Top Ten Ways to Save Money
Saving money is never easy… It’s like you can never have enough. And when I attempt to put some money aside, I always find a way to use it. Maybe not today, but eventually I am back to where I started.
At least that’s how it used to be before I started to practice the following tips. You may not be able to buy your private charter plane with your ‘piggy bank’ money, but at least you’ll have a little something when in need.
1. PAY YOURSELF FIRST ON PAY DAY : One of the best things to do on pay day is to pay yourself. No, this doesn’t mean in the form of new shoes, or even a night out. It means, take a chunk of your check and deposit into your savings. If you run across unexpected money, or if you get a bonus at work…. put it into your savings. I know it’s tempting to spend it on a night out, or a ‘reward’ for your hard work …. but putting it away will result in more return. Putting away your money into a separate account will make it harder for you to use that money. (Try to deposit into an account you don’t have a debit card for.)
2.STOP BUYING MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, MOVIES, BOOKS: I don’t know about you but the amount of money I spend on weekly tabloids is a bit excessive. Ok, so $4 doesn’t sound like a lot for a week’s worth of celebrity gossip…. but $4 per week adds up. Instead of buying magazines opt for the e-zine (check out the top ten Celebrity blog sites for more info). Rent movies, rather than purchasing them. Go to the library to borrow books rather buying a book you may or may not finish.
3.CUT DOWN ON EATING OUT AND ORDERING IN:It may be less convenient, but it’s a lot healthier, and money savvy. You’ll save lots of money on food, and drinks.
4.USE YOUR PIGGY BANK- SAVE YOUR COINS: The change in your purse may not seem like a lot… but if you put it all into a piggy bank, you’ll be surprised at how fast it can add up!
5.COUPONS ARE A MONEY SAVER’S BEST FRIEND:Whether it be groceries, shopping, restaurants there are coupons available every where! Look online for deals, sales, specials. You can definitely save a lot of money doing this one!
6.CHECK YOUR CELL PHONE PLAN: If you are like me and my friends land lines are a rarity. Ask around and see what carrier your friends, family have. If you notice a trend, see how much it would cost to get unlimited mobile to mobile calls / texts. Mammy and I (Mammie) have the same service provider, and boy does it save us a lot of money!
7.RECORD ALL YOUR EXPENSES: You may not be able to record all your expenses all the time. However, try to commit to expense recording for one week. This way you can see where your money goes, and see some ways to cut out or budget your luxury items.
8. ”SALE” DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN A GOOD DEAL:Make a list before you go shopping. Don’t buy unnecessary items. Yes, this sounds easy enough, but you’d be surprised at how many miscellaneous items I end up with. Just because something is on sale – don’t grab for it. Make sure it’s something you need. Honestly, if you don’t need it… wait …. it’ll most likely be on sale when you need it.
9. PAY YOUR BILLS ONLINE OR IN PERSON:41 cents doesn’t seem like a lot of money, but add up all those bills. Take some time to pay your bills online, or in person and you’ll be able to make sure you get your payment in on time.
10. TRY TO PAY WITH CASH: If you pay with cash, you’ll know when you are out of money. This is the best way to budget your expenses. Try to get rid of your credit cards, and pay with cash. You won’t have to worry about paying your bill on time, and / or interest. It’s the easiest way see how much you have to work with.
The above tips should help you save money — one penny at a time.
Any other tips on saving money? Let us know!
i do all the things in the world for people and most of it is spending my paycheck and knowing myself im not selfish but i just wanted to know how can i save money by not letting it out to other people ..for instane my girlfriedn loves to spend and most of the time its with me and i cant say no cause i just feel like a total asshole if i dont but newho im going to get my pay bonus 4 weeks from now and its a whole lot of money and i dont want to give it up in just shopping…other than that my gf bday will be coming in dec.2 and then xmans will creep around the corner and ill be broke by the end of december. i just want some tips and advice pls help me out…thank you
Ahh yes, the Holiday season is quickly approaching. A savvy shopper recently told me that the ‘busiest’ shopping day is now the day after Halloween … and not Thanksgiving.
Here is what I recommend:
Read our other post ” How to impress your bf/ husband”… all of those tips are applicable for girls too.
As corny as it may sound when gift giving ‘it’s the thought that counts’….. Now, you may roll your eyes thinking “but my gf is a total shopaholic always requestin the newest, hottest goodies”…. I’ll let you in on a secret-
I am also a shopaholic- whether it be a the newest purse, to a favorite DVD — I like to shop for anything and everything. However, just because I love to shop doesn’t mean I need my boyfriend to shop for me also. Granted, it’s nice to have someone buy gifts for you… but a girlfriend should understand a boyfriend’s financial situation… and if you want to save money and are a little low on the cash – she should understand that. That’s number one. She should understand your financial situation and not expect you to spend every penny on her.
Best inexpensive gift: Make something for her. If you have any pictures with her, put it in a frame. Yes, it sounds a little feminine- being crafty … but it’s very touching and sentimental. You can usually find frames on sale at the art supply store, craft store, etc. Add a little personal flare and put in a picture or something that reminds you of her…. she’ll be touched that you took the time to make something for her.
If you don’t want to make something and willing to spend a little money on a gift — take advantage of the internet. Go to various websites including: dealcatcher.com… and check out different stores online… you might be able to find special deals online. *Warning* When ordering online give yourself extra time for shipping. As the holidays get closer shipping will be backed up and take longer.
There will be more information on an upcoming blog: How to stretch your dollar when doing holiday shopping.
Good luck!