Your Financial Health “Booster-Shot”

With the waves of the pandemic finally winding down, do you find yourself with a little too much “month” at the end of your money? If being cooped up at home for nearly two years has left you with a handful of “lazy habits” you’d like to change – in the gym, kitchen or otherwise – let your financial health be the first! Of course, a lot of the things I mention are mistakes I personally have committed myself. So rest assured that these are tried and tested ways to bulk up your pockets.

Here’s a list of our Top 5 Tips to take back control of your wallet this 2022:

Unleash Your “Unsubscribe”

We’ve all been there, seeing cash automatically leave your account for an app, magazine subscription or gym membership that you’d completely forgotten you had. I would never dream of telling you to cancel your Netflix subscription – that would be madness – but any long-lost subscriptions gathering dust should definitely be binned. You’d be surprised just how much a 5-minute purge of your unnecessary subscriptions can save you!

Finding it tough to choose which ones to bin? Just make a list of your ‘must haves’, then unsubscribe from everything else. If it’s an app or subscription you haven’t used in more than three months, there’s no point in keeping it!

Master Your Meal Prep

The beautiful convenience of UberEats may have become an all too familiar habit during those cold COVID-19 days. However, it’s been snacking on your wallet more than you’d realise. Meal prepping may seem like a chore, but the rewards are immense: healthier meals, at a fraction of the price – with some aesthetic Instagram content as the cherry on top.

Level 5 lockdown really made me realise just how much money I spent on takeout. Being at home all day, and seeing all of the takeout containers definitely had me questioning my ability to survive in a jungle… However, if you choose convenience because you don’t know how to cook, there is a wealth of information on the web.

Feeling a little lost in the kitchen? Let Jamie Oliver help you with his effortlessly quick meals. 

Simplify Your Savings and Boost Your Financial Health

Sometimes we all need a little push to stick to good habits. And your best motivation may be to remove the choice of quitting entirely. Setting up debit orders to automatically transfer 10% of your salary to a savings or investment account of your choice may do just that! Let your money grow, set aside for a rainy day, without the risk of your fingers sneaking into the piggy-bank as often. Consistency and discipline is key, so automate your savings as much as you can. Your bank balance will thank you!

Related: Things I realised after buying my first home

Sense-Check Your Shopping Cart

Do you really need those new heels, a new car or an vastly-overpriced home candle? It’s very easy to use the excuse of a big sale to buy unnecessary things (clutter, perhaps?). But sticking to what you actually need or planned to purchase can vastly change your expenses each month. A top tip is to stick to a shopping list, and reward yourself with a small guilty pleasure when you do. 

What about when you do spend on larger purchases, you may ask? Well in that case, opt for high quality items that will last the test of time over cheaper items that require replacement sooner. This one requires some discipline, but you’re on your way to becoming a financial guru already! You’ve got this!

The Bottom Line – your financial health can improve!

Being a budgeting whizz may seem like hard work, and an art form itself. However, small changes to your daily life can make a huge difference in your finances. Take the decision to be financially savvy, apply these Top 4 Tips today, and watch your coins turn to notes! Your nest egg deserves to evolve as much as you have during the pandemic, so make the change today!

Learn more about managing your money smartly and take control today. 

What are some other tips you have for someone looking to improve their financial health?