Woman's savvy money-saving tricks have helped her save £5k
With the cost of living in the UK rising at its fastest pace for almost 30 years, it's harder than ever to be able to save money.
But one woman has revealed how she managed to stash away thousands by completing surveys and using cashback apps.
Nalan Kaya, 26, from Coventry, West Midlands, scrolls through survey websites and cashback apps as well as exchanging receipts for points in order to save money and earn freebies.
The NHS biomedical assistant sometimes spends less than £30 a month on shopping, including food, thanks to offsetting costs in this way, taking advantage of free samples and purchasing reduced yellow sticker items.
So far, she has earned back more than £5,000 in the space of three years and is hoping to start saving for her first mortgage.
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“I’ve been frugal since I was young and have always loved the idea of being able to get something for free," she says.
“As I got older and had my own bank account and PayPal, it meant that I could start earning money in addition to getting freebies as I could provide payment information on survey sites and apps.
"I've found some survey sites to be quite useful, and have made £600 so far from one particular site where the studies are conducted by universities for academic research."
Kaya says filling out the surveys online can take from a minute upwards.
“Referrals are a great way to make money on sites too. On one site, I actually made about £250 in crypto currency which I let sit for a while and ended up with £1,500," she adds.
When it comes to freebies, Kaya has received a variety of foods such as meals at restaurants, crisps, pizzas and fresh fruits as well as toilet paper, perfume, sanitary products and many more.
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Her frugal living and extensive knowledge of money-saving apps means she actually spends very little on food every month.
“I can get up to 100% cashback on some foods I buy, and sometimes I even make a profit on food I’ve bought as other apps will be working in the background and make a note of what I’ve spent," she says.
“I literally spent two weeks receiving free takeaways and grocery deliveries from UberEATS and Deliveroo, because I’d built up lots of credit from referrals.
“I also have some receipt scanning apps which allow me to exchange built up points for Amazon vouchers."
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When Kayan needs beauty products, she uses samples she’s bagged or heads to an app called ‘OOOOO’ where she gets a free box of full-sized beauty products for every five friends she refers to the app.
A service called Yoppie offering credit for referrals also means Kayan gets organic tampons and sanitary towels effectively for nothing.
As a result she hasn't had to buy skincare or sanitary products for well over a year.
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Kaya says she first made the move to frugal living after going through a difficult financial period.
“The apps really helped me at a time when I was unemployed and on Universal Credit," she explains.
“I had just moved to a new city, and I had nothing, I didn’t even have a blanket on my bed.
“When I could eventually afford a blanket, I ended up getting it for free as well as a heater for my room thanks to some good reviews I shared."
Hoping her advice may help others, Kaya now shares her tips and advice on her Instagram - @littlemissfreebiequeen
“All of my apps aided me in buying food and clothes and anything I desperately needed," she explains.
“I’m now looking forward to saving up for my first home.”
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