Christmas is done and dusted, your clothes are a bit tighter, but you’ve also had a great time and spent all your money! January is traditionally the time when we think about making changes, and one of those is tightening the financial belt a little – at least until our bank balance has recovered from Christmas.

This week we’re going to share a few tips to help you regain control of your finances for the New Year by saving money in January.

Have a dry January

The beauty of knocking alcohol on the head for a month is that it helps you put a few extra pounds in your bank account and lose a few of those Christmas ones from around your waist! You can also be the nominated driver in your group, saving a fortune on public transport when you and your friends or family head into Leeds for a night out. Oh, and don’t forget to leave your car with us at Trafalgar Street car park – we’re the best value 24-hour car park in Leeds, after all.

Hit those sales!

It may seem crazy to suggest that you spend more, but if you shop wisely the January sales are a great place to make significant savings for the coming year. Take advantage of the best offers to buy birthday presents or wardrobe staples that you’ll end up having to buy later in the year anyway. If you shop in the big department stores in Leeds you can compare prices with ease, moving from one retailer to another – because however good a bargain is it still pays to shop around!

Eat in season

You may not realise it, but buying your fruit and veg in season can make a big difference to the number at the bottom of your grocery bill. Concentrate on things like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, kale, leeks, parsnips and turnips, while avoiding the more exotic fruits that are imported from places a lot warmer than Yorkshire.

Take advantage of coupons

Online shopping is a great way to buy the things you need without leaving home, but don’t pay before hunting around online for coupons. Most online retailers offer additional savings for the savvy customer who’s willing to spend a bit of time hunting through coupon sites – you can often save anything up to 20% extra on top of the January sale prices!

These are just a few ways that you can make 2017 a prosperous year for you and your family, but if you can think of anything that we’ve missed, head over to Twitter and share your ideas with us!