How to use free services to save yourself some cash
It's no secret that the cost of living is rising. From housing to food to transport, everything is getting more expensive. For the majority of people who are not seeing their wages rise to compensate for this, some belt-tightening might be in order.
Fortunately, you often do not need to make massive lifestyle adjustments or become a personal finance wizard to save serious cash. Instead, you just need to know who to talk to. Here are some of our favorite free services that could save you money, with no effort required.
Subscriptions: Clarity Money
If you find that you don't have enough left over after the bills are paid, now is the time to audit your outgoings. You can do this in an instant with Clarity Money, a totally free app that will identify wasteful subscriptions and tell you how to save money. You can set it to automatically cancel subscriptions you don't use or apply for negotiated discounts on the subscriptions you need. All of this is from a single, AI-powered app.
Mortgage Rates: Trussle
In a time of white-hot inflation, interest rates are on the rise. If you have a mortgage and your payments are shooting up, you need to act now to avoid overpaying for years. Fortunately, you can use Trussle, a free online mortgage advisor that can quickly check your eligibility for cheaper mortgage deals and match you with a new provider in no time. As mortgage payments are a significant chunk of our income, it's important to stay on top of your rates.
Cheaper holidays: HomeExchange
Hotels, flights, and excursions are more expensive than ever, partly due to a wave of pent-up demand that is being unleashed on holiday hotspots this summer.
If you'd rather not shell out four figures for a couple of nights in a hotel, why not opt for free accommodation instead? You can sign-up for HomeExchange, a free service that allows you to swap your home with someone else in a holiday spot, so neither of you has to pay for a hotel. To take advantage of the full benefits and become a member, there is an annual fee of $175, but it is totally worth it.
All users are fully vetted and the service has a very strong reputation for trustworthiness, so why not try it out the next time you fancy a free trip?
No-fuss discounts: Coupons at Checkout
This Google plug-in might just be one of our favorite discoveries of the year. Coupons at Checkout is an AI-powered service that automatically scans the entirety of the internet for valid discount codes whenever you arrive at the online checkout page.
Whether you're paying for groceries, clothes, flights, or video games, all you need to do is make sure that you have this plug-in activated. Once you do, you can use the auto-fill function on your browser to instantly add the best current discount code, potentially saving you up to 90% on each and every online purchase.
For millions of us, money is tight right now. However, with the right resources at your disposal, you can take simple steps to make everyday life less expensive.
