Here at Money Guide Ireland, we always have some useful tips on how to cut your bills and save money.
By following just a few of these top money-saving tips in 2024 , an average household could easily cut their bills by at least €1000 in just one year. Following a few of the tips could save you €10000 or more over 3 years.
Most of these savings can be easily done online from the comfort of your own home.
Here are our Top Money Saving Tips for 2024
- Switch your Mortgage: Many lenders are offering lower rates and some are giving cashback if you switch your mortgage. Savings of several thousand euros in just 3 years are possible, even without the cashback offers. See some examples of Mortgage Switching Savings Here .
- Switch Your Savings Account. If you have savings you should check if you are getting the best interest rate. See our regularly updated list of the Best Savings Interest Rates Here. Some deposit accounts are still paying rates as low as 0.1% – but you could get rates of over 3.5% .
- Stocks and Shares – If you are thinking of investing in shares you could save hundreds of euros in fees by avoiding the more expensive traditional stockbrokers and using online platforms. See our Share Trading Price Comparison here.
- Switch Energy Supplier
If you are an average electricity user, you could easily save as much as €500 in just one year on Electricity alone by switching supplier. See our Electricity Price Comparison for more details of the cheapest and most expensive suppliers. - Switch Broadband and Phone – Average users could save over €300 in one year by switching landline and broadband. Read more here about the cheapest broadband deals.
- Students – take advantage of free offers and discounts . Irish third-level students can sign up for a 6 month FREE trial of Amazon Prime and get free 2-day delivery plus access to hundreds of free videos. Also available to anyone aged 18 to 22 who is not a student.
- Switch Your Current Account: – Most banks now charge you for having a current account with them. There are still some ways to reduce or even avoid these bank charges. In our example, we found that savings of as much as €150 a year could be made – Read more here about Cheaper Banking in Ireland
- Shopping : Avoid impulse purchases.Shop at discount grocery stores and buy generic brands instead of name brands.
- Install Solar Panels. There are grants available and no VAT . You can also sell excess electricity back to the grid. Read more about Solar Panel Grants here
- Online Discounts : Try and look for discount codes or promo codes online before buying. Check our page of discount codes and special offers .
- Here are some great tips from N26 bank on how to cut your spending on Groceries
- Cut the cost of your TV package – check the best deals from Virgin and Sky
- Use public transport or walk/cycle instead of driving your car. This will not only save you money on fuel and maintenance costs, but also reduce your carbon footprint.
- Get an online bank account with N26 . They have NO current account fees, no fees on debit card spending inside or outside the Eurozone. Great for online shopping.
- Zero Percent Interest Credit Cards: If you have a credit card balance that you are finding hard to pay off – you could try and transfer the balance to a credit card with a 0% Interest introductory offer. See our list of Interest Free Credit Card Offers
- Swap clothes with friends: Rather than buying new clothes, host a clothing swap party with friends. This way, you can get some new items for free and give away clothes you no longer wear.
- Lower Your Mobile Phone Bills : Move to a cheaper mobile plan with a new network or choose a lower-priced option with your current network. Heavy phone users could easily cut their annual mobile spend by around €250 . See our article on the Cheapest SIM only Billpay Deals
- Join a Freecycling group: Freecycling is a movement where people give away things they no longer need or want for free. Join a local Freecycling group to find items you need without having to spend any money.
- Conduct a BER survey on your home if you are a homeowner – to identify areas where you can improve energy efficiency. This can help you save on your energy bills in the long run.
- Claim all the government grants you can get: – there are grants worth thousands of Euro available for heat pumps , solar energy and insulation. More details on Grants Here.
- Use reusable products: By using reusable bags, bottles, and containers, you can significantly reduce your spending on disposable items such as paper towels, plastic bags, and water bottles. This will not only save you money in the long run, but also help reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
- If you telephone people in the UK a lot – find out which landline companies give you FREE UK calls.
- Track your Spending : If you don’t know exactly where your money is going every month, it’s hard to see how you can spend less. Set up a budget and track your expenses to help you identify areas where you can cut back on spending.
- Currency Exchange – if you are transferring large sums of money to another country, don’t use your main bank to do it for you – you will get a better rate from a specialist currency exchange company. On a transaction of 20,000 euro, you could typically save €200 to €400 See our page about Sending Money Abroad
- Don’t use expensive moneylenders if you are struggling on a low income. Check out the lowest bank loan rates here . If you can’t borrow from a bank you should look into the low-interest “It Makes Sense” loan ” from a Credit Union. Details Here
- If you do need to call Directory Enquiries – make sure you avoid the most expensive ones. See details of Directory Enquiry Charges here.
- Get cheaper home insurance. In our latest comparison, we found that the lowest quotes could be half the price of the most expensive house insurance. See our Home Insurance Comparison here.
- Parents of young babies – Use cloth nappies: Using cloth nappies instead of disposable ones can help you save a significant amount of money in the long run. Cloth nappies are eco-friendly and can be reused, making them a cost-effective option for parents.
- Don’t waste money buying expensive takeaway coffee when you can make it at home for 30c.
- Buy second-hand items: Buying second-hand clothes, toys, and equipment can help you save money on your child’s expenses. Check out local charity shops, online marketplaces, or garage sales for great deals.
- Plan meals ahead: Planning your meals in advance can help you avoid impulse buying and save money on food. Make a weekly meal plan and stick to it. This way, you can save money by buying only what you need and avoid food waste.
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