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It’s fair to say over the past year the economy has taken a big hit due to COVID-19. Along with this, a lot of us are struggling a little more than usual with our financial situation. However, what with many of us currently in lockdown, this is a great time to try to save some money or to even make a little extra cash on the side. Let’s explore how…

Heating

Winter without a boiler is the stuff of nightmares. Without heating, no matter how many layers you put on during the peak of the cold weather, it never seems to get you warm. Make sure your boiler is checked by a professional on an annual basis to ensure it is running smoothly, and to give you peace of mind that you won’t have any expensive repairs down the line.

However, unfortunately, sometimes these scenarios are unavoidable. If you are in need of a replacement, you should get a boiler on finance to keep the short-term bills down. This way, you can find a pay monthly scheme, spreading out the costs, instead of paying for your boiler in one big lump sum. Doing it this way can save you money as you can choose what features are included, to suit your budget. Just be sure to read the small print with this, to make sure you can afford what you’re agreeing to, interest costs included.

Stop ordering takeaways – try out new recipes

We all crave comfort food during this time of the year but that doesn’t mean you have to automatically reach for the Pizza Hut menu. You can just as easily make a ‘fakeaway’ at home, which is a cheaper, often healthier, version of your favourites. You’ll be amazed at just how easy takeaways are to replicate, and you will also have the sense of achievement that comes with creating your own meal from scratch. This will save you so much extra cash in the long run!

Alternatively, you could look into affordable recipe delivery boxes – for example, Gousto or HelloFresh. They often have introductory offers for new customers, and they can provide you with good value, tasty recipes (your box comes with all the ingredients you need) that you might not usually make. Try it out!

Give upcycling a go

Have you got old, unused furniture (or general ‘stuff’) knocking about in your home? Well, as the majority of us are currently cooped up inside, why not take this opportunity to upcycle some of your home items? There are so many different ideas you can utilise, and almost all of them will have a YouTube video to guide you. Once completed, you could sell the improved item on and make some extra money from it.

Sell the clutter

Or, if you can’t be bothered to get your DIY on, you could just try to sell the items in your home that you no longer need. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – you’d be surprised by how much you can make from selling your old belongings. Search the attic, the back of cupboards and in your jewellery box. Not only can this make you extra money but it will declutter your home.