THRIFTY Bradfordians have been urged to keep their receipts and ditch contactless cards if they want to watch their wallets and save money in 2020.

A team of money savers from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have revealed 20 top cost-cutting tips to make savings in 2020.

Whether saving for a house deposit, a new car, or for a rainy day, making small changes to your lifestyle can soon see the pennies pile up.

Create a budget

Taking a step back to create a budget will open your eyes to where all your money has, is and will be spent, and make it straightforward to cut out unnecessary outgoings in the future. Get used to making spreadsheets.

Leave the gym

People can ditch pricey gym memberships by going for a run on the streets, taking up an alternative sport or improvising their own exercise routines at home.

Ditch contactless cards

Instead of spending up to £30 on impulse purchases, try sticking to cold hard cash for small purchases like the good old days.

Get smart to stay warm

Save on heating costs by keeping an extra jumper on at home, plugging any little gaps around the house to draft-proof, closing curtains to hold warmth indoors, moving furniture to unblock radiators and investing in a cost rug or hot water bottle.

Keep receipts

Hanging on to receipts helps with week-to-week budgeting and could mean you avoid spending on costly replacements if something needs to be returned or replaced while it’s still under warranty.

Start a loose change jar

Instead of letting coppers collect dust down the back of the sofa, place an empty jar in the kitchen for all of the family to throw their 1p, 2p and 5p coins into.

Cut electrical and water bills

To fight rising utilities prices, stop leaving electrical gadgets on standby when they’re not in use and always turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms.

Water usage and costs can also be reduced by taking a quick shower instead of a long bath and using sink or cooking water for plants.

Pass on takeaway coffee

Skip grabbing a coffee on the way into work every morning and instead make one at home in a flash or reusable cup to save money on a daily basis.

At lunch time, have one before leaving the office or upon returning, rather than a brew from a chain on the go.

Walk, walk, walk

Vehicles are expensive to own, fuel and maintain, whilst most public transport is not as affordable as it used to be.

So to save significant money in the new year, ditch the price bus, car or train whenever possible, in favour of travelling on foot – which is free.

If it’s within a mile or two, try walking to work, the shops, friends or family and any activities; going for a leisurely stroll could become a cheap alternative hobby in itself, too.

Look for yellow stickers

When in the supermarket, hunt for items that have been marked with a yellow sticker due to their use by or best before date, or the condition of packaging.

Eagle-eyed Brits could grab up to 50 per cent off on some of their favourite foods, with some retailers known to up the discount to as high as 90 per cent off if the items remain unsold near to closing time.

Even if you can’t eat it all immediately, lots of produce is still perfectly edible beyond their best before date or suitable to be frozen for use at a later date.

Make your own lunch

Ditch the £3 daily shops’ meal deals; as a cheaper alternative, make sandwiches and snack at home or take last night’s leftovers to work.

Sell unused items

Post items that have never been opened or aren’t used regularly anymore onto popular resale apps, website or social media. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure, so you could be sitting on a small fortune; great items to consider include clothing, collectibles, entertainment items (such as DVDs, CDs and Vinyls) and technology or gadgets.

Consider going vegan

In addition to the ethical and moral considerations, meat and fish prices have risen significantly, so even adopting part-time veganism or vegetarianism – such as meat free Mondays – could benefit Brits’ bank balances, as well as their health.

Find online discounts

It’s simply sensible to seek out the best value for money, so wisely shop around online like you would in person by using voucher codes and exclusive offers from a site such as PromotionalCodes.org.uk.

Choose a staycation

Avoid expensive flights and other costs that could mount up, such as health insurance, data roaming charges and common tourist attractions, by holidaying at home – consider a caravan or camping if UK hotels are still out of budget.

Swap takeaways for self-made

Rather than shelling out shedloads of cash on takeaways, prepare some of your favourite international cuisines yourself at home with fresh ingredients.

Entertain at home

A monthly movie night is a great family activity that will save significant cash over regular trips to the cinema.

Prepare for shopping

Always go to the shops with reusable bags to swerve the rising surcharges, write a shopping list and stick to it to avoid purchasing unnecessary duplicate items and shrewdly research if the offers in-store are actually giving you a good deal or not.

Go Freeview

TV enthusiasts can get most of their favourite shows for free on Freeview, so it’s time for budgeting Brits to cut out the costs of cable.

Set savings goals

One of the best ways to save money is to visualise what you are saving for. If you need motivation, set savings targets along with a timeline to make it easier to reach your goals.