Light at the end of the tunnel

It is so easy to get into debt, but not as easy to get out of debt. The first thing you need to do is set a realistic household budget.

List all things you have to spend money on i.e. gas, electric, mortgage, then list all the things you want to spend money on. The goal is to separate between ‘Need’ and ‘Want’ for example you ‘need’ to eat or you ‘want’ that new CD. The idea is to look at your outgoings and see where you can make cut backs, as in setting yourself a shopping budget for food.

Some examples of how to save money on groceries, household bills:
1. Ask your supermarket what time they mark down their products, and purchase these when they are cheaper.
2. Grow your own vegetables and fruit - a lot cheaper than buying.
3. Use price comparison sites to check you are not paying too much for your gas, electric or mortgage.
4. Check with your energy supplier to see if you have an economy setting, do your washing etc in the evening as it is cheaper.
5. Take a shower instead of a bath, it’s cheaper.
6. Do you really need the heating on? Can you just put on another layer of clothing?
7. Hang clothes to dry on a rainy day indoors over the bath or use a clothes airer, it’s cheaper than the tumble dryer or radiators.
8. Use natural products for cleaning its cheaper and better for your health!! i.e. vinegar for cleaning windows.

Overall just think about ways to do things on the cheap, research and you will save money and get out of debt. Think pennies make pounds and pounds make rich men.