I’m 23 and saved £30k thanks to my amazing budgeting skills – my five tips to help you do the same
A 23-YEAR-OLD Brit has shared how she saved £30,000, thanks to her amazing budgeting skills.
Vanessa Pereira has been extremely money-conscious from an early age, with her parents teaching her the importance of working and saving.
Over the years, she has utilised her super simple hacks to save money – all to count her pennies.
Recently, she has started to share the secrets she’s developed, becoming an Instagram sensation, as social media users love how easy her tips are to use.
“I think my money skills have stemmed from my background after my parents immigrated to the UK from Portugal, 30 years ago,” Vanessa, a content writer from Surrey, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“My family is the first generation born in the UK, with my younger sister and I both being born here.
“As family-orientated individuals, we often accompanied my parents to their part-time jobs after school and on weekends.
“I feel as though this has taught me the value of money and hard work, and has shaped my financial mindset as well as my strong values.”
Knowing that her parents wish to move back to Portugal, this motivated Vanessa to start savvily saving years ago.
She said: “I wanted to become financially independent, and as a result, I have made it a priority to save as much as possible.
“I am also determined to jump onto the property ladder as soon as possible.
“Which will not only provide me with a sense of security but also reassure my parents that I will be okay in the UK.
“I want to show my parents that I am capable of thriving on my own.”
By the time she reached her teenage years, Vanessa learned the art of collecting coupons from newspapers, magazines, online retailers, and manufacturers.
She added: “I became quite passionate about these money-saving techniques as I saw a method to stretch my budget and continue to enjoy the same products.
“My quest for finding the best deals didn’t stop at coupon collecting.
I wanted to become financially independent, and as a result, I have made it a priority to save as much as possible
Vanessa Pereira
“I was determined to find new ways to get things for free or at heavily discounted prices.”
This is when Vanessa came up with her ultimate tips and tricks for money saving.
MAKE A SHOPPING LIST
Write out a list and stick to it.
She said: “Never shop while hungry, you’re more prone to impulse-buying when you’re starving.”
SAVING ACCOUNT ISA
Make sure to get and use an ISA, an individual savings account, perfect for putting money aside.
She added: “When you get paid move a fixed amount of money straight into an ISA bank account.
“As these typically have better interest rates, and create an emergency fund which you also don’t touch, unless you absolutely need to.
“Out of sight, out of mind.
“Don’t think about the money you have in savings.”
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DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THINGS YOU NEED AND WANT
She said: “As soon as you start asking yourself this question, you will notice you aren’t spending as much on trivial items.”
SEASONAL SHOPPING
Make sure to buy winter clothing and items during the transition to spring.
She added: “This is when they are cheapest!
“And buy summer clothing and items during the shift to Autumn as this is when they’re on sale.”
RESEARCH
Another tip of Vanessa’s is to make sure you shop around.
She said: “Before I head into a shop or purchase anything, I make sure to research.
“This way I can see if I can get the exact same item elsewhere for a cheaper price tag.”
Vanessa also joined Facebook groups for saving money.
She said: “I quickly became a member of various social media groups, where I shared deal opportunities with other users and learned from their tips and tricks.
“This is where I also found out about surveys you can fill in to earn extra income or coupons.
“I also make sure to get loyalty cards, such as a Tesco‘s Clubcard, and take advantage of yellow stickers or reduced items.”
In one post, shared to her Instagram @money_saving_queen, Vanessa revealed a massive haul of food which was meant to cost £23.55, but ended up only costing her £3.89.
I would describe myself as frugal and not cheap
Vanessa Pereira
The haul included a bag of Yorkshire puddings, Rustlers burgers, biscuits, deodorant, and baby nappies.
In the clip, the huge pile of items is displayed before she shows off the savings app she used to spot the reductions.
The video gathered over 1,230 views, as well as plenty of likes and a couple of comments from fans.
Stephanie said: “Love thissss.”
Someone else added: “Excellent.”
Vanessa added: “I would describe myself as frugal and not cheap.
“A frugal person will continue to buy quality items but will wait for a sale or find deals, coupons and cashback to try to reduce the cost.
“Whilst a cheap person will simply find the lowest possible price, often compromising on quality.
“My frugal lifestyle has served me well, as I am now 23 years old with £30,000 in savings, which is only possible due to my money savviness.”
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