Wish you could sit on a pot of money that would always be there for a rainy day? Want to make unexpected expenses like home maintenance and car repair truly stress-free for the very first time? The key is to build a savings pot that you can fall back on when you need to. Yes, I fully appreciate that this is easier said than done, especially at a time when groceries and household bills seem to have a mind of their own. The good news is I have a solution! 

In this quick guide, I’m going to talk through everything you need to know to take action, take back control, and take a portion of your wages every week and turn them into savings. Let’s dive right in to see how it works! 

Small Changes That Add Up Over Time

While a promotion and a massive bump in pay would always be nice, you can’t sit around and wait for something like that to fall into your lap. What you can do, however, is focus your attention on small daily shifts you can make so that you have some savings by the end of the year. Little things really can add up to big changes when you do them consistently over months and years. 

Turn Loose Change into Savings

We all know that feeling of having a handful of change after going to the store and not really knowing what to do with it. No matter where you live in the world, you will have little piles of change in the kitchen, on your bedside table, and in your coat pocket. The problem here is that this is money you have worked hard for — it doesn’t matter that it is spread over dozens of easy-to-lose coins. 

Having a large jar on the sideboard that you pop all of your change into when you get home at the end of each day will allow you to take control of the situation. Once you get to the brim, take it to the bank and they will pay everything back into your account. Have them put it into a dedicated savings account and you will be making your first steps towards the lump sum you have always wanted to have in reserve. 

There are also many supermarkets with Coinstar machines to exchange your loose change for larger banknotes but know that they will take a cut as their fee.

Automate Your Savings with Round-Ups

There’s no shortage of apps that allow you to round up your purchases to the nearest whole number and then deposit the excess into a savings account. They are the digital equivalent of the change jar I just talked about and are a great way to get into a regular habit. 

Every time you buy your lunch at work or petrol on the road, you’ll be diverting a small amount of your income into savings. Do this for months and you’ll start to have a noticeable pot of money. Do this for years and you’ll have a lump sum that you can fall back on when you need to. 

Many bank apps offer this feature now so you can save small bits of "change" without even noticing!

Cut Costly Habits and Watch Your Savings Grow 

Taking care of your personal finances is all about finding ways to make small, sustainable changes. While some people swear by setting time limits when playing on sites like Temple of Games, how about stopping playing on these websites altogether? Think about it and let that idea sit with you for a minute. 

If you can take up a new hobby that doesn’t cost you money, you’ll be making your monthly take-home pay go so much further. Over the year, you could easily add a triple-digit amount to your savings account. Put the rest of the simple changes on this list into action and you may well break the four-digit barrier by the end of the year! 

To see the impact of your habits, simply go through your bank statements and add up how much you’ve spent in the past say six months on things like gaming, takeaways and other treats or habits that cost you money.  The amount you could have saved might shock you!

Shop Smarter for Groceries

Shopping for your groceries later in the day may not sound like the most convenient thing to do but give it a try just a couple of times and you’ll see why I’m recommending it. The truth is that there are more discounts to be had later in the evening because the stores want to get rid of short-life perishable food. 

The vast majority of food that they are marking down is still good to eat and will last for days at home, it’s just that they have a constant conveyor belt of new stock. Pop in after you’ve had dinner once a week in the middle of the week and you’ll be able to sweep up plenty of bargains. The aisles will also be largely empty so that you can glide around the store without any of the hustle and bustle of weekend shopping at peak times. 

Top tip: the last hour the stores are open on a Sunday can be a particularly good time to grab yellow sticker bargains, especially from those stores with shorter Sunday trading hours who don’t want to leave fresh food for a long time on the shelf before their regular Monday hours begin.

Buy in Bulk and Save Over Time

Businesses save money by buying in bulk, and you can do the same at home to cut costs over time. If you need new clothes, look for an offer and buy twice as many so that you have replacements ready for many years to come. If you want to buy ingredients for a Sunday roast, buy twice as much when there's an offer and freeze the extras. And if you want to get Xmas presents for relatives, look for 2 for 1 offers and double up where you can. 

Buying in bulk doesn’t have to mean buying thousands of the same thing and then living a dull, repetitive life. It can be something as simple as buying a couple of extras when the price is low and then spreading out when you use them. 

Set Up a Separate Savings Account

One of the easiest ways to build savings is to keep them separate from your everyday spending money. Open a dedicated savings account and set up an automatic transfer every time you get paid. Even a small amount, like £10 a week, adds up over time. Out of sight, out of mind—before you know it, you'll have a nice little nest egg without even thinking about it.

Make the Most of Cashback and Rewards

Many banks, credit cards, and shopping apps offer cashback or reward points on everyday spending. Instead of letting these perks go to waste, actively use them to boost your savings. Whether it’s cashback on groceries, fuel, or online purchases, transfer any rewards you earn straight into your savings account. Over time, these small bonuses can make a real difference.

Not sure where to start? Check out this comprehensive guide on how to earn cashback on things you already buy to maximise your savings every time you shop.

 

Final Thoughts

The beauty of approaching building savings like this is it will never feel overwhelming. Take the time to get the little things right and you will be able to make daily progress towards your savings goal. Consistency is the name of the game when you want a lump sum you can rely on! 

Quick Summary: Easy Ways to Build Savings

• Make small changes daily – Small savings add up over time.

• Save your spare change – Fill a jar and then convert.

• Use round-up apps – Automate small savings effortlessly.

• Cut out expensive habits – Track spending and replace costly habits.

• Shop for discounts – Buy groceries at the right time for bargains.

• Buy in bulk – Take advantage of offers and stock up on essentials.

• Set up a separate savings account – Automate transfers and watch your money grow.

• Make the most of cashback and rewards – Use cashback sites and reward schemes to boost your savings.

By applying these simple steps consistently, you’ll gradually build up a savings pot that makes unexpected expenses far less stressful.