Sensible swaps  

Did you know that you can keep costs low by using cheaper, natural products to clean? Swap your expensive (often toxic) cleaners for common kitchen items like vinegar, lemon juice, coca cola and baking soda for gleaming results. You can also save money on cleaning cloths by re-using old clothes or faded pillowcases for an eco-friendly solution. If you want your carpet or patio to be spotless, why not rent a carpet cleaner or jet washer as opposed to buying one that you will rarely use?

D.I.Y deep clean 

It may sound laborious, but taking the time to vacuum your refrigerator coils, de-ice your freezer, and de-scale your washing machine, dishwasher and shower heads can all help your appliances run more efficiently. This maintenance could save you a considerable amount of money on water and electricity bills, whilst also avoiding any pesky, unnecessary repair costs in the future.  

Peek in the pantry  

How many times have you bought something in the supermarket and realised you had plenty at home? Take stock of what you already have. Not only will this prevent frustrating duplicate purchases, but any surplus of (in-date) non-perishable food items can kindly be donated to local food banks and community kitchens. 

Time to declutter  

Decluttering can sound intimidating but if you take your time and go room by room, you can easily sort your stuff into three piles: throw away, donate/recycle and sell. Get the whole family involved by encouraging your children to part with old toys and teens to hand over old textbooks. Vintage furniture, clothes, books, jewellery, antiques and unique collectibles can be very lucrative. Check to see if there is a car boot sale in your area, or use sites like Facebook marketplace, Gumtree, Depop, eBay or Etsy. Separate electronics like phones, laptops or gaming consoles and see if you can recycle or trade them in for money off new devices.  

Watch those outgoings 

Finally, double check your direct debits and standing orders. Complete a full audit of all your current subscriptions, auto-renewals and outgoings. With phone costs, broadband, streaming services, insurance and utilities, small swaps and competition checks can save you cash and most importantly help your family’s budget stretch even further.