Even the smallest changes can make a difference, so incorporating  just a few of these expert tips into your life will help make 2014 a financially healthy year.

• Be petrol savvy – driving more than two miles out of your way for 1p-a-litre cheaper fuel actually cancels out the savings.

• Clever car insurance timings – drivers can save cash (£33 – or 7%) if they buy their car insurance with more than two weeks to go on their policy, compared to on the actual day of renewal.

• Third party tricks – younger drivers in particular shouldn’t assume third party only or third party fire and theft cover will be the cheapest car insurance option – it’s actually 146% more expensive for an 18 year old, according to MoneySuperMarket.com.

• Think thermostat – most of us live in homes that are far too hot. If you turn the temperature down by just one degree, you could save about £55 a year – and probably won’t even feel any colder.

• Energy action – if you haven’t changed your energy deal recently and are paying your provider’s standard prices, you will be able to make savings. And if you move onto a fixed rate tariff you will be protected from any further price increases for a set period of time. The average saving by moving on to a better value deal is around £250 a year and it only takes five minutes to do if you’re armed with your most recent bill, according to MoneySuperMarket.com’s Clare Francis.

• Think about consolidating any debts you have. Opting for one of the competitive balance transfer credit card deals or a low rate personal loan can make sure you are tackling any debt head-on.

• If you’re worried about the cost of living, designate a week when you keep all your receipts and note down your complete expenditure. It can be something of an eye-opener and help you to decide where you can make savings, says Simon Rose from saveoursavers.com.

• Even if you’re in debt and working hard to pay off loans, try saving a little bit each month. Despite savings rates being low, in a few months’ time, if you suddenly find you have to spend money unexpectedly you may welcome having a financial buffer than having to rely on plastic or a personal loan.

• Be realistic – Plan a budget to pay off debts that you feel you can actually stick to. If you are looking to switch your debt to a zero per cent deal then aim to pay it off before the balance transfer period ends, and ensure you can afford the monthly repayments to clear the debt.

• Although many people are satisfied with their current account as it stands, it’s still worthwhile exploring what alternatives are available. It is definitely not the case that all current accounts are the same. There are some great deals available with a number of accounts currently offering credit interest rates that beat even the best savings accounts.

• Make your spending pay – using loyalty and cashback cards can help give extra bang for your buck especially over the festive period and during the January sales.

• Savings savvy – “Make a date in the New Year to sit down and go through the details of any savings you have. Check the rate of interest being paid against the current top rates. The average amount being paid to savers on instance access accounts is 0.8%. But the top rates are currently 1.5% or higher so millions of savers are clearly getting much less than the best rate. It’s far better for you to have the extra money than our bank or building society,” says Simon Rose from saveroursavers.com.

Look out for better-paying, easy access accounts or switching to a current account which pays a good rate of interest on credit balances.

• And for those people who are on the search for alternative ways of making their savings work harder in a low interest environment, Clare Francis from MoneySuperMarket.com says overpaying on a mortgage could be a great option.