THE cost of living crisis is continuing to squeeze the pockets of hard-up Brits, and there are few signs things will get better soon.

UK inflation has hit 9.1 per cent, and is expected to go as high as 11 per cent before the end of the year.

Shoppers have also seen food prices go through the roof, while energy costs are also continuing to rise.

Despite the financial pressure facing millions, there are ways to keep costs down and keep money in the wallet.

Experts have told the Mirror 20 cost-cutting tips which could help you save money over the coming months.

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Hacks to save energy

It is likely people have used most ideas to save on energy, but its worth making sure you are not missing anything.

Switching to LED bulbs, installing a smart meter for accurate readings, having shorter showers, filling up the kettle with less water and turning off lights in empty rooms can all help out, according to Gareth Kloet, energy spokesman at GoCompare.

He added: "Also try turning the oven off 10 minutes before your food is ready, as it will carry on cooking.”

There is also a useful and simple trick that can slash 20 per cent off your energy bills.

Stamp out bad habits

Bad habits cost cash – and eventually it all begins to pile up. Common treats like cigarettes, alcohol, takeaways and chocolate can gradually wear away at your bank account.

Other habits such as picking up a coffee or a sandwich while out can also be cut out by making these things at home beforehand.

Sell your old gear

A decent deal of cash can be made from old things you no longer have use for, be it clothes, shoes, laptops or furniture.

Fashion resale sites depop.com and vinted.co.uk could be worth trying, while musicmagpie.co.uk buys old tech. Or you could try eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.

They are also good places to find cut price pre-owned items, instead of buying something new for a lot of money.

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Don't splurge on payday

It can feel like a natural urge to splash out – or at least treat yourself – when you finally get paid for all your hard work. But Scott Mowbray, founder of money management app Snoop, advises Brits to take stock.

He said: "Cover your priorities, first. It’s a long time till next month."

It can be useful to try and go whole days without spending anything if possible, and patiently waiting for the next payday to allow the pay cheques to accumulate more.

Roll back your debts

For those with big credit card, store card or overdraft debts, target the most expensive first and then focus on the next ones from the top down. The process is known as "snowballing".

Andrew Hagger, personal finance expert at Moneycomms, added: "Just remember to keep making the minimum payment on all your other debts, too."

Consider taking in a lodger

As much as £7,500 a year can be earned by sharing your home with a lodger without paying any tax on it, under the Rent-a-Room scheme. Lodgers can be found on sites like Gumtree or Spare Room.

Download food apps

Some food apps like Too Good To Go connects people to restaurants and stores that have unsold food, says Scott Mowbray from money management app Snoop. There is also Olio, which allows you to collect and share unused food.

Meanwhile, the McDonald's, Greggs and KFC apps give you discounts and freebies. Snoops rounds up top supermarket offers and brand savers and can be very useful.

Get cash back when you spend

You can sign up for cashback and get paid when you shop at retailers such as Wilko, Argos and Marks & Spencer, or at websites such as quidco.com and topcashback.co.uk.

Start shopping around more

Look around online and you may find landline, broadband, mobile, TV and motor insurance deals which are cheaper than your current one.

There are also lists which show which energy suppliers are cheapest.

Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at asset management firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Keep searching for savings until you make ends meet and have a bit left over to save for a rainy day."

Take back control

Personal finance analyst Sarah also advises keeping a closer watch on your money, and knowing where it is coming and going from.

She said: "Examine your bank accounts and keep a spending diary, to identify any cash leaks.

"Check all your direct debits, including any fitness apps, gym, TV and music subscriptions, to see whether you still need them."

Go for cheaper food

Scott Mowbray, the money management guru from Snoop, says you have to be careful both where and how you shop.

He said: "Consider changing supermarkets. Lidl and Aldi are the top discounters, Asda is the cheapest of the big four.

"If you do go in-store, make a list in advance and stick to it. Planning meals for the week can help.

"Batch cooking and freezing food to eat later in the week will also stretch your budget."

It is also helpful to delay your shop until the evening, when the yellow stickers come out for items which will soon be hitting their sell-by date.

Follow the 50/30/20 rule

Consider following the 50/30/20 rule, where you spend 50% of income on essentials like food, bills and debts, 30% on fun and 20% on saving.

Transfer your unpaid balance

Give yourself some breathing space by switching your credit card debt to a balance transfer card charging zero interest for an introductory period.

The HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa charges no interest for 33 months, but you pay 2.7% of the debt you switch, or £27 per £1,000.

Moneycomms' Andrew Hagger adds: "Make sure you clear the debt before the intro deal expires, at which point that APR will jump to 21.9%."

Drive down your petrol bills

Download the petrol prices app, which shows petrol and diesel costs near you. Supermarkets tend to advertise the lowest rates.

Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest. adds: "Go easy on the accelerator, check your tyre pressure, strip off the roof rack and empty the boot to cut weight."

Save on NHS prescriptions

Prescriptions now cost £9.35 per item but people on regular medication can spread the cost and save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).

Finance analyst Alice Haines said: “It’s like a season ticket for prescriptions, it covers all NHS ones including dental, no matter how many items you need,” Alice says.

Trace lost accounts

By using mylostaccount.org.uk, you can track down old bank accounts or savings plans that can be easy to lose track of.

More than £19billion worth of pension savings have gone astray, worth £13,000 each. Contact the Pension Tracing Service on 0800 731 0193. Avoid companies who charge.

Find a cheaper mortgage

This could be the time to move if you are a homeowner sitting on your mortgage lender’s standard variable rate.

SVRs can top 5% and remortgaging to a two or five-year fixed rate could save someone who has a £150,000 mortgage as much as £1,680 a year, according to David Hollingworth at L&C Mortgages.

Overpay your mortgage

Mortgage broker Alex Winn has useful tips on how to get rid of debt earlier, so it stops weighing you down.

He says that if you owe £100,000 over a 20-year term at 3%, you will pay £474 a month.

But adds: "If you paid an extra £100 a month you could clear the debt five years and 11 months earlier, which would save you £10,805 in interest."

However you should beware of early repayment charges, although most mortgages now allow you to overpay by 10% a year.

Make sure you are getting all your state benefits

Make sure you are getting all the state support due to you, such as pension credit, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance and universal credit. Website turn2us.org.uk can be useful.

Join a Help to Save scheme

The Government’s Help to Save scheme gives people on universal credit or working tax credit the chance to build savings.

Savers can put away between £1 and £50 a month, and get a 50% bonus on all the money they’ve stashed away after two years, and another after four years. There's no punishment for dipping into the pot and you will still get the bonus even if some money is withdrawn.

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