Britons urged to create 'smart plan of action' to boost savings - top 20 tips you need to know

This week marks the start of UK Savings Week which is a national campaign designed to encourage better ways to make the most of your money.

On top of this, thousands are already embarking on No Spend September where they aim to reduce non essential spending to zero in a process which will help boost how much cash they can set aside as savings.

Despite these events, many families remain anxious over making drastic change to their spending across the space over the month.

However, leading consumer champion Jane Hawkes shares that the "key" to savings money is by forming a plan and sticking to it.

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Speaking to GB News, she said: “A zero spend challenge isn’t when you don’t spend any money at all.

"Instead it is when you set a goal to only spend money on essentials in a given time frame.

"It can be a week, month or even a weekend or day where you cut out what you can live without.

"Necessary expenses include rent, mortgage, transport, food, utility bills, phone bills, credit card payments, childcare and insurance.

"Unnecessary spending is everything else. By making some simple changes to your usual spending you can clear that summer debt, spring clean your finances, save money and still have lots of frugal fun.

“You absolutely can go a whole month without spending a penny more than you need to.

"But for the best chance of nailing a zero spend saving challenge, you need a smart plan of action.”

Here is a full breakdown of the top 20 savings tips Britons should adopt this week to better their finances going forward, according to Jane:

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1. Set clear, achievable goals and be ready to track your progress.
2. Download free printable budgeting templates so you can see exactly where your money is going and where savings can be made.
3. Find a budget buddy so you can stay motivated and accountable.
4. Get your family and friends on board
5. Unsubscribe from marketing emails
6. Eat from the larder – When was the last time you did a stock take of your food cupboards and freezer? There could be so many meals in there which could save you a fortune
7. Sign up to freebies websites such as Latest Free Stuff
8. Time is money. Swap with friends, family or neighbours for babysitting or doggy day care
9. Use retail and supermarket reward points. You might be pleasantly surprised by how much you’ve actually accumulated
10. Make a shopping list and stick to it and shop alone to avoid the urge to put treats in your trolley
11. Pick five items at the end of each supermarket shop to put back
12. Ask yourself ‘do I really need it?’ to avoid impulse buys
13. Check your direct debits!
14. Make ‘staying in’ the new ‘going out’ with home-made takeaways, films and family quiz nights
15. Re-use and repair. You might know how to sew but do you know how to mend? They are very different things
16. Pause digital subscriptions for a month and see if you really missed them before you renew
17. Check out free activities on local tourist office, council and library websites
18. Cash in cash back balances. It’s nice to see pounds and pennies stack up as you build cash back
19. Organise a clothes swap party – if you haven’t worn something in a year, will you ever wear it again?
20. Declutter (and sell, sell, sell!)