It is amazing how we tend to pinch the pennies on small things but pay scant attention to those things which will really save us money. What do I mean by this?

As an example, we can spend hours in the supermarket comparing prices between the brands or taking full advantage of the special offers, all for the sake of a few pounds and we are quite pleased with ourselves as a result.

Yet we miss out on the big savings as we are too lazy or too uninformed to look into those bargains which will really save us money. Some examples are looking for the best annuity rates for our pensions, switching oil or gas providers, changing your mortgage and shopping around for car insurance.

Because we do not know too much about these areas we are often too scared to make the change. We assume that it is just too difficult and that there is going to be lots of red tape, but it is often surprisingly easy. Even if there is a little hassle behind the switch then it will still be worth it for the amount of money that you are going to save.

So before you head off to the supermarket in quest of those discounted melons or onions, think hard about the other aspects of your life where you could be saving far more money.