If you’re wondering how to save money right now, we have a feeling you’re not alone.

Everything is a little crazier than usual and it’s become an uncertain time for many of us.  One thing that is certain however, is that it’s always a good time to be thinking about how to save money.

To get the best tips on how to save money, we thought we’d throw it out to the mums of Mouths of Mums – the response was overwhelming and we had a bunch of tips back that we think will really make a difference.

How to save money | TIP NO. 1

DECLUTTER YOUR CREDIT CARD!  Go through and review all those little monthly subscriptions that you are paying on your credit card or via direct debit.

Think about whether you actually use the Netflix + Stan + Foxtel Now subscriptions.  Maybe just one for a few months is all you need.

Perhaps you can go from a paid Spotify account to a free subscription and check to see if there are free versions of some of the apps for which you may be paying monthly fees.

If you have a gym membership, speak to them about putting this on hold while they are close. Most gyms are offering this now, so take advantage of it.

All these regular charges may seem small, but add them all together and it could end up saving you big time.

How to save money | TIP NO. 2

CREATE A WEEKLY MENU PLAN & SHOPPING LIST! One of our biggest monthly expenses is the groceries.  Feeding our families can get really expensive and also is proving to be a very different shopping experience for all so making the most of staple ingredients is more important than ever.

If you’re really wondering how to save money, start by creating a weekly meal plan.  You might decide to just create a meal plan for the evening meal but if you’re serious about making a massive saving, plan out every meal – breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snacks. Keep them simple and focus on using staple, readily available produce.

Then create a shopping list that will provide everything you need for the meal plan.  Most importantly after that, make sure you stick to the list when you are shopping.

How to save money | TIP NO. 3

EXPLORE SWITCHING SITES.  Apart from groceries, your electricity, gas, water and rates bills can really throw your budget into a spin – especially if they all hit at the same time.  Shopping around to ensure you are using the providers that not only address your needs but are also offering you the opportunity to save.

Another way to save when it comes to the big bills is to pay on time!  Most offer an ‘on time payment’ discount so it pays to pay on time where you can.

You may also find that setting up a more regular contribution (e.g. weekly, fortnightly or monthly) helps even out the big bill bumps.  Talk to your providers about setting this up.

How to save money | TIP NO. 4

REVIEW YOUR BIGGEST EXPENSES. Never underestimate the amount of money you can save when you have exactly the right mortgage for your situation, set up in exactly the right way. How long has it been since you checked your home loan rate? If it’s more than 6 months, it’s time to take action and get working on it.

Companies like uno Home Loans specialise in working with families like ours to ensure that we never need to miss out on home loan savings. uno Home Loans are Australia’s first Active Home Loan Manager which means they have a proven system to actively help you access rates that start low and stay low so we never need to miss out on savings again. They have a dedicated team of proactive brokers will help you start on a great deal and guide you all the way through to settlement.

Then to ensure you stay on a great rate, uno’s unique monitoring technology loanScore regularly checks your loan against thousands of deals and alerts you to potential savings or if your lender changes rates.

With uno’s unique loanScore tool you can check your potential savings for yourself right now. If you sign up to loanScore by the 30th of June 2020, you could also earn yourself 1,000 Velocity bonus points*. Get your loanScore.

How to save money | TIP NO. 5

LEARN A NEW SKILL!  Why not learn to do something you would normally pay someone else to do for you. There are loads of online tutorials you can tune into on social media that can teach you how to DIY – everything from home improvements to cutting your kids hair there is someone out there to teach you.

You can even get kids involved and look for activities where they can create artwork with everyday household items, or learn to play an instrument. Not only does it save money, it keeps the kids occupied while we’re all practicing self-isolation.

How to save money | TIP NO. 6

UPCYCLE, RECYCLE AND SELL!  Getting ruthless with everything in your home is a great way to generate some extra income. Look for the free listing sites and Facebook pages that allow you to list and sell your unwanted or unused items. These sites have everything, but to stay safe during COVID-19, maybe focus on the little things you can post to the buyer and store the larger items that have to be picked up somewhere out of sight, and tackle this when things are safer to do so.  Not only will you generate a little extra income but you’ll be tidying up the house too!

How to save money | TIP NO. 7

BECOME A SOMETIMES VEGETARIAN!  Feeding your family good quality meat at every meal really can become a drain on the budget.

Save yourself a bomb at the checkout by introducing a few vegetarian meals every week – the kids will love:

●  Nachos made with lashings of black beans, eggplant, tomato, finely chopped carrot and onion.

●  Super Hero Green Pasta made with a fresh green pesto over penne with lashings of cheese.

●  Veggie pizzas are always a hit especially with black olives and tomato paste packing a flavour punch.

●  Indian dahl made with plenty of lentils and a big dollop of natural yoghurt.

The wonderful thing about meat free dinners is that you’re not only saving money, but also being kind to your digestive system and the environment.

How to save money | TIP NO. 8

SHOP AROUND AND NEGOTIATE!  Before you head online to buy, particularly any higher cost items, do as much research as you possibly can.  Compare prices, read reviews, phone friends and family to ask for recommendations or better yet, ask the MoM community! That’s what we are here for, to help you get the best deals and be aware of the best products available across any category of products.

How to save money | TIP NO. 9

STAY AT HOME! One of the few upsides to the current crisis is that we are all encouraged to practice self isolation, this in turn can actually help you save money. Why not put the money you would be spending on things like travel, dining out or coffees into a savings account for a rainy day? Then you can treat your kids to a fun day out when it is safe to do so.

How to save money | TIP NO. 10

CONTINUE TO REVIEW TIPS 1 TO 9!  The thing about saving money is that it’s an ongoing project – the more you continue to be really active about managing your budget, your expenses and your home, the more you will end up saving over time.

Treat saving money like an exercise class – the more you go, the better the results.

In case you were wondering:

We put together these tips on how to save money in partnership with uno Home Loans. We’ve spent a lot of time with them over the last few months and we think they’re an awesome bunch!  If you’re wondering whether you could save money by reviewing your home loan, get a uno loanScore now.  The team from uno will then swing into action and make sure that you have the very best loan for your needs.  They’ll then work with you for as long as you need – actively ensuring your loan is in the best shape possible.

*Simply visit https://unohomeloans.com.au/analyse-my-loan, fill in your loan details, subscribe and get your loanScore by 30 June 2020 to claim your 1,000 Velocity Points. T&C’s apply https://unohomeloans.com.au/velocity-frequent-flyer-terms-and-conditions