Everyday Savings
Easy ways to save an extra £50 a month (UK): 12 simple swaps
Twelve low-effort switches that stack to £50+ a month without overhauling your life. Pick two to four, set reminders, and let the wins add up.
Introduction
Looking for easy ways to save an extra £50 a month (UK)? Start with small, practical swaps. You'll find 12 options below that most households can use—no strict budgets, no lectures. Combine just two to four of them and many people cross the £50 mark. Several tips link straight to official sources, including the CMA, Ofcom, NHSBSA, CCW, TV Licensing and Nesta.
1. Swap two takeaway coffees a week for home brews
Cutting just two takeaway coffees a week can save roughly £27-£29 a month. Quick maths: 2 x £3.35 x ~4 weeks ≈ £26.80; using 4.33 weeks ≈ £28.94. The £3.35 average comes from Finder's UK coffee price analysis (6 Mar 2025).
Try instant or a simple cafetière at home. Which? regularly finds supermarket own-label instants that rival branded jars at a fraction of the cost. When you do buy out, many cafés offer a small reusable-cup discount.
2. Use supermarket loyalty pricing and one own-brand swap per shop
Join the free loyalty scheme where you shop and make one brand→own-brand swap each visit. For many baskets, that's £10-£15 a month back. The CMA's 27 Nov 2024 review found 92% of loyalty-priced items were genuine savings, with typical discounts of 17-25%. Scan your regular basket for loyalty prices and compare unit prices.
Example: swapping a branded instant coffee (£5-£8) to a supermarket “gold” own-label (~£2-£3) can halve the cost (Which?). Keep a running “swap list” on your phone.
3. Get a Railcard if you spend £15+/month on trains
A Railcard gives up to 1/3 off most fares. At £35 for one year (or £80 for three years on some cards), you break even quickly—spend ~£15 off-peak per month and the card can pay for itself and then save £5-£10/month afterward. See options like 16-25, 26-30, Senior, Two Together, and Network Railcard. Check time restrictions and minimum fares.
4. Re-contract or switch to a social tariff for broadband/mobile
If you're out of contract, recontracting with your current provider often cuts £8-£10 a month. Ofcom's end-of-contract rules require providers to notify you when your deal ends—many customers who act save ~£100/year.
Switching is simple: text PAC to 65075 (keep your number), STAC to 75075 (don't keep), or INFO to 85075 to check exit fees (Ofcom's Text-to-Switch).
On certain benefits? Social tariffs from multiple providers cost ~£10-£24/month—see Ofcom's social tariff list.
5. If you pay for 2+ prescriptions a month, buy a PPC
England's Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) caps costs: £32.05 for 3 months or £114.50 for 12 months versus £9.90 per item. Two items each month cost £237.60/year without a PPC, so the 12-month PPC saves ~£123/year (~£10.25/month). Check if you qualify for free prescriptions first. Details: NHSBSA PPC and gov.uk charges update.
6. Live alone? Try a water meter and check for assessed charges
Single occupants and low-usage homes often save with a water meter (installation is usually free). Estimate your saving with CCW's 2025-26 calculator. If a meter can't be fitted, ask your water company about an assessed charge. In many regions, you can switch back within two years if not better off (rules vary and compulsory-metering areas differ)—see CCW's guidance.
7. Don't watch live TV or BBC iPlayer? Cancel the TV Licence
You only need a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV on any service or use BBC iPlayer. If you never do either, you can legally declare “No Licence needed” and save £174.50/year (~£14.50/month). Check the rules on Do I need a TV Licence? and see the current fee at TV Licensing. Be certain before cancelling to avoid penalties.
8. Turn your combi boiler flow temperature down to 60°C
Many gas combi boilers run more efficiently at ~60°C flow temperature. Nesta's work and Salford Energy House testing reported 9-12% gas savings, translating to roughly £65-£112/year depending on tariffs. Trade-off: radiators may warm up a little slower. Safety note: if you have a system boiler with a hot-water cylinder, keep the cylinder at ≥60°C to reduce legionella risk (Nesta guide).
9. Single adult at home? Claim the 25% Council Tax discount
If only one adult (18+) lives in your property, most councils offer a 25% Single Person Discount. On low incomes, you may also qualify for Council Tax Reduction (sometimes up to 100%). Apply via your local authority—start at GOV.UK: Council Tax discount and Council Tax Reduction. Keep paying until your bill is adjusted.
10. Cycle to Work for commuting costs (and fitness)
Swap some paid commutes for cycling. If your employer offers Cycle to Work, you can salary-sacrifice the bike and kit—typical employee savings are 32-42% through tax and NI relief (Crown Commercial Service). Mix with public transport or occasional rides to trim fuel, parking, or fares.
11. Air-dry laundry instead of using the tumble dryer
On milder days, line-dry or use an indoor airer. Nesta estimates that swapping the tumble dryer for air-drying in warmer months can save around £70/year, depending on use and tariffs.
- Spin clothes at a higher RPM to shorten drying time.
- Use a dehumidifier on low near the airer to speed things up.
12. Eligible for Universal Credit? Use Help to Save's 50% bonus
If you're on qualifying benefits, open a Help to Save account: save £1-£50 each month and get a 50p bonus per £1 at the end of years 2 and 4. As a simple example, saving £25/month could earn up to £300 in bonuses over four years. Full eligibility and rules: GOV.UK - Help to Save.
Recap: Stack 2-4 swaps to bank £50+ each month
Examples that cross £50/month:
- Coffees (~£28) + PPC (~£10) + air-drying (~£6) ≈ £44-£50 depending on your usage.
- Coffees (~£28) + recontract broadband (~£8) + TV Licence (eligibility-based, ~£14.50) ≈ £50+.
- Loyalty pricing/own-brand (~£12) + Railcard savings (~£8) + Council Tax discount (varies) ≈ £20-£50+.
Your numbers will vary. Always check eligibility (e.g., TV Licence rules, Council Tax discounts) and read the official pages linked above. Pick one quick win today and set a 30-day reminder to review your savings.
See prices in hours: the 118M8 way to stick to your swaps
118M8 turns any price into “hours of work,” so it's easy to sense-check purchases and keep small switches going. Add a Sleep on it reminder for 24 hours and track how those choices add up over the month. Try setting a £50/month savings goal in the app and watch your streak grow.
Hours-for-£ mini-calculator
Translate a monthly saving into hours of life.
That's 4.17 hours of work.
Log this in 118M8 and set a 24-hour “Sleep on it” reminder for your next purchase.
Stock images by Ceyda Çiftci, Franki Chamaki, Steph Gray, TechieTech Tech, Melany, Deborah L Carlson, Denny Müller, Kammerin Hunt, Joseph Mama, Vitaly Gariev, Victor Kravchenko, Andre Taissin and Jakub Żerdzicki via Unsplash.