Save money every month of the year

March

Cash in on a clearout

British householders have goods worth between £2.5 billion and £5.1 billion stored in their garages, equivalent to between £501 and £1000 per person, according to comparethemarket.com. So with the impact of the credit crunch, selling these items and others hidden in the loft or under the stairs will stretch your budget further. Your idea of rubbish may be exactly what someone else has been looking for, and there are many ways to find a buyer. The online auction site eBay is one option, alternatively try gumtree.com. Some companies specialise in particular goods, so you may get a better price through them. Try chinasearch.co.uk or thecurtainexchange.net, which has branches countrywide. Commission rates vary, but are usually around 40 or 50 per cent.

Potential annual saving: £1000

Good time to buy: Duvets. As the weather warms up, demand is lower for heavy bedding, so buy one now to make a saving.