Save Like A Londoner: 10 Tips to Avoid Wasting Money in London

Jul 27, 2018

The most effective way to turn an expensive metropolitan environment like London into an unbearable economic struggle is to consistently waste small amounts of money in your everyday life. Most veteran Londoners know all the tricks, and yet sharing tips is still the best way to survive the urban jungle - so here’s some.

1. It is almost offensive to talk to Londoners about transports because the first thing you learn (usually the hard way) is how to cut on useless single tickets and so on. And yet, why not reminding everyone that you can always consider using the posh side of the transport system (Tube, trains, and friends) up to Zone 2 and then jump on a bus for the last part of your journey? Of course, it is not possible for everyone, but it’s worth to check new routes to work every now and then.

2. Hungry and devastated after a long day at work, and ready to grab the first takeaway you can put your hands on? Check for apps (like TooGoodToGo) that allow you to collect the remaining portions from top restaurants in town, for a price that barely reaches £4 per person - and that’s for the most expensive ones. Don’t forget some chains (like Itsu and Wasabi) sell everything for half the price 30 minutes before the closing time.

3. Don’t be a tourist - not even when you have tourist friends visiting! You all know that a good Italian restaurant is not in Leicester Square, and it’s not part of a big chain.

4. Buy Day Tickets for West End shows if you have time to queue in the morning, or use TodayTix app if you can’t, and always refer to the one and only official reseller - TKTS ticket kiosk in Leicester Square - for any human interaction to discuss prices and shows. As surprising as it might sound, you can also find discounted tickets at the actual venue if you go shortly before the show and they’re not sold out yet.

5. Shop at your local charity shops - and not just for clothes. Large charities (like Oxfam and British Heart Foundation) also sell furniture and homeware. And don’t forget the massive Oxfam Bookstore near Tottenham Court Road!

6. There are only two ways to go about movie theatres: either you’re addicted and you get a Monthly Membership (two full-price tickets are basically a monthly rate), or you go to independent cinemas - the Genesis in Mile End, or the Peckhamplex in Peckham Rye. No more wandering around Leicester Square Odeon without a plan, or slacking in the (admittedly beautiful) Picturehouse Central; in short, no more paying over £15 for a single adult ticket.

7. Haircuts can be fancy and cheap if you plan them in advance. Either you join the queue at Splash in Central London, waiting to squeeze in between two pre-booked appointments, or you google which famous salon is offering vouchers for a next-day last-minute offer, there is no way you will pay full price.

8. Always carry a reusable cup, because most coffee shops will give you a discount for helping out the planet. Or, just get a M&S card and enjoy a (tolerable) free coffee wherever you fancy it.

9. Anyone is posses of an O2 or EE SIM cards has access to an infinite series of perks - from discounted cinema tickets to priority entrance for any concert. Make sure you have memorised all the offers you are entitled to - and don’t worry if you’re not a customer yet, the chances to get a free SIM card when walking down Piccadilly are pretty high.

10. Finally, when the budget is at its lowest and you’re feeling down, remember the next Spoon is most likely just around the corner!

We all know London is crazily expensive, but you can't say it doesn't try to make our lives a bit easier from time to time.