THE Money Saving Expert has come up with 21 ways to help people save money in 2021. 

In a new blog entry on his website, Martin Lewis has published a checklist of easy ways to ensure your finances are in the best possible shape this year.

From checking you're getting the best deal on your insurance to making sure you're claiming for working from home, the money genius has several tips and tricks to share.

Mr Lewis said he had been inspired to create his checklist thanks to a struggling mum who had managed to save a whopping £30,000 with his help.

Here we take a look at a handful of ways you could save some extra cash this year.

Halve broadband costs to £15 per month. Many pay £30-£45 a month for the slowest speeds, but you can cut costs by looking out for the latest deals and promotions. Find which are available in your area via the website’s Broadband Unbundled tool.

Can't afford to clear your credit card debt? Then Martin Lewis says you cannot afford not to check if you can shift it to 0 per cent. Savings range from £100s to £1,000s. A balance transfer is where you get a new card that clears debts on existing cards for you, so you owe it instead, but at 0 per cent.

Required to work from home, even for a day since 6 Apr? Claim a year's tax relief. This could be worth £60 or £125 to you and takes less than two minutes to do. 

Spending more than you earn? The MSE Budget Planner spreadsheet designed to keep you in control of your finances. Take a look at how it works. 

How many shopping apps do you have? Many of use have five or six on the go without even releasing – like eBay, Asos and Amazon. If you worry you're not in control of your spending Martin Lewis suggests removing the apps from your phone to make impulse shopping take a little longer.

Do you get prescriptions regularly? More than 1m could have saved by getting a prepay certificate, the blog post explains. If you're in England and get on average at least one prescription a month, you can likely cut the cost with prepay prescription certificates. 

These are just a selection of ways you could save money this year. To view all 21 tips and tricks, visit the Money Saving Expert’s website by clicking here.