From car insurance to energy saving tips: Everyday home hacks to save you money

Each week we bring you a fresh selection of cash-saving hacks that will help you slash bills and make things easier around the home. We all know how important it is to have car insurance, but have you considered the best ways to get money out of it? Some policies come with fantastic discounts and perks at places like Greene King and English Heritage. But don’t forget to keep your car in good nick to keep your insurance valid, otherwise you could be making a very expensive mistake. Plus we break down easy ways to save money on your laundry and heating bills this winter. Read on for more money-saving tips.

Keep your car in top nick to stay insured

When it comes to car insurance, while it’s not necessary to keep your vehicle in shop-floor condition, basic maintenance tasks are definitely expected in order for your policy to be valid. So make sure your tyres are topped up with air, that your oil is changed regularly and that there’s enough water in the radiator. And of course, it’s vital to make sure that you get your MOT done on time.

A penny for your thoughts

Are you an opinionated person? If so, why not cash in on your views and get paid to carry out reviews. With Usertesting.com you can be paid to visit websites or apps, by completing a set of tasks while speaking your thoughts out loud. Each review takes around 20 minutes and bags you around £6.50 via PayPal. To sign up, just enter your email address and complete a sample test. Once you’re approved, you can start taking real tests and make some spare cash.

Dry in no time

Want to throw your laundry into the tumble dryer but fear being slapped with a hefty energy bill? To speed up the drying process, add a dry towel to your load of wet clothes. The towel will absorb some of the moisture, making the other items dry faster. According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, this simple trick can cut drying time by half an hour.

Try it and tie it

Small bags of fancy coffee have 
heavy-duty ties to keep them airtight. These ties are also handy for securing small coils of electrical cable and rope. They’re usually fastened to the bag with just a dab of glue, making them easy to pull off and reuse.

Play five aside at the shop

Do you always overspend at the supermarket? Curb your impulse spending by always putting back five items after you have finished your shop, whether it’s online or in-store. This will help you work out what items really are essential to you – and it will cut your costs far quicker than you might think.

Benefits from your breakdown cover

Did you know that other than saving your bacon if you blow out a tyre, your breakdown policy may also come with 
a string of money-saving perks? The AA, for instance, offers 15 per cent off meals, seven days a week at Greene King pubs, 25 per cent off an English Heritage membership and 
ten per cent online discounts at Halfords.

Bag it to save it

When you’re painting, gardening 
or on a muddy winter walk, keep your mobile phone clean and dry by sealing it inside a sandwich bag. You’ll still be able to work the buttons through the bag.

Winter warmers

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to last all winter without putting the heating on, so to use as little energy as possible, make sure there are no items of furniture such as a sofa in front of the radiator, as this will soak up most of the heat. Similarly, it’s important not to allow the curtains to cover the radiator, as this will direct the heat towards the window. Instead, make sure the radiator is exposed by gently placing the curtains behind it, which will help to heat the entire room.