Use these simple money-saving tips to put away some funds for a rainy day

Straight in your basket

It’s easy to be drawn in by impulse buys when you’re wandering around a store. Stick to the essentials by making a list in advance, or order online where possible – this helps you keep to your budget, and minimise waste.

Pocket money

Consider putting away a set amount of money on a regular basis – £10 into your savings each week won’t feel like much, but adds up to £520 in a year!

Try the 30-day rule

While we’re at home more, it’s easy to find that boredom leads to online shopping. Make a rule that if you want to buy something, put the money in your savings. After 30 days, ask yourself if you still want or need it? More often than not, the urge to splurge will have passed, and you can leave that money in your savings instead.

Save space

It’s good to have regular clear-outs of your home and wardrobe to declutter the space around you – and potentially make a little cash while you’re at it. If you have items you no longer use that other people might want, you could sell them on Facebook Marketplace, Depop, Ebay or other sites.

Shop smart

Where possible, try to shop around 6pm to 7pm. Often you’ll find this is the time that the reduced item labels are put out, meaning you can bag yourself some tasty bargains for a fraction of the normal price.

Apps to try

• Plum – an AI assistant that connects to your bank account, analyses your spending habits, and automatically saves money for you.

• Moneybox – this award-winning app rounds up your purchases to the nearing pound to help you save.

• Vouchercodes – get spending savvy with this app that collates all the best vouchers on everything from restaurants and hotels, to tech and shopping.