Tell us your favourite money-saving tips

Avoid the coffee shops
Always take a packed lunch into work rather than buy from your canteen or shops at lunchtime. Bring in your own coffee/teabags rather than relying on the coffee shops - I saved myself nearly £50 a month by doing this.
Julie, Surrey

The secret of a longlife
Buy longlife 1 litre cartons of supermarket own brand milk in bulk. @ around 35p a carton we save over £250 a year. The same applies to orange & apple juice.
Ken, Bishop's Castle, Salop

Go Green
Being green will save so much money.

• Use energy efficient light bulbs - more expensive to buy but will save you money on running costs
• Recycle - sooner or later we will see the price of products we buy reduce their prices.
• Don't use more water then you need when boiling the kettle.
• Whenever you update or refit household appliances from boilers to kettles or fridges get modern appliances that save on energy. Compare the energy ratings to help you decide which to purchase.
• Use the bus more often. Car share. Don't drive huge fuel guzzling cars to drop the kids off - you don't need a civvy-tank to go shopping with. etc etc.

Mike, London

Use the tube
When you find you can no longer squeeze any more hand cream out of the tube. Cut the tube in half and you will find there is still lot to be used. I push one end inside the other so that the cream doesn't get too dried up. The same holds good for most tubes. Shampoo and conditioner are another of my favourites
Muriel Birnie, Stonehaven

BOGOF
Only buy 'buy one get one free' offers if you always use the product. How many times do we think we are buying a bargain and end up throwing most of it away as we don't like it. You always pay for it in the long run,and lets face it, it's only a bargain if you really need it.
Sue, Knottingley

Milk by the quart
Buy four single pints of what ever milk you use and when the containers are empty keep them, buy a full four-pint container and split it into the four separate containers, freeze three of them, because four pints are cheaper than four separate pints, but obviously you have to buy the four separate ones first to get the containers, I've done it for ages.
Steve, Flintshire

Ease off the pedal
By driving a bit slower and using less welly when accelerating I have saved about a fifth on fuel bills, about £300 per year for the average driver. Help save the planet as well.
Dan, Dorset

Get that interest
Do not put odd coins in a jar, put them in your savings account and make sure you are earning interest on them. Do not buy Christmas savings stamps again put the money in a savings account.
Clive Pulley, Droitwich Spa

Be loyal
Make all purchases with a loyality credit card, and shop where the also give rewards.
Vic Smith, Middlesex

Holiday booking
Now that it`s holiday booking season search the internet for a good deal print it off and take it to the travel agent in the high street, they will more often than not beat it (even if it`s with their own company) just to get the business and you don`t have to pay the full amount months in advance.
Iain, Scotland

A wood idea
When using teak oil on wooden to help preserve garden furniture at the end of the summer season, traditionally it is brushed on which can be messy and use a lot of the product. Try using a sponge.
Gary Sides, Mold, North Wales

Go West
Emigrate, everything is cheaper elsewhere.
Anon, Glasgow

Flushed with success
Put a dozen golf balls in your WC cistern to save water. I often think it's the best use of all for golf balls!
Graham Thomas, Devon, UK

The real thing
When ordering a coke with ice in a pub which serves it "on tap" rather than by the bottle or can, first order your coke with no ice, then ask for some ice in a separate glass, otherwise you are paying for only half a glass of coke and the ice. Watch for that funny look of the barman. hahaha!!
Tracey, Yorkshire

Water wisdom
If you have got a water meter and have to run the hot tap until hot water comes through. Save the water in a bucket or jugs and use it to add to the bath or for watering the plants or washing your vegetables.
Sue, Derby

Be Scrooge-like
Don't recognise Xmas or people's birthdays. Tell waiters to get lost when looking for tips.
John, Staylebridge

Go online
Buying on the internet frequently saves me around 30% - not on everything but on lots of items you really benefit.
John Anderson, Sheffield

Room for expansion
For those who choose not to find a milkman that delivers and the inconvenience of having to stay in for him when he calls for payment. When doing your weekly shopping buy your milk for the week, it can be frozen, if you take off the top 2ins from each bottle that way the plastic bottle has room to expand without splitting. The drops saved can go into your current jug of milk in use.
Sandra, Swansea

Thoughts on Isas
Only commit to a Maxi Isa if you are sheltering an exisitng equity/share investment, otherwise, always transfer cash to Mini Isas. If you have the full £7,000 to invest try and put in to the cash element of a Mini Cash Isa as near to the start of the tax year, the 6th April, as possible. That will leave Mini Equity Isa. Some firms allow you to invest a minimum of £25.00 per month. If you have the money available as a lump sum consider putting this money into a high interest cheque account and transfer one-twelvth of it monthly by direct debit over the year. This drip-feed method ensures that you won't come unstuck if the markets crashes soon after a lump sum investment and takes advantage of fluctuations in the markets over the 12-month period.

Only consider Equity Isas if you are looking for a long-term investment or if you are willing to take a gamble with your capital over the short term.

Even if you hold Equity ISAs over the long term your original capital is not always guaranteed but if you are not in equities your cash investments may be eroded by inflation.

Always review your financial health every year.
Eunan Carr, Reading