A MUM has shown what little luxuries she cut out in order to save £50k for a house deposit, and how a holiday was still in the budget.

The 34-year-old former chef and her barman husband would formally splash £200 on nights out and £150 buying new clothes.

Knowing she needed to cut back, to save for a 30% housing deposit, Fiona Hawkes became a savvy saver, while still ensuring her daughter got monthly treats.

Crediting cashback apps, she says she got luxuries for a fraction of the price, whilst she also bought many Christmas gifts second hand in thrift shops.

Amidst the saving, Fiona was able to book a holiday for her her family of three by using Shopmium, at supermarkets to get the whole holiday for under £300.

After meeting her husband at the pub where she worked, the couple eventually decided to work towards getting on the property ladder.

Wanting to make a change in her lavish spending habits, the couple decided to aim for a 30% deposit instead of the usual 10%.

“It was a complete lifestyle overhaul for us. We made lots of drastic changes, like getting rid of two cars and instead of sharing one between us" said Fiona.

"Instead of going out weekly with friends, we stayed in and hosted them which saved so much money. I still wanted to have treats for these nights in and I started to discover cashback apps, like Shopmium" added the mum.

The Shopmium is free and provides users access to exclusive deals on everyday brands found in the supermarket.

As a user, you simply buy the product featured on your app from your nearest store, take a picture of your receipt, and you can get up to 100% cashback paid directly into your PayPal or bank account.

Fiona said: "Cashback apps made a huge difference to speed up our savings as food shops were one thing we couldn’t avoid as a necessity. I use the apps to find vouchers for freebies and discounts to stock up."

“For a night in, I was able to get beers and snacks for just 40p after the cashback” she added.

The chef said that she uses the offers on big shops also, leading her to get casserole mixers for as little as 5p.

Another tip she says is to stock up on meat that is on special offer and freeze it immediately.

After five years the couple reached their goal of saving £50k, putting a large deposit on their home, and using what was leftover for the moving costs.

As Christmas is looming again, the mum is putting her saving tactics into overdrive, finding presents for her daughter in charity shops and secondhand sites, saving her £85.

She said: "Try to avoid buying extra little presents or feeling guilty that you haven't spent enough.If you find a toy half price at £10 and your budget for that person was £20, you don't need to spend the difference."

The mum also uses coupons and offers from her cashback app to make chocolate hampers for relatives, making one for her dad for £2.31, saving £18.

Fiona is on the lookout for ways she can save on the Christmas dinner, adding up vouchers that will lead to her pocket being £40 heavier.

For saving for a house, the mum recommends you take it little by little, as it takes a while.

"One thing that can really help is breaking your goal down into smaller chunks, so rather than being overwhelmed thinking you need to save a £30k deposit, do it in £100 or £300 chunks," she said.

Adding: "Sticking to a money-saving journey can be really tough. Life can feel boring if we deny ourselves absolutely everything so makes sure your budget for the occasional treat. You'll appreciate it more."

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