if you can, or on ebay.
Rent games and DVDs instead of buying them, and use the library for books.
Use our cut-out-and-stick-in-your-wallet motivation cards (printer-friendly, opens in new window). The idea is you see them when you're out shopping, and they help remind you what you're saving for, and why.

It's hard to turn down social invitations when you're saving money. Try explaining to your friends what you're saving up for and why you're doing it.
Invite people to your house instead of going out for dinner.
If you go clubbing a lot, try to get on the guestlist so you don't have to pay the cover charge. Alternatively, go to a bar with a dancefloor instead.

It can be a bit of a drag cutting back, turning down invitations and faffing about with paperwork. To stay motivated, promise yourself the occasional treat - either every month, or when you've saved a certain amount of money.
Get a blank treat sheet here to fill in (printer-friendly, new window).
Look at a sample treat sheet for some ideas (printer-friendly, new window).