7 tips to reduce your consumption

Avoid spending money you don't have
Avoid using your credit card if possible. If you prefer to pay by credit card, make sure you don't spend more than you have available on your account and remember to pay the bill by the due date. That way you can avoid unnecessary interest and charges.

Drop the coffee
In hectic everyday life, it is easy to fall back on quick solutions. But buying a coffee here and a baguette there adds up. With simple measures, you can save large sums of money each month. Instead of buying a coffee, invest in a thermos and take one from home. It takes no more time, and as a bonus, you reduce the use of disposable cups.

Be sociable without spending
It’s okay to say no to social events that cost money. Being sociable doesn't have to be expensive. Tell friends and family that you’re saving and invite them to take part in free activities such as going on a hike.

Plan your grocery shopping
Shop online or once a week so you aren’t going to the grocery store every day. Then you can avoid the temptations the store offers. Before shopping, check your cupboards and plan your meals to reduce food waste and cut costs. Search for recipes online to make use of the supplies you already have. It takes a few extra minutes one day a week but saves you time and money the rest of the week.

Exchange, borrow or buy used
Most of us own more than we need, and you probably have a lot of things that you could get rid of.

• Organise a swap night: By organising swap nights with friends, you can get rid of things you no longer use and pick up things you might need.
• Borrow from someone else: Sometimes it might be best to borrow from friends and neighbours. For example, if your child needs camping equipment for a school trip. If you don’t know anyone who can help, consider renting an item, such as clothes that will only be worn once for a special occasion.
• Buy used: It is becoming increasingly popular to buy used, and today there is a pool of ​​apps that allow you to both sell and buy used goods. As well as saving money, you help the environment and may also be lucky enough to find unique treasures.

Think before you act
Think twice, three and four times before buying something new. Do you actually need a bread maker, or will it just end up in the shed with the exercise bike you don’t use? And what about that blouse you saw in the shop window? A tip is to postpone the purchase for two weeks, then ask yourself if this is something you cannot live without.

 And remember that it is not necessarily the case that you save money by shopping on sale, especially if you end up buying things you would not otherwise buy.

Clean up streaming services
Check which streaming services you pay for. Do you need Netflix, TV2 Sumo, Viaplay and HBO, [Local streaming service] or can you get by with one or two? If you would like to watch some series on each of the services, you can always subscribe to one service for a period of time, and then switch to another to go through its repertoire. That way, you only pay for the service you are using.