Saving is no easy task, especially in 2026. With the economy at its worst and inflation making everything more expensive, not just from year to year anymore but from month to month, having any money at the end of each month at all feels impossible. Bills are higher, rent is higher, and even the price of basic food items has doubled. This has meant that even people who were good at saving before have started to struggle to create a substantial savings account and keep it full.
Whether you want to save up for a nice holiday or to buy a home, your goals can start to feel impossible. This can not only leave you with a lack of savings but also make you feel deflated, unable to save money to do the things that you want in life. However, it doesn’t have to be this way, as this article aims to provide realistic yet effective ways for you to start saving.
But do not be alarmed; unlike other saving advice articles, this one understands that people have lives. Some articles related to saving set an unrealistic standard where you stay in every weekend and never eat out. However, this article understands that people have birthdays and you can’t always make your own food and rather suggests smart and savvy ways to save rather than miserable ways that make living life unenjoyable.
So if you want to start saving money every month, read on and find out how you can cut costs and start building into your savings accounts rather than taking money from it.
Read: How to Build Better Spending Habits in Your 20s
Automate your savings
Many make the mistake when they are saving money or relying on themselves to place money into savings accounts. This can be a slippery slope for many, especially those who struggle with self-control. Instead of manually placing money into different accounts or seeing what’s left at the end of the month, make saving a priority by automating the process. You can do this by scheduling a transfer on the exact day your pay hits your account. Some may choose to start small by saving 10 to 20 pounds a month and then increasing this amount month by month as savings start to grow.
Many bank accounts let you set up a standing order to other accounts, which means that money can leave your account without you even knowing, which is the best form of saving, especially for those who are poor with money.
Audit subscriptions and utilities
These days there are so many subscriptions that you can join and subscribe to, whether that is a Spotify subscription, a Netflix subscription or even and uber subscription. This can start to add up in the long run, especially if you have multiple subscriptions for TV services; it can add up to over £50 before you even know it. This displays the importance of reviewing subscriptions every month to see which ones are important and which ones are not.
Some people even realise that when they do go to review their subscriptions they have been paying for subscriptions they do not even use or didn’t even know they were paying for. Review your bank statements for any unused streaming services, gym memberships and app subscriptions and cancel them immediately. Also use comparison websites to ensure that you are not over paying and pay as less as you can for your subscriptions.
Slash food and transport costs
Groceries and food costs are usually some of the highest costs for the average person apart from rent. For many, buying lunch at work every day can start to add up, even if the meals are inexpensive. Over the month, even if meals are under £10, it can add up to at least £150. This is a high cost and can be reduced by making meals for the week at home and bringing food in. In addition to this, meal prepping dinner can also help to cut costs as you can buy ingredients in bulk and benefit from economies of scale. Freezing food and making 3 meals out of 1 set of ingredients can make eating cheaper whilst also being easier for those who are working busy 9-to-5s.
Transport-wise, you should try to walk where you can and take public transport, which for most is very inexpensive. In addition, try to avoid Ubers where possible, as these are some of the most expensive forms of transport and can be 5x the price of public transport. Some places in the world, such as some counties in England as well as other countries around the world, even give free public transport cards with proof of British citizenship, which can help to further cut costs.
