30/08/2022
It’s been a while folks! We’re starting back up again over here at the Self-Help Brain 🧠
Given the current crisis, we wanted to start off with some of our own top tips to help support you with the current cost of living crisis. Please, if you need support PM us so that we can signpost you to tailored and relevant support for you and your circumstances. We’re here for you, always. You’re never alone. Stay calm and stay different! 🧠💕
1. Too Good To Go’ - You may already know about this app but it is available on the google app store and apple app store, so it’s for IOS and Android phones. Large retailers and takeaway services like Asda, Morrisons, Spar, Coop, Greggs, Toby Carvery, Wing Wah etc. do ‘Magic Bags’ which are food bags/parcels/meals for reduced prices. They’re usually food they haven’t managed to sell that day or food past it’s sell by date. Bags range from £2 to £5. I have used it and it’s great for anyone looking for a cheap takeaway or food shopping to freeze and save money, especially if you’re not picky!
2. OLIO – this app is designed for neighbours to give to neighbours for FREE. All of the stuff on OLIO is shared between your local area free of charge. Items range from food in the cupboards, kids toys and clothing, nappies, formula milk, pet food, books, furniture, you name it! It’s a great way to share things, help each other out and be neighbourly.
3. Switch your bank account – some switch providers are offering £175 for switching your bank account at the moment. Money usually paid within 30 – 90 days. Something I again, did recently and had a weekend away on the bank!
4. Use hot water bottles, thermal socks and heated blankets to keep warm – an awful one to have to write in itself but anyone struggling to pay their bills this winter – use a hot water bottle in a sleeping bag to keep warm or you can get plug in heated blankets at around £14 on amazon and elsewhere. They cost around 3p an hour to run so a lot cheaper than your central heating! (that’s at current energy pricing too).
5. Get FREE food - via OLIO as mentioned above plus a plethora of other restaurant apps and reward schemes.
At the moment, Burger King are offering a free burger and fries for signing up to their app.
Krispy Kreme are offering a free doughnut for the same
Greggs are offering a free hot drink.
O2 rewards also gives away free food all the time with no minimum spend. In the past these have included free coffee, free chocolate and beer. A good hack, get a free 02 sim card, load it with £10 and you can get access to O2 rewards!
6. Join local neighbourhood groups on Facebook – there’s often a lot of people on there selling things super cheap or giving things away for FREE. I recently nabbed a two seater sofa (a few weeks old in immaculate condition) for £50! In the store it was selling for £1500!!!!
7. Club Lloyds benefits – get 6 free cinema tickets to use at ODEON or VUE or a taste card every year. No minimum spend required! Free trips out to the cinema 3 times a year. If you pay your salary into your Lloyds account the account is free for the year!
8. Meerkat movies – 2 for 1 cinema tickets every Tues and Weds when buying your insurance of any sort through comparethemarket.com.
9. Clubcard points – never underestimate this card! We often go on free days out, dining out or a railcard. Great rewards scheme!
10. Refill App – don’t pay for drinks, use this app to find where you can fill your bottle up for FREE across the UK wherever you are! Worth noting, restaurants and cafes do have a legal obligation to offer free tap water whenever requested too.
11. Use charity shops – clothes will need a wash before wearing but I have often bought high end clothes for a fraction of the price (Hobbs London, Monsoon, Michael Kors to name a few!)
12. National Trust – for £11.15 a month, access to all National Trust sites for FREE for 2 adults and unlimited number of children under 17. Under 5s go free regardless. Some amazing days out with the kids included in the membership!
13. Research FREE museums – again for further day out ideas!
14. Boots ‘Ask for Jesse’ Scheme – for FREE dental products (children aged 3-5).
15. Morrisons ‘package for sandy’ scheme – FREE period products in-store.
16. More for a select group however many don’t know about it – the Nimbus disability access card
You have to apply as its for individuals with additional needs or ongoing long term disability. You pay £15 for a 3 year card and if you need an essential companion with you, you can get free carer/companion tickets to literally everywhere!
There is a plethora of tags that can be attached to the card for additional support including, skipping queues, additional toilet needs, wheelchair access, assistance dogs etc.
I have one and often get a reduced price on my ticket and free entry for my essential companion to everywhere including concerts, theatre productions, cinema, days out, queuing in shops and restaurants. You also get further discounts abroad including on Disneyland Paris tickets!
17. Get gym membership – might sound like a strange one but it’s one example for keeping fit and actually saving money – the Gym group in Derby currently offer membership for £16.99 a month. Use the showers at the gym post workout instead. Even better still, take your hairdryer with you or use the hairdryers there and you’re saving on energy and water costs every month!
