10 Fabulous Websites and Tips to Help You Save Money

1. The biggest expense most of us have is a mortgage. The loans that you can get for this can be wildly different. There are many banks that have many different variable rates and finding one that is smaller than you already pay is much easier now we have the internet. Please be aware though that you should always check the small print in case they have extra charges.The best way to cut your mortgage once you have found a low rate is to pay a little bit more than you are already paying, just 10% more will make 1000's of dollars difference to the final interest you will pay over the normal 25 years and can knock years off the length of the mortgage. Both Money Supermarket and This is Money also help with the things you should look for in a mortgage as well as helping you find a low rate.



2. The next largest debt most of us have is on our credit card. The rates on credit cards are usually much larger than bank loans, so if you want to get rid of a credit card balance and you cannot pay it off in full every month then maybe getting a loan instead will be a much better idea. The danger then of course is that you will run up more bills on your credit card while still paying off the loan. Don't do it! An alternative in the short term is transferring your balance to a 0% interest credit card. These will only be 0% for a short amount of time and also the small print is important here because some will transfer your balance at 0% but any new purchases may be charged at a huge interest so be careful. Once you have a 0% interest card, the idea then is to pay off the balance.These websites will help you find 0%interest cards.



3. Food bills. The best time to go shopping for food is on a full stomach. Seriously, the hungrier you are the more you will buy. Also writing a list before you go is the best way not to overspend. All supermarkets (and any business worth its salt really) will try to get you to spend more money than you were planning on with special offers and attractive displays. If you know what you want before you go and stick to it you are more likely to come away spending less and it all adds up. There are also price comparison sites for those items you buy more regularly. For instance in the UK, Tesco.com compares the prices between its own products, Asda Walmarts and Sainsburys. In the US Walmart.com has its own prices listed.



4. Now what about that gym membership. Do you go regularly? Do you go at all? Maybe its time to cancel it and either find a cheaper municipal gym or buy yourself some home equipment (and don't forget, running and walking are free!). Ask your local council if they run local gyms as these are usually cheaper than the big chains. Alternatively, you can look at the following websites for home equipment.



5. If you have a holiday in mind try and book as early as you can. The low-cost airlines tend to have a few seats on each flight that are really cheap so that people get interested. Once the cheap seats have been sold, the rest of the prices rise so get in early. check these sites out for more info: skyscanner.net cheapflights.co.uk cheapflights.com.



6. If you fancy a whole holiday package as opposed to just the flights, you can probably do this cheaper on the net than by using a travel agent. It just needs a bit of shopping around to find the flights, accommodation, transfers and car hire that are cheaper than the ones
   found in the brochures.



7. As winter is coming, it may be an idea to try and cut the cost of your fuel bills. In the UK, it is very easy to change your electricity and gas supplier on-line. There are a few websites that will help you decide which is the cheapest provider for you. It depends on how much you use on average for the year and uswitch.com can tell you the relative benefits of each provider.



8. Callout charges for plumbers and electricians can be extortionate. Painters and decorators can also cost quite a bit. Why don't you brush up on the skills you already have or learn new ones at evening classes. Local colleges may give you the knowledge you need to save a fortune on those odd jobs around the house.



9. Everyone has things at home that maybe they haven't used for a few years. Perhaps there are a few cupboards you just can't get in for junk. It may be junk to you but it might be worth something to someone else. How about selling your possessions on eBay to raise a bit of cash?



10. Finally, if you are going to treat yourself to a night out, don't buy full price theater, concert or sports tickets. There are always cheap offers for the top shows or events if you look for them. Beware though, use sites and don't get taken in by the touts.

As well as these 10 websites I've listed, have a look at the money saving guru's website Money Saving Expert. Everything you ever wanted to know about saving money.