Budget:

• Have a weekly budget that you stick to.
• Write down a list of everything that you buy for a month. It'll highlight where you can afford to cut back if you're trying to save a few extra pennies.

Food Shopping:

• Always write a list of the things you need so that you don't forget anything, and avoid shopping when you're hungry.
• Don't buy something just because it's on offer. If you don't need it, you're still wasting money.
• Know where to cut back
  • Often the 'value' or the supermarket's own products are just as good as the more expensive stuff. For example, value bleach will do exactly the same job as branded, as will things like flour, oats etc. When it comes to value food & toiletries, it's just a case of trial, error and preference.
• Order online if you can. The delivery prices can be pretty expensive, but I find it to be cheaper in the long run because I normally only look for the things I need, rather than being tempted by all the things you see while wandering around a supermarket. Plus, you can avoid delivery costs if you can drive and your supermarket offers 'click & collect'.
  • On the other hand, going to supermarkets in person can have it's benefits if you know the right times to go - often things will get reduced later on in the day.

Clothes shopping:

• Take your time with sales. Sales are great, but like with food shopping, if you're only buying it because it's on offer you're still missing out.
• Primark is your friend. I know a lot of people don't like it for mixed reasons but I really don't think it's that bad, especially if you go at a time when it's quiet. It's a great, cheap shop for essentials.

Around the house: I'm sure you've heard these before, but here you go...

• Don't overfill the kettle.
• Always turn lights off when you leave a room.
• A lot of people always say that showers save more water than baths, but that's only true if your showers are quite short. If you want to relax, it's better to have a bath.

General:

• Please, please, please - don't use 'quick fix' loan sites like Wonga. The %APR on these are ridiculous and you'll end up paying double, sometimes triple the original amount you borrowed.
• Avoid credit cards, especially if you're bad with money. Debit cards are fine and you can only use what's in the bank.
• But, even if you have a debit card, take money out of the bank before you buy anything. Paying with "real money" puts things into perspective and it also helps to avoid overdrafts.