How to get the most from your money

Money is still a scarce commodity for most of us. But examine your priorities and shop around, and you can still save some cash

Stretching what you have could require spending two hours a month on your finances Picture: iStock

Someone once defined economics – or political economy as it should more properly be called – as maximising the use of scarce resources. Put simply, this mouthful means getting the best use of your money, which is certainly a scarce commodity.

More than 165 years ago, a certain Mr Wilkins Micawber, from Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, quipped: “Annual income – £20, expenditure £19.19s 6p – result, happiness. Annual income – £20, expenditure £20.0s ...