The monthly financial blues can hit us hard – but there are some ways to help ourselves, just in case we need a little extra cash.

Monzo, Plum and Revolut are just a few of the free apps that make saving a little easier and often include a feature that will take weekly round-ups from your bank accounts to put into a savings pot. I’ve found that this can definitely come in handy during a month when extra cash is needed.

And, of course, making a few changes to your spending habits always helps. Go through some of those subscriptions you don’t really use and get rid of unnecessary direct debits and change the frequency of some of those habits you’ve developed (expensive morning coffees and takeaways are where I’m trying to cut back).

Finding ways to cut back isn’t fun, but feeling that monthly pinch isn’t either. Developing a balance between spending what we want and having a little extra just in case is a good way to combat that monthly crunch. And if we can, then we might be able to hop out of that neverending cycle – even just for a little bit.

Cost of living crisis: this is why we’re constantly waiting for payday