The winter is on the way, and we are all going to have to be working a little (or a lot) harder to make sure that our personal and professional budgets are staying healthy as we head into the colder months. Here in the UK, there have been some troubling rumblings on the news lately ranging from everything from supply chain issues to rising gas prices. It doesn’t matter whether you are a business owner, a staff employee, or a freelancer: things are going to be tight over the next several months.

But as we all know, panicking is never the answer. It is going to take preparation and planning to ensure that we continue on a path where we can continue to grow and thrive. A big part of this will be looking for the areas where we can make cuts or changes to save money and look for opportunities where we might be able to earn a little extra. This process is not always as simple as we might like, but there will always be more options than you realise when you get down to it. Here are just a few of the areas that you can look at to save and earn.

Could Remote Working Save You Money?

Back when we all started working from home in March 2020, most of us assumed that this would be a short-term thing. But even now, we are still seeing a huge amount of discussion and debate about whether the time is right to bring workers back to the office. For business owners, giving up the office would mean saving on rent, energy, and utility bills, and all the other ancillary costs that are involved in committing to a brick-and-mortar space. If you run your own small business, this is something to seriously consider if you are looking to trim your budget in the months ahead.

For employees, you may have a little less say in whether the company reopens their office or not, but you may be in a position to decide whether you want to go back in or continue working from home. If you have the option, it is worth keeping in mind that you could save on transportation costs, among other things, by working from home. You could also free up some of that commute time to work on other projects, which brings us to our next point.

Is Freelancing Or Part Time Work An Option?

“Working more” does not tend to be the answer people are looking for when they are trying to boost their monthly earnings, but the fact of the matter is that a lot of workers out there are picking up a few side hustles in order to make ends meet and to rebuild their savings after the pandemic. It is definitely worth thinking about what skills that you have which could be marketable as a part-time or freelance skill. Accounting, marketing, graphic design, video editing…with so many firms looking to minimise their spending, there may be a lot of short time freelance work out there so do not be afraid to pitch.

Look For Better Deals

If your bills are coming in at a higher number than you are comfortable with, or if you are paying for more than you are actually using, then it is high time for you to look for some better deals. Gas and electricity prices will be going up this winter, so you need to make sure that you are getting onto a contract that is not going to leave you out of pocket right now. If you are going to be working from home for a while longer yet then a decent broadband package is essential, but you still need to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible.

When it comes to your mobile phone plan, so many providers want to lock you into a long-term deal filled with all sorts of add-ons that you are never going to use. Even if you commit to an annual plan without all the extras, then you still have that fear about going over your limit and getting a horrible surprise bill at the end of the month. A SIM only plan gets rid of everything except what you need, and you might even be able to earn money from home when you sign up. With the Lebara refer a friend offer, you could earn £50 for each friend that you refer, and there’s something in it for the friend too: 50% off their deal. Lebara offers 30 day rolling plans, there are international minutes that are applicable to 41 countries, and there is no credit check needed so anyone can apply.

Manage Your Debt

Managing debt is something that a lot of people struggle with. It is something that can pile up very quickly, as one loan is taken out to cover the costs of another loan, and that essential large purchase is simply not going to happen if you don’t look at spreading out the cost. When you start taking on more and more debt, it can become harder and harder to see how you are ever going to be able to pay it back.

This is as true for business owners as it is for employees, and it is something that we have all struggled with during the pandemic as our financial situations have not been exactly stable. If you are looking for ways to save money in the months ahead, one of the most useful things that you can do is to sit down and really get to grips with your outstanding debts. Think about whether there is any advantage to paying more now to get rid of some of those loans quicker. Talk to your loan provider to see if you can negotiate a more favourable interest rate, or if a different repayment schedule would help you manage your budget better in the coming months. Don’t bury your head in the sand when it comes to debt.