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Eight ways to help you save a deposit

Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Paloma Kubiak
Posted:
Updated:
26/01/2023

If you’re a first-time buyer – or even if you’re taking the next step up the property ladder and just need to boost your current equity and savings – you may wonder how you’ll save enough money for the deposit, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

To help, we’ve put together eight tips to help you cut back on current spending so any extra money can be used to get you into a new home.

1) Consider opening a Lifetime ISA

The first step is to find out exactly how much deposit you’ll need. For instance, if you’re aiming to buy a property for £150,000 and need a 10% deposit, saving £15,000 may sound like a  challenge.

But the Government’s Lifetime ISA can top-up your deposit as for every £4 saved, you’ll gain a £1 bonus (25%), up to a maximum of £4,000 each tax year.

This means you don’t actually need to save £15,000, you only need to save £11,250. If there are two of you saving, this would half to £5,625.

If you aim to buy in three years’ time, that means you will need to save either £312.50, or £156.25 a month if there are two of you.

2) Keep a record of everything you spend and save

Go through an average month and write down everything you spend money on: shopping at the supermarket, fuel for the car, going out with friends, presents for loved ones, holidays and weekends away, books and magazines, and so on.

Keep a running spreadsheet and make a habit of recording what you spend each day, then task yourself with spending less and less each month.

3) Ditch the take-out coffees and ready-made sandwiches

This is probably one of the most common suggestions for people trying to save money, but that’s because it really does work.

A latte from one of the high-street chains is around £3 these days, which might not seem much at the time, but just one a day during your working week makes £15. That’s £60 a month and a whopping £720 a year (excluding holidays).

Take a look at what you spend each week on convenience food and drink and consider how much you could save across the year simply by bringing in your own from home.

4) Cut back on going out

If you go out for meals or to pubs and nightclubs with friends or family, could you all save by taking it in turn to visit each other’s homes? This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out at all, just keep it for special occasions, rather than a regular habit.

Could you ‘supersize’ this saving by volunteering to be the designated driver for your friends as long as they chip in for the fuel and keep you topped up with soft drinks?

5) Swap a phone upgrade to a downgrade

The latest tech might be fabulous, but you can still get a perfectly decent handset for a fraction of the price. Ask about a slightly older model that’s not 5G enabled – they’re much cheaper and see if you could get a lower-cost plan too.

You may be able to reduce your monthly smartphone bill by £30 a month or more.

6) Ask family and friends for money instead of gifts

If your nearest and dearest usually buy you presents for your birthday and at Christmas, let them know you’re saving for a deposit and ask them to give you the cash they would have spent on a gift instead.

Every little bit helps, and you could be surprised how much it adds up over two or three years.

7) Take on some extra work

You may already have a full-time job, but could you do some extra freelancing or take a shift in a local café or bar at the weekends or if you love the gym, could you work for them part time, earn some extra money and cut back on the cost of your membership?

If you can find a way of turning a hobby into a money earner, this can be a great way to help save for a deposit.

8) Car share

This could be a tough ask if you’re used to having your own transport, but if you have a flatmate, partner or family member who would be willing to share a vehicle with you for a year or two, that could save money. And selling your car would be a quick way to instantly boost your deposit fund and instead consider using a car sharing company such as Zipcar.

If you’re a first-time buyer in England, you may also be able buy a home for 30% to 50% less than its market value under the Government’s First Homes scheme, plus there may be shared ownership options available in your area. Taking advantage of either of these schemes could mean a much lower deposit is needed than you originally thought.

Ultimately, saving for a deposit will probably put a dent in your lifestyle, but if it’s only for a few years and means you’ll have a home of your own, it could be worth it.

Mark Wright is regional sales director at Romans estate agents