How to save in the UK
When you are working like a robot the whole week, you feel like partying over the weekend ( or whenever you have zero days off).
You can save a considerable amount or be on the verge of bankruptcy depending on your lifestyle. Do note that you can enjoy and save at the same time. Here are a few tips I have learnt over the past few years.
WHILE WORKING
Tax relief.
Claim for tax which you may have overpaid. And yes, it is quite common to find out that you have overpaid and the HRMC sends you a cheque once you have asked for a claim.
Here are a few things you can claim for:
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/tax/tax-guidance/tax-relief
This is the link:
https://www.gov.uk/claim-tax-refund
And no, it is not illegal to claim tax which you may have overpaid. However it is best you DO NOT hire a lawyer/agent who can make fraudulent claims on your behalf. So do it yourself! It is very simple. You fill an online form ( or post a letter to the HMRC mentioning what you want to claim for) and the HMRC team will assess your claims and pay what they think is a reasonable request. They will also send a letter to you explaining what they think is reasonable and what is not.
But if you are in doubt about anything, ask for a claim. The HMRC officers will assess your case and decide.
Claim for expenses at work.
Every trust has its own study policy but you can claim for various things. Courses, exams, travel and accommodation expenses for the courses and exams, relocation costs, fuel expenses if you drive to work / to attend a mandatory course/study day, fuel expenses if you have relocated to your future work place and travel to your work place.
If you are not sure, email your HR and they will send the local policy to you.
All these small expenses add up.
You can search on the trust intranet for guidance on this. If in doubt, ask your HR about a particular expense claim.
Ask your nursing colleagues and fellow doctors.
They may be local for years and they have a wealth of information from the cheapest barber to the cheapest driving instructor. So ask them as well.
Do locums whenever possible.
If you ensure that you get your annual leave as soon as your rota comes, you can choose dates which suit you. I usually choose my annual leave dates in such a way so that I get 2 days off every week excluding post night zero days ( which is practically wasted).
I also try to get a few days off consecutively (like 4 days in a row).
If there is a locum which allows me at least 1 rest day per week, I do it. This gives me extra experience and I get to save loads. However I make sure I do not overdo it and get at least one day per week on which I can rest and recover fully.
Cremation forms
This is mentioned here:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2017/12/cremation-forms-in-uk.html
Use NHS discounts.
Take your NHS card when you go for shopping. Your trust intranet will also have a list of shops you can avail NHS discounts at.
There are a few cards like this: https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/ which can give you further discounts.
SHOPPING
Get rewards cards for everything.
Almost every store/service provider in the UK has rewards cards. You can apply online for these cards by filling a form and a card will be posted to you. You can use it both online and in-store. Whenever you shop, "points" are added to your card and you can use this to avail discounts.
For example, the Nectar card is used at Sainsburys, BP petrol and other places. If you do your shopping from Sainsburys and get petrol for BP, you can accumulate a significant amount of points which then equate to pence you get in discount that you can avail at Sainsburys, Argos, etc.
Some rewards points like Papa Johns Pizza has an online points collection system whereby points are added to your account for every transaction you make and then you can claim free sides and if you collect enough points, a free pizza.
So get rewards cards for wherever you shop at/ eat out. You will get a reasonable discount.
Check your emails.
If you have a rewards card, the company will email you - annoyingly half of it would be boring stuff. However sometimes you will get emails for discounts. For example, if you have enough points on your Marks and Spencer Sparks rewards card, you will get an email before Christmas offering 50% discount on all items which will not be available to everyone ( till later) - You can get a lot of clothes before stocks run out.
Similarly, other places offer discounts too. Like Frankie and Benny's - they send emails offering 25% off on mains on special occasions ( like your birthday, on a bank holiday, etc)
Buy from a cheaper grocery store.
Waitrose is expensive, ALDI and Morrisons are cheaper. If you live in a reasonably sized town, it will have Tescos, Sainsbury's, ASDA, ALDI, Morrissons, SPAR, Co-Op and a few other "chain grocery stores"
You can search on Google which ones near your accommodation are the cheapest ones.
PS: They all have good quality stuff regardless of the price.
Do your major shopping in the sale season.
When my wife was expecting, we shopped for all the major items during Christmas and saved loads.
Look out for closing down sales.
The most useful resource are your local city's Facebook groups where members post things like "20-50% on all items at the local Mothercare store which is closing down".
Do grocery shopping sensibly.
Labor in the UK is expensive. Hence things which require manual labor will be expensive. Ie a packet of cut up water melon which may be just 5 pieces may cost 1 GBP whereas a whole watermelon may cost 2 GBP.
So get raw materials and save up.
There is also a seasons discount section in most grocery stores where you can buy things at a reasonable price.
Shop at outlet malls.
These are the unsung heroes of this country. You can get everything for 50% off which is the same quality as you would get in your high street store. They have all the major outlets and brands.
Explore your local outlet mall ASAP.
Find the best shop to buy household essentials for a reasonable price.
IKEA, DuneLm, Home Bargains, Wilko are a few of them. You can get lamps, rugs, bed linen,etc for a very reasonable price.
Search online first!
If you want a cologne ,for example, search on Google for the prices. You will be surprised at how much the prices vary.
I always get branded colognes like this and the prices vary from 25 GBP to 50 GBP for the same brand and size.
TKMAXX.
This is one store you will go to "browse" and end up buying the most random things ever. Everything is so reasonably priced. Especially decoration items.
In store sales.
Some stores have random sales. So it is a good idea to check your local stores before buying anything. Clarks always has a discounted shoes section and these discounts may not be visible online.
TRAVELLING
Get rewards cards for airlines.
Get an insurance quote every year.
You get no claims bonus if you have not claimed for any accident in one year with that company. These no claims bonuses bring down your insurance considerably. Therefore check comparison websites annually and switch your insurance company to a provider which is cheaper ( and has good reviews).
Get a reliable car
Buying a 900 GBP car will cost you more monthly than spending 5000 GBP on an approved used current generation model ( or a car on a finance deal) in terms of:
- Insurance : old cars have higher insurance
- Maintenance costs : old cars break down more often and thus you need to spend more. Plus new/approved used cars come with free service / warranty/ etc.
Plan your trip wisely.
If you want to take a train from London to Glasgow, the ticket might cost more if you take a direct train. If you break your journey down ( ie London to Manchester, Manchester to Glasgow) this may be cheaper. You will have to play around a bit ( ie search on Google maps and see what cities you can consider breaking down your journey at) but you will save loads.
Booking tickets in advance will also be cheaper. Train tickets also have seasonal discounts and rail cards.
Read the fine print.
Some airlines offer dirt cheap tickets. Like a round trip from Leeds-Bradford Airport to Spain in 20 GBP. However this can go into 100's of GBP if you check in luggage. So always make sure you read the fine print and terms and conditions.
BANKING
Make a sub-account.
Save on utilities.
If you pay for your own water consumption, you will know what I mean. I used to get high bills all the time however I cut down my shower time from 30 minutes to 5 minutes and have saved a considerable amount.
Also search for the cheapest utility provider on comparison websites ( which are available on Google).
FINANCIAL BOMBSBe aware of these 'bombs' which can include GMC fees, utility expenses right after winter is over ( electric heating is very expensive) , visa, ILR fees.
Save beforehand. If I, with a car on PCP and 2 dependents have been able to afford visa fees and my upcoming ILR fees , so can you.
With these aforementioned tips, you can save loads. But remember - never sacrifice on a good and comfortable home, always be well dressed and enjoy yourself. Do not stay at home like a hermit worrying that you should save that 30 quid which you could have spent on a nice meal with your loved one. Mental illness and depression will prove to be more expensive in the long run.
You can save a considerable amount or be on the verge of bankruptcy depending on your lifestyle. Do note that you can enjoy and save at the same time. Here are a few tips I have learnt over the past few years.
WHILE WORKING
Tax relief.
Claim for tax which you may have overpaid. And yes, it is quite common to find out that you have overpaid and the HRMC sends you a cheque once you have asked for a claim.
Here are a few things you can claim for:
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/tax/tax-guidance/tax-relief
This is the link:
https://www.gov.uk/claim-tax-refund
And no, it is not illegal to claim tax which you may have overpaid. However it is best you DO NOT hire a lawyer/agent who can make fraudulent claims on your behalf. So do it yourself! It is very simple. You fill an online form ( or post a letter to the HMRC mentioning what you want to claim for) and the HMRC team will assess your claims and pay what they think is a reasonable request. They will also send a letter to you explaining what they think is reasonable and what is not.
But if you are in doubt about anything, ask for a claim. The HMRC officers will assess your case and decide.
Claim for expenses at work.
Every trust has its own study policy but you can claim for various things. Courses, exams, travel and accommodation expenses for the courses and exams, relocation costs, fuel expenses if you drive to work / to attend a mandatory course/study day, fuel expenses if you have relocated to your future work place and travel to your work place.
If you are not sure, email your HR and they will send the local policy to you.
All these small expenses add up.
You can search on the trust intranet for guidance on this. If in doubt, ask your HR about a particular expense claim.
Ask your nursing colleagues and fellow doctors.
They may be local for years and they have a wealth of information from the cheapest barber to the cheapest driving instructor. So ask them as well.
Do locums whenever possible.
If you ensure that you get your annual leave as soon as your rota comes, you can choose dates which suit you. I usually choose my annual leave dates in such a way so that I get 2 days off every week excluding post night zero days ( which is practically wasted).
I also try to get a few days off consecutively (like 4 days in a row).
If there is a locum which allows me at least 1 rest day per week, I do it. This gives me extra experience and I get to save loads. However I make sure I do not overdo it and get at least one day per week on which I can rest and recover fully.
Cremation forms
This is mentioned here:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2017/12/cremation-forms-in-uk.html
Use NHS discounts.
Take your NHS card when you go for shopping. Your trust intranet will also have a list of shops you can avail NHS discounts at.
There are a few cards like this: https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/ which can give you further discounts.
SHOPPING
Get rewards cards for everything.
Almost every store/service provider in the UK has rewards cards. You can apply online for these cards by filling a form and a card will be posted to you. You can use it both online and in-store. Whenever you shop, "points" are added to your card and you can use this to avail discounts.
For example, the Nectar card is used at Sainsburys, BP petrol and other places. If you do your shopping from Sainsburys and get petrol for BP, you can accumulate a significant amount of points which then equate to pence you get in discount that you can avail at Sainsburys, Argos, etc.
Some rewards points like Papa Johns Pizza has an online points collection system whereby points are added to your account for every transaction you make and then you can claim free sides and if you collect enough points, a free pizza.
So get rewards cards for wherever you shop at/ eat out. You will get a reasonable discount.
Check your emails.
If you have a rewards card, the company will email you - annoyingly half of it would be boring stuff. However sometimes you will get emails for discounts. For example, if you have enough points on your Marks and Spencer Sparks rewards card, you will get an email before Christmas offering 50% discount on all items which will not be available to everyone ( till later) - You can get a lot of clothes before stocks run out.
Similarly, other places offer discounts too. Like Frankie and Benny's - they send emails offering 25% off on mains on special occasions ( like your birthday, on a bank holiday, etc)
Buy from a cheaper grocery store.
Waitrose is expensive, ALDI and Morrisons are cheaper. If you live in a reasonably sized town, it will have Tescos, Sainsbury's, ASDA, ALDI, Morrissons, SPAR, Co-Op and a few other "chain grocery stores"
You can search on Google which ones near your accommodation are the cheapest ones.
PS: They all have good quality stuff regardless of the price.
Do your major shopping in the sale season.
When my wife was expecting, we shopped for all the major items during Christmas and saved loads.
Look out for closing down sales.
The most useful resource are your local city's Facebook groups where members post things like "20-50% on all items at the local Mothercare store which is closing down".
Do grocery shopping sensibly.
Labor in the UK is expensive. Hence things which require manual labor will be expensive. Ie a packet of cut up water melon which may be just 5 pieces may cost 1 GBP whereas a whole watermelon may cost 2 GBP.
So get raw materials and save up.
There is also a seasons discount section in most grocery stores where you can buy things at a reasonable price.
Shop at outlet malls.
These are the unsung heroes of this country. You can get everything for 50% off which is the same quality as you would get in your high street store. They have all the major outlets and brands.
Explore your local outlet mall ASAP.
Find the best shop to buy household essentials for a reasonable price.
IKEA, DuneLm, Home Bargains, Wilko are a few of them. You can get lamps, rugs, bed linen,etc for a very reasonable price.
Search online first!
If you want a cologne ,for example, search on Google for the prices. You will be surprised at how much the prices vary.
I always get branded colognes like this and the prices vary from 25 GBP to 50 GBP for the same brand and size.
TKMAXX.
This is one store you will go to "browse" and end up buying the most random things ever. Everything is so reasonably priced. Especially decoration items.
In store sales.
Some stores have random sales. So it is a good idea to check your local stores before buying anything. Clarks always has a discounted shoes section and these discounts may not be visible online.
TRAVELLING
Get rewards cards for airlines.
If you travel on a particular airline, get a rewards card for that. You can get free upgrades to business class when you have enough points and if there is an empty seat.
Get a car.
Public transport is expensive. All these small costs add up. Having a car gives you more freedom and it is cheaper in the long run especially if you visit nearby towns and tourist spots.
Get a car.
Public transport is expensive. All these small costs add up. Having a car gives you more freedom and it is cheaper in the long run especially if you visit nearby towns and tourist spots.
Get an insurance quote every year.
You get no claims bonus if you have not claimed for any accident in one year with that company. These no claims bonuses bring down your insurance considerably. Therefore check comparison websites annually and switch your insurance company to a provider which is cheaper ( and has good reviews).
Get a reliable car
Buying a 900 GBP car will cost you more monthly than spending 5000 GBP on an approved used current generation model ( or a car on a finance deal) in terms of:
- Insurance : old cars have higher insurance
- Maintenance costs : old cars break down more often and thus you need to spend more. Plus new/approved used cars come with free service / warranty/ etc.
Plan your trip wisely.
If you want to take a train from London to Glasgow, the ticket might cost more if you take a direct train. If you break your journey down ( ie London to Manchester, Manchester to Glasgow) this may be cheaper. You will have to play around a bit ( ie search on Google maps and see what cities you can consider breaking down your journey at) but you will save loads.
Booking tickets in advance will also be cheaper. Train tickets also have seasonal discounts and rail cards.
Read the fine print.
Some airlines offer dirt cheap tickets. Like a round trip from Leeds-Bradford Airport to Spain in 20 GBP. However this can go into 100's of GBP if you check in luggage. So always make sure you read the fine print and terms and conditions.
BANKING
Make a sub-account.
You can easily do this online ( however ask your bank if you have any trouble). I have set a standing order of a specific amount to be transferred from my main account ( ie the account into which my pay comes into and I have credit cards for) into the sub-account. I do not have any debit/credit cards for that sub-account and therefore cannot use the money ( unless I transfer it to my main account online). This way I get to save a reasonable amount every month.
I used to transfer 500 GBP every month as a SHO and 1000 GBP as a reg into my subaccount without fail as soon as I received my pay ( I have set up an automatic direct debit).
Plus I transfer anything extra ( from locums, cremation forms, etc) to my sub-account.
HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES
I used to transfer 500 GBP every month as a SHO and 1000 GBP as a reg into my subaccount without fail as soon as I received my pay ( I have set up an automatic direct debit).
Plus I transfer anything extra ( from locums, cremation forms, etc) to my sub-account.
HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES
Save on utilities.
If you pay for your own water consumption, you will know what I mean. I used to get high bills all the time however I cut down my shower time from 30 minutes to 5 minutes and have saved a considerable amount.
Also search for the cheapest utility provider on comparison websites ( which are available on Google).
FINANCIAL BOMBSBe aware of these 'bombs' which can include GMC fees, utility expenses right after winter is over ( electric heating is very expensive) , visa, ILR fees.
Save beforehand. If I, with a car on PCP and 2 dependents have been able to afford visa fees and my upcoming ILR fees , so can you.
With these aforementioned tips, you can save loads. But remember - never sacrifice on a good and comfortable home, always be well dressed and enjoy yourself. Do not stay at home like a hermit worrying that you should save that 30 quid which you could have spent on a nice meal with your loved one. Mental illness and depression will prove to be more expensive in the long run.
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