Beat the Credit Crunch

Many of us are feeling the pinch in the current economic climate, so UK Energy Saving has taken a look at how you might be able to beat the credit crunch. For some people the weakened economy is a bigger problem than for others, but for many trying to beat the credit crunch can begin with relatively simple measures.

If you are unemployed or suffering with serious debt problems, the first thing you will need to do in order to beat the credit crunch is to seek expert advice. Whether from a Jobcentre, an independent financial advisor, your bank or other experts, it is important to tackle money worries before they become even bigger issues. Thereafter, and for those who simply wish to make savings now before potential financial problems arise, you will need to take a look at all aspects of your life to see where savings could be made.

Our ‘beat the credit crunch’ suggestion list is not exhaustive but we hope it will provide some starting points for making your money go further. Some of the ideas have a green slant, as you would expect, but we have also included others which we feel might genuinely save you money.

If you have any further suggestions to beat the credit crunch which you would like to share with UK Energy Saving and our visitors, please Contact Us

What you can do to save money and beat the credit crunch

TRANSPORT

• Walk, Car Share, cycle or get an Electric Bike
• Public Transport can sometimes be cheaper than driving and paying for parking. You may also be eligible for Free Bus Travel
• For when you do use your car, save on fuel prices by finding out where fuel is cheapest in your area. www.petrolprices.com provides FREE updates by email.
• Get Trainline Ticket Alerts to find out when advance tickets are available.

AT HOME

• Use the internet for FREE phone and video calls using www.skype.com
• Find a better deal and Change Energy Suppliers
• Insulate your Home
• Look out for free programs for your computer at sites such as www.download.com or www.freedownloadscenter.com. A good example is Open Office which is an Open Source Office Software download.
• Can’t afford a holiday this year? Why not do a house swap at www.homebase-hols.com or www.homelink.org.uk

SHOPPING

• Recycle your unwanted items and also get items for FREE. www.uk.freecycle.org matches people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them.
• Sell unwanted items on www.ebay.co.uk
• Use Voucher Codes when buying online for extra discounts. Try www.voucherseeker.co.uk. Save money whilst shopping online with free voucher codes from moneysupermarket.com.
• Don’t buy more food than you need. Check out the Love Food Hate Waste website for suggestions on how to make the most of your groceries.

Provident provide doorstep loans for anyone that has an immediate cash needs. If you have a bad credit history, Real Personal Finance offer bad credit loans up to £6,000.

There are loads more ways to save money and help the environment throughout the UK Energy Saving site. A good starting point is our Energy Saving Tips page.