Yahoo Finance 
Everyday ways to save over £700 a year
We’re saving an average of £742 a year by taking advantage of discounts, rewards points, vouchers and special offers, according to new research from American Express.
People in Scotland are the savviest, saving £1,049 a year, while people in the North West are bottom of the table, although they still pocket £606.
Here’s the full regional breakdown:
1. Scotland, £1,019
2. South West, £848
3. South East, £821
4. North East, £780
5. Wales/West Midlands, £714
7. London, £708
8. East Anglia, £684
9. East Midlands, £643
10. Yorkshire and the Humber, £633
11. North West, £606
When we got the detailed figures from American Express, some of the numbers were somewhat ‘inventive’, shall we say. For instance, it reckons the average person saves £87.96 via phone ‘check-in’ apps such as FourSquare, where you get paid for visiting a business. We think that’s highly unlikely, not least because the check-in bonuses on offer are usually mere pennies.
However, we do agree it is possible to save £742 a year without too much effort. Here’s how, using some of their figures and some of ours.
Price discounts
The like of multibuys and buy one get one (BOGOF) offers can be dangerous, particularly if the items have a short shelf life. But use them sensibly to stock up on store cupboard, kitchen and bathroom essentials and you can save a fair few quid over the year.
Annual average saving: £153
Store and loyalty cards
Using store and loyalty cards such as Tesco Clubcard, Nectar and Boots Advantage every time you shop can quickly rack up the points, which can be used to save on future purchases or a host of other rewards.
Annual average saving: £90
Online vouchers
Look out for discount codes and vouchers before you go shopping online and you could save a packet. The top sites to browse include Vouchercodes.co.uk, MyVoucherCodes and Vouchercloud.
Annual average saving: £89
Physical vouchers and coupons
You should also look out for so-called ‘Money Off Next Purchase’ coupons, which are exactly what the name implies. You can find these on product packaging, in newspapers and magazines and online at sites such as HotUKDeals and lovemoney's own Midweek Moneysavers, Frugal Friday and Frugal Food.
Annual average saving: £82
Credit/charge card rewards
You can easily earn a couple of hundred pounds in reward points by using a reward credit or charge card for your everyday spending, particularly if you go for a card with a good introductory bonus.
For example, spend £2,000 in the first three months you have the American Express Preferred Rewards charge card and you’ll earn 20,000 Membership Reward Points. You can redeem them for a £100 gift card from the likes of M&S, Amazon, Gap and Homebase. Spend another £5,000 over the following nine months and you'll earn enough points for another £25 card. You also get two free airport lounge passes, worth up to £60.
Or you could plump for cashback from the American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday credit card. Spend £2,000 in the first three months for an introductory bonus of £100, then £500 a month thereafter, and you’ll earn £145 cashback.
If you're a Tesco or Sainsbury's shopper, you can use a Clubcard or Nectar credit card to significantly boost your points balance.
Just make sure you pay off your balance in full each month or you’ll be charged interest, which will quickly eat away anything you’ve earned.
Annual average saving: £145
Cashback sites
You can earn money back every time you spend online via cashback websites such as TopCashback, Quidco and Greasy Palm. So before you shop it’s always worth having a look at how much they’re offering and weighing up whether you’ll be better off going with voucher codes. Sometimes you’ll be able to benefit from both.
Annual average saving: £90
Restaurant deals
Taking advantage of restaurant deals, from set-price lunch menus to using discount vouchers, can significantly cut the cost of eating out. Take a look at the restaurant’s website for any deals before you book, and if you’re going to the big chains see if there are any discounts on offer at the likes of Vouchercodes.co.uk, MyVoucherCodes and Vouchercloud.
Annual average saving: £93
