Struggling with money can be very worrying. When we don’t feel that we’ll make it to our next payday we can feel debilitated by panic and anxiety. But, by making a few small changes and decisions, you could make your life a bit easier and your money stretch a little further. Here are a few smart tips to get you spending more wisely:

Calculate costs

Don’t leave your expenses as a guessing game. By calculating your costs up until your next payday you can put together a sensible budget to keep you living comfortably. You could also use the income and expenditure, that can be downloaded from this site. These monthly costs include your essentials – rent, water, electricity, food, transport, tax – and putting a bit aside for an emergency is a great way to avoid overspending. It would be a good idea to do this as soon as you get your pay cheque to ensure that you don’t spend mindlessly during the next month.

You should never not pay your utilities. These are your priorities during the difficult months because dodging them would cost you a lot more long term trouble than they’re worth. If you’re unable to pay them you should inform them pre-emptively instead of ignoring the outstanding bills. You may be able to arrange a payment plan.

Making little lifestyle changes

Sometimes small expenses can build up over time. In some cases, you might not know you’re overspending until you start cutting costs. For example, buying yourself a flask and taking your own coffee to work instead of buying one from the coffee shop every day will probably save you a pound a day. Similarly, small changes to your general lifestyle could end up saving you some money in the future. Instead of using your tumble dryer through the summer, try hanging your clothes outside and letting them dry in the sun. Your clothes will smell wonderful and you will have shaved a decent amount off of your usual bills if you manage to keep it up.

Cleaning up

A quick fix for being short on funds is having a good clean of your home. There are so many online, second hand retailers available to us that you might as well take advantage of it. If you have some spare things in your home that you’re not using or don’t particularly intend to use then by putting them for sale online you could make some quick money and clear out some space.

A loan

A payday loan should only be taken out in dire situations. Interest can incur quickly if you’re not careful and the loans are normally only meant to last you a few days, so don’t overestimate what you’re capable of paying back. When you’re looking for the right Payday loan lender, don’t be drawn in by flashy advertising. Read the terms of the loan very carefully keep a good eye on the interest rates. As long as you pay back the loan as quickly as possible it might be the perfect thing you need to keep you on top of your expenses. Just be smart. Perhaps a better place for a short term loan would be family or a friend?