January can feel like a very long month after the excesses of Christmas, but Sheena Grant is here to share her top money saving tips.

Ipswich Star: Plan your meals ahead and use leftovers in other dishesPlan your meals ahead and use leftovers in other dishes (Image: Archant)

If you have any other tips, share them below.

• Shop around for insurance on car and home and never accept a renewal quote without checking whether cheaper is available elsewhere. Also review your finances/phone contracts/energy supplier regularly to make sure you’re not paying for things you no longer want or need and to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere

• Plan meals in advance and when grocery shopping always make a list, stick to it and never shop on an empty stomach – you’ll fill your trolley with lots of things you don’t need and which aren’t good for you

Ipswich Star: Cut down on takeaways - cooking is much cheaperCut down on takeaways - cooking is much cheaper (Image: Archant)

• Be imaginative in your home cooking – batch cook and freeze, use unwanted bread crusts for breadcrumbs to coat homemade fish cakes

• Don’t leave appliances on standby, turn off at the wall and try not to use a tumble dryer

• Buy second hand and make use of barter/freecycle schemes. You can also sell or trade unwanted goods of your own in this way

• Make use of loyalty schemes and 0% purchase credit card schemes for big purchases or existing debt – and pay them off before the interest free period ends

• Cut down on eating out and takeaway meals – take packed lunches on outings and to work

• Make do and mend – repair things when they break or go wrong and learn to sew. You can repair clothing or make things cheaply and easily that would cost your far more in the shops

• Walk or cycle on short trips instead of taking the car

• Put on a jumper instead of turning up the heating, wear slippers, install a woodburner

See Sheena’s weekly #ThriftyLiving column here