Money guru Susan Hayes is a 22-year-old investment manager who not only knows how we can make money -- but also how we can save it! She is support and development manager with Invest Like The Best stock market training company, and holds an honours degree in Financial Maths and Economics from NUI, Galway.

When not providing a one-to-one mentoring service in order to assist people to invest in the stock market, Susan, like every woman out there, is trying to make her own cash go a very long way.

Here are Susan's expert tips on how we can beat the credit crunch and save those cents and euros:

The Shopping Trolley

Don't be fooled by "sale items" -- often retailers are prepared to "loss leader" on some products to entice you into their shops and charge that bit extra on their other goods. Compare stores on the basis of your basket of shopping, as opposed to one or two bargains. Also, avail of their "Value Club" cards -- you can build up your points with your spending and take advantage of vouchers and offers.

Budget what you're spending

If you keep a log of everything that you spend, you could be surprised at what you find. You may be spending a lot of money that could be saved, for example, €100 per week on your lunch and snacks during the day, when maybe you just don't feel like taking 15 minutes the night before to prepare something to bring with you.

Shop around

Don't give retailers carte blanche with your money. There is a lot of product and service competition out there. Keep an eye out for price differentials at the petrol pump. Enter your phone and broadband usage information on website, www.callcosts.ie and see where you could save. At the time of your car or house insurance renewals, look at other companies and see if you can get better value somewhere else. If you examine the prices you're paying against what else is on offer, you will become a much savvier spender.

Cash versus Plastic

It is a well-known psychological fact that we are much happier to part with our money on plastic rather than on paper. Studies have shown that we spend a massive 50pc more on shopping with plastic than we would if we just had cash. This figure speaks for itself -- allow a certain amount of cash for a shopping trip and stick to your own customised limit. Leave the card in a safe place for emergencies, instead of in your wallet, where you are more likey to give in to temptation.

Examine your lifestyle

If we are honest, we spend more on indulgences than we should. Analyse your television package and ask yourself if you really use the extras, such as the sports or movie channels. Look at your lifestyle and identify one or two areas where a small change could make a big difference.

"One man's trash is another man's treasure"

There are many websites out there now, such as eBay, that provide a medium for you to sell your unwanted items to a huge targeted market. This is an easy, fun and potentially very profitable way to clear some space in your home. These websites offer tutorials and support about setting up accounts and selling, so don't be afraid to start your own endeavour from the comfort of your own couch.

Get some tax back

There are many ways that people can claim tax back and many either don't know how or don't bother. Take the time to go to www.ros.ie or your local tax office and spend 20 minutes with a consultant to see what options are available to you and how to go about it. Make sure to get there early to avoid the queues.

Mind the pennies and the pounds will mind themselves

Don't throw away the small amounts of money that come your way. Have a novelty moneybox at home and put things into it like a scratch card win, the coins that you pick up on the floor etc -- you will find that eventually this could pay most, if not all of a big annual bill, such as your car insurance.

In addition, investment clubs are a fantastic way of pooling small resources and sharing costs -- perhaps you and your friends and/or family might like to get together, put in €100 per month and invest it. Over time, these lesser amounts will grow into more significant sums and you will be pleased you made the effort.

What is your money paying you?

If asked: "What rate of interest are your savings, deposits and investments earning?" would you know? Sit down and literally count your money. Work out the performances, costs and exit penalties of each investment and then compare them to other options that you have. If the prospects are better elsewhere, move your money. If you need to, seek

independent advice -- a good place to start is www.mabs.ie

Education is the key

After all of the above tips, it is imperative that you invest your savings wisely. The stock market has historically delivered the best returns of any asset class, however, many people use expensive unit-linked funds and, while these are effective products, there are good alternatives. You can set up an online discount brokerage account and buy products such as Exchange Traded Funds (a fund that tracks an index or market).

These are great investments over the medium to long-term. Research these and other products and get some training -- I work with ILTB, The Stock Market Training Company (www.investlikethebest.com), which offers an ideal way of doing this. It may only take you two hours to manage your own portfolio. It may sound like a daunting task, but when you have a little knowledge, it can go a long way.

For more information on Susan, log onto www.iltb.ie

- Anna Coogan