'I've saved £15k towards my dream first home – it's easy with a simple money hack'

A savvy NHS worker has managed to save £15,000 towards her first home by sticking to a clever money-saving routine.

Shaynah Mills, 26, a mental health healthcare assistant from Wolverhampton, knew getting on the property ladder would take serious discipline. She still lives with her family and earns around £400 to £500 a week - but has managed to save a small fortune without giving up the things she enjoys.

Instead of letting spare change disappear, she began tracking every pound and putting aside whatever she could, whether it was a few quid saved on her weekly food shop or money left over from treats and gifts. Over time, those little savings have grown into a healthy £15,000 deposit pot.

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Nearly £2,000 of that total, she says, came purely from using vouchers and discount codes.

"In my household, every penny counts," she said. "My mum is the main earner, but I’ve had to be smart with my spending and clever with how I save."

Before making any online purchase - from groceries to birthday presents - Shaynah says she searches for discount codes and hidden deals, often checking sites like VoucherCodes.co.uk to keep her spending in check.

Every saving, no matter how small, goes straight into her house fund.

“I use vouchers to knock pounds off the weekly shop, find hidden discounts for birthdays and gifts and to generally save money on my everyday spending," Shaynah said. "The money I save goes towards my house deposit, without sacrificing the things I enjoy."

Research shows that Shaynah is not alone. Young Brits are increasingly turning to online deals and vouchers as a smart way to stretch their cash.

According to a survey by UK Cash Access and ATM network LINK, gift cards and vouchers were the top choice for adults receiving financial gifts last Christmas.