Top female financial experts offer their advice to help you stay out of debt – plus win a beach hut worth up to £50,000
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
TODAY is International Women’s Day and a time to celebrate women’s achievements – but did you know women are more likely to be in debt than men?
Almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of people struggling with money worries are female, according to new data from the Money Advice Service.
And other studies reveal the lack of savings advice that is aimed at women.
So whether you want to take control of your cash or simply make your money go further, here we ask some of the UK’s top female financial experts to offer their advice. And see the rest of the page for some great Mother’s Day deals to save you more £££s.
Kalpana Fitzpatrick, finance editor for the Hearst Magazines group and consumer editor of Good Housekeeping
“Never pay full price. Whether it’s negotiating a better deal or using a discount code, search down a better price elsewhere or a cheaper option altogether.
"You can save hundreds a year through savvy shopping.”
SAVE: More than £1,000 a year, enough for a sunshine holiday abroad.
Holly Smith from youtube.com/user/ukcouponing
“Doing your grocery shopping? Check apps such as Checkout Smart and ClickSmart to find grocery freebies and get money off products.
"These virtual-coupon apps are easy to use. Simply buy the products you want, take a photo of your receipt and send it via the app.
"They will pay you the value of the discount via PayPal or bank transfer. You can even use some more than once.”
SAVE: An average of £300 per year, enough to cover a whole new wardrobe.
Dragon's Den entrepreneur Sarah Willingham
“Take guidance on your finances but make the ultimate decisions for yourself. It’s your life and you know what’s best for you and your family. Get educated and get informed.
"You can find out what you need to know online for free.
"When writing your own life story, don’t let someone else hold the pen.”
SAVE: Financial advisers’ fees cost an average of £75 an hour — so put this into your savings pot instead.
Holly Mackay, of savings website boringmoney.co.uk
“The average woman’s pension pot is about £25,000 — that’s just a third of the average man’s pot.
"If you are employed, hassle HR and find out about your workplace pension.
"Get to know what you’ve got. And you can set up your own pension online from just £25 a month.
"Aviva and Nutmeg are both good picks.”
SAVE: Paying in will cost you a little more now but can give you thousands a year extra when you retire, enough for a much better lifestyle.
- Prices are correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers are subject to availability.
Refer a friend for £1
EARN £1 in your Sun Savers wallet every time you refer a friend – up to ten of them.
We also give the friend(s) an extra £1 on top of the £5 they get for entering their first 28 Sun Savers codes.
Pass on your unique link by Facebook, Messenger or email, or just tell the pal to use your name when they sign up.
- T&Cs apply. 18+ only.
- Sun Savers registration, multiple code collect required.
- Minimum cash withdrawal £5.
Deal of Day
SHOWER Mum with love.
Korres All 4 You Shower Gel Collection was £32, now £16 at marksandspencer.com.
SAVE: £16
Save a Fiver
POCKET a free fiver when you spend £25 on selected No7 products at Boots using the code NO7SAVE5.
See boots.com/no7 for details.
Shop & Save
LIDL’S famous £7.99 Organic Prosecco Spumante is back for Mother’s Day – and £6 less than rival stores’ fizz.
Reader's saving tip
HERTFORDSHIRE reader DEE THOMPSON says: “Check out charity shops for cheap jewellery. Vintage finds make unique gifts.”
- SEND your tips to sunsavers@ the-sun.co.uk and get 28 codes, worth £5, if yours is used.
- Please include your name and town.
The Freebie
GET vouchers and gift cards as a member of research firm Nielsen’s scanning panel.
See nielsen-onlinereg.com/?cpid=1C03C3 to sign up.
Designer Double
SWAP Jo Malone’s Lime, Basil & Mandarin scent for the Bloom Mandarin & Lime Basil scent at Superdrug.
SAVE: £40
Jane's spending tip
HERE’S one for new mothers. Baby brand Mum & You has an automatic 20 per cent off all products until Sunday, from nappies to change bags.
- See mumandyou.com for more information.
- Prices correct at time of going to press.
- Deals and offers subject to availability.
Win a beach hut worth up to £50,000
SUN Savers is back with another out-of-this-world giveaway.
We are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a fantastic new beach hut, worth up to a staggering £50,000. Your summer will be complete as you, your family and friends can head to the coast any time you fancy.
The winner can choose their site from 30 sought-after seaside towns Including Bournemouth, Rye, Brighton and Whitstable.
And getting involved couldn’t be easier.
Collect TEN Sun Savers codes from today until Tuesday, March 20.
Then head to the competition in the offers section in Sun Savers, where you will be prompted to enter, which you must do by Monday, April 2.
Our brilliant rewards club offers you amazing treats simply for picking up your favourite newspaper.
Whether you want to bag some free cash or claim extra benefits on your Sun Hol From £9.50, Sun Savers is a must. For every 28 Sun Savers codes you collect, we will give you a free £5 to spend however you want.
Just enter your Sun Savers codes, printed daily in the paper, via the Sun Savers app or the website – then sit back and watch your wallet stack up.
Sun Savers members also get extra benefits on our Superdays ticket giveaways.
Members can now pick the exact dates on which to visit Superdays attractions.
Not a Sun Savers member yet? Don’t wait around.
Just download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk to join in with the thousands already taking part.
It takes only a couple of minutes. Just enter your name, date of birth and email address to get started.
If you are already a Sun Savers member, remember to check for app updates to make sure you don’t miss out on the latest competitions, prizes and rewards.
Terms and Conditions
Collect TEN Sun Savers codes from the 18 printed in The Sun between Saturday, March 3, and Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
Last chance to join in is Sunday, March 11. Competition closes at 23:59 on Monday, April 2, 2018.
Over 18, residents of the UK only. Excludes NI. One entry per person. Winner will be selected at random from all valid entries.
There will be ONE winner only. Allow 28 days from entry closing for the draw to take place.
Winner will then be notified within seven days. Please allow three months for beach hut to be built and delivered.
Cash alternative of £40k. Your information will only be used for the purposes of this competition.
Promoter is News Group Newspapers Ltd. Not open to staff of the Promoter and promotional partner or their families.
The winner will be asked to participate in reasonable publicity relating to this competition. The Editor’s decision is final.
For a list of winners, please send a stamped addressed envelope to News UK, Competitions Department, 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF, stating which competition you would like the winners’ details of.
Fancy a free fiver?
YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.
Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.
Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.
This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.
For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.
We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.
What is Sun Savers? Here's everything you need to know about our new rewards club
Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at sunsavers.co.uk.
To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.
With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.
MOST READ IN MONEY
TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.
All we’ll ask of you is your name, your date of birth and an email address to get you on the way to your first crisp fiver.
You can choose to save or cash out straight to your bank account or instantly with Paypal.
Don’t delay — join Sun Savers now!
Bag a break with Sun Savers and Hols from £9.50
START collecting your Sun Savers codes today and you will be able to join in with today’s launch of Hols From £9.50 and bag a break.
All you need to do is opt in to the Hols From £9.50 promotion found in the “Offers” section at sunsavers.co.uk or on the app, then collect FIVE Sun Savers codes from today till Tuesday, March 6 and enter them into the app or website.
From there you will be spoilt for choice with over 300 parks across the UK and Europe to pick from.
We’re also guaranteeing that your Hols From £9.50 – with service charge, entertainment/clubroom passes and any peak date supplement added – will not be beaten on price at your chosen accommodation park and date in the same accommodation type.
We are so confident of our price guarantee that if you find it cheaper within 28 days of booking we will refund you the difference plus £10 free cash. See T&Cs at thesun.co.uk/holidays.
Want more deals? Book a midweek break and we will give you a fourth night for the price of three.