A MUM who saved £25,000 in a year after giving up luxuries has revealed her top money saving tips.

Lara Joanna Jarvis, who is known for her budgeting tips and tricks, sharing them on her YouTube channel, committed to a “no buy” year in 2019, only spending money on essential purchases.

And with husband Stuart also taking part the pair were able to save £25,000 to put towards their first home together.

But for those who are not quite ready to give up all of life’s little luxuries, Lara has revealed her top five tips for cutting back spending.

30 DAY WAIT RULE

Lara says: "I live by this rule. When I did my no-buy year for 2019 it was the foundation for changing my money mind-set.

"If you want something then put it on your wish list and if you still want it after 30 days have passed you can allow yourself to buy it.

"It stops that impulse spending. Often we’re not thinking things through.

"And I found that I never actually wanted to buy that thing at the end of that time."

MEAL PLAN

"Meal planning not only alleviates the stress of trying to find something to eat, it saves you time, it saves you money, it makes you more organised.

"I do it backwards, so I will look at what I’ve already got and I will then think of the recipe that will work for those ingredients.

"I will then meal plan, working out what we need for each day and write my shopping list accordingly.

"I have cut my food bill in half doing this."

USE CASH

"Handing over a crisp note from the bank is so much more effective than just tapping your card, or even worse, tapping the app on your phone.

"It just devalues money so much, cash just makes it a bigger deal."

TAKE A PHOTO WHEN YOU LIKE AN OUTFIT

"This is directed at people who like wearing nice things. Take a photo of yourself when you like what you’re wearing.

"Whenever you feel like you haven’t got anything to wear you can look at your photos and pick out an outfit."

KNOW YOUR WHY!

"We started this journey as a deposit saving journey and it was a reason to keep going when things were hard and you have to say no to going out with your friends or buying something.

"Know your why, write it down and always keep a look on it and congratulate yourself.

"Celebrate the little wins along the way and just keep your why in your vision because otherwise you’ll lose your way a little bit."

In other money-saving ideas, this DIY fan made stunning Disney wreaths and saved herself £200.

And a Mum makes amazing Christmas garland for just £12 using bargains from Lidl.

Plus, thrifty mums share their tips for a cut-price Christmas including how to save thousands on presents & get food for cheap.

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