If you are a Londoner who wants to enjoy all of the benefits this city has to offer but also are well aware of the costs of everything and still want to save up when possible, then you're in the right place. This is your ultimate Guide to Saving Money in London.
1. Get a Railcard
If you use public transport and like to travel outside of London once in a while, you should get a Railcard for major discounts. For only £30, you can save 1/3 on most rail fares for a year while traveling across England. You can check out the different offers they have depending on your age group on their website.
Make sure to claim back a portion of your fair when delays occur, you can do that by submitting this form.
2. Get an Oyster card and link your Railcard
An Oyster card is basically a smart card for public transport in London. You can use the pay-as-you-go credit or travel passes. It offers cheaper fares than buying paper tickets. The card can be used on the Tube, buses, trams, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, and some National Rail services. It's a convenient way to get around the city, and you can top it up at stations or online.
Make sure to link your Railcard to your Oyster card for added discounts during off-peak travel in London. You can do that at select tube station, just ask a member of staff there and they'll assist you (it will take no more than 5 minutes).
3. Sign up for grocery store's rewards programs
Sign up for ALL of the loyalty programs possible and scan your rewards card at every purchase to collect points. When you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them on your order or with partner merchants. For most of them you will need to download their app to do so (but it's completely free), or you could register for one in store.
Here are some of the grocery stores that have loyalty program available:
Sainsbury's: Nectar card
Tescos
Waitrose
M&S
Another option to save on groceries is to find discounted warehouse, like The Deli Warehouse, where you can get delicacies for very affordable prices.
4. Find free spaces to work from
If you’re a student or freelancer looking for a coworking space without the expense, London offers numerous places where you can work for free—no need to buy a coffee or pastry. You might just want to arrive before peak time to ensure you get a spot.
Some of these spaces include:
The British library (and if you are a member you can access the private study rooms)
Wellcome Collection (they have a study room available on the top floor)
5. Shopping and cafes
Obviously cheaper to make your coffee or lattes at home, but if you want to indulge in a little treat make sure you take advantage or rewards program once again. Most cafes and shops will have them, you'll need to download their app to start collecting points.
If you have clothes or shoes you're trying to get rid of, and are not fit for donation, you can recycle them for a discount. A lot of shops have a recycling scheme, they will usually give a 10% discount on future purchase. Some of these include H&M, Schuh, Boots, etc.
6. Use Olio for free items
Olio is a local sharing app that connects people who are no longer in need of some items they have with people who are interested by them. You can find all sorts of things, even food!
7. Check out your councils benefits
You paid a council tax, and you might be entitled to small perks depending on the neighborhood you live in. Some councils will give you free recycling bags for example, just check their website.
8. Advantageous phone sim cards
Make sure you are not overpaying for your phone network. There are a lot of alternative options like Voxi, where you can pay only 10 a month without a yearly contract needed.
9. Open a savings account with interests
Some banks (like HSBC) have interesting interest rates when opening a savings account, there is no contract or specific minimum amount, so it's risk free to open.
10. Tax benefits for working remotely
Check if you are eligible for tax relief in case you are working from home, you can review the criteria's on the government website here.
11. Groupon
You'd be amazed at the range of discounts available on Groupon. You can find deals on dinners, services, and more. So if you want to enjoy London with a discount, check them out.
Do you have any helpful tips to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
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