50 ways to save ££££ in 2025
A national newspaper journalist is looking for 50 ways to save cash in 2025. Ideally, the tips will be focused on the over-50s — and the quirkier the better. A sentence or two for each tip is enough.
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Decline Auto-Renewals. Insurance and broadband deals hike prices quietly so set calendar reminders to haggle every year.
Rent Your Driveway. List your driveway on parking apps for commuters or concert-goers. It’s passive income with no effort.
Empty Nest, Empty Bills. Turn off heating in unused rooms and stop paying for services your kids used, like streaming subscriptions.
Shop with Age Discounts. From gym memberships to days out, many discounts kick in after 50—ask everywhere you go.
Double Down on Walking. Combine exercise with errands: ditch the car for short trips and save on petrol while staying fit.
Barter Skills/Labour. Teach a neighbour piano, paint their room, or mow their lawn in exchange for haircuts, plumbing, or dog walking.
Rent Your Driveway. List your driveway on parking apps for commuters or concert-goers. It’s passive income with no effort.
Empty Nest, Empty Bills. Turn off heating in unused rooms and stop paying for services your kids used, like streaming subscriptions.
Shop with Age Discounts. From gym memberships to days out, many discounts kick in after 50—ask everywhere you go.
Double Down on Walking. Combine exercise with errands: ditch the car for short trips and save on petrol while staying fit.
Barter Skills/Labour. Teach a neighbour piano, paint their room, or mow their lawn in exchange for haircuts, plumbing, or dog walking.
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Check the interes rates being paid on your savings. Rates change regularly, and it's simple to open another savings account, potentially earning £100s/£1000s more.
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Opt for annual insurance payments: paying upfront instead of monthly instalments often saves money. Apply for marriage allowance, If you or your partner earns below £12,570, transfer unused tax allowance. Downsize your home – move to a smaller property to reduce mortgage, bills, and maintenance costs Review subscriptions – cancel unused memberships or switch to cheaper plans.
Overpay your mortgage – you will save on interest over the long term
Rent out a spare room – use the rent-a-room scheme to earn up to £7,500 tax-free annually
Cancel unused car breakdown cover – combine breakdown cover with car insurance for better value
Avoid impulse purchases – implement a 48-hour rule before buying non-essentials.
Shop at farmers' markets late in the day – sellers often reduce prices near closing time.
Cook in bulk – batch-cook meals and freeze portions to avoid waste.
Enjoy free activities – explore local museums, libraries, and parks for entertainment.
Overpay your mortgage – you will save on interest over the long term
Rent out a spare room – use the rent-a-room scheme to earn up to £7,500 tax-free annually
Cancel unused car breakdown cover – combine breakdown cover with car insurance for better value
Avoid impulse purchases – implement a 48-hour rule before buying non-essentials.
Shop at farmers' markets late in the day – sellers often reduce prices near closing time.
Cook in bulk – batch-cook meals and freeze portions to avoid waste.
Enjoy free activities – explore local museums, libraries, and parks for entertainment.
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Given the gallons of coffee drank by the over 50s a great way to save £££ is by recycling, because we know over 50s love recycling. Used coffee grounds are a brilliant way to save a trip to the garden centre, rather than spending £5-£10 in fuel and £20 in the coffee shop at the garden centre, make a regular home brew and use the old coffee grounds to boost the nitrogen, calcium and magnesium in your garden. Saves you the £25-£30 trip, plus the cost of the shop version fertiliser, whilst giving you extra brownie points for good recycling.
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Geographic arbitrage i.e. leave the country. Toss a dart at a map and chances are wherever it lands will have lower taxes, cheaper cost of living and better weather.
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1. TrustedHousesitters - a great service to get free holidays in the UK and across the world.
2. rent out a part of your garden for others to grow veg.
3. get a fully researched list of all over 60s freebies or discounts - National Express coach card, senior rail card, discounts at B&Q on a Wednesday etc...
4. Start a YouTube channel
5. Volunteer for festival work ( you get to see lots for free).
6. Offer handyman services
7. Have one no spend day/week/month
8. revisit your spending plan and nip and tuck all the things you pay for but don't use.
9. Forget hot yoga - try extreme yogo in your unheated house.
10. Start a rebellious seniors TikTok channel and start selling stuff, money saving hints etc.
11. Neighbourhood supper clubs - rotate nights to go to each others houses for a meal.
12. Become a candlelight enthusiast - if you are an Octopus customer you can earn money on their no energy sessions.
13. Get composting and sell it to locals
14. Eat what is at the back of your cupboa
2. rent out a part of your garden for others to grow veg.
3. get a fully researched list of all over 60s freebies or discounts - National Express coach card, senior rail card, discounts at B&Q on a Wednesday etc...
4. Start a YouTube channel
5. Volunteer for festival work ( you get to see lots for free).
6. Offer handyman services
7. Have one no spend day/week/month
8. revisit your spending plan and nip and tuck all the things you pay for but don't use.
9. Forget hot yoga - try extreme yogo in your unheated house.
10. Start a rebellious seniors TikTok channel and start selling stuff, money saving hints etc.
11. Neighbourhood supper clubs - rotate nights to go to each others houses for a meal.
12. Become a candlelight enthusiast - if you are an Octopus customer you can earn money on their no energy sessions.
13. Get composting and sell it to locals
14. Eat what is at the back of your cupboa
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Delete cookies, stored billing info, log-in details and mobile payments from your devices - having to remember your password and manually enter your address and payment details every time you make a purchase takes time and effort. God forbid we have to get out of bed and go downstairs to find our physical bank card! This alone is enough to at least make you think twice before spending. - Mike Barrow, Wealth Wizards
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Check your investments. Often older funds and platforms will have high charges. Moving your investments into lower cost share classes can save you thousands of pounds.
Check your protection policies. You may be paying for policies that you no longer need e.g. now that your children are financially independent. You may have stopped smoking since you took out the policy, and be able to replace it with a lower monthly premium.
Check your bank account. Are you paying fees for benefits you are not taking advantage of? You could save hundreds of pounds a year if you no longer need the account.
Check your protection policies. You may be paying for policies that you no longer need e.g. now that your children are financially independent. You may have stopped smoking since you took out the policy, and be able to replace it with a lower monthly premium.
Check your bank account. Are you paying fees for benefits you are not taking advantage of? You could save hundreds of pounds a year if you no longer need the account.