It doesnt matter which angle you look at it from, it is harder to save money these days than ever before. A lot of this is to do with the fact necessary expenditures keep rising. The cost of living just keeps going up; groceries, fuel, transport, phone bills, internet and just about everything else. All of this makes it harder to stay focused on the challenge of saving.
That is why we have come up with a list of top tips and tricks that will help make saving easy in your day to day lives, and it starts right now.
Start Planning Your Meals
When it comes to eating, most people fall into a sort of routine without realizing it. S why not go that little bit further and actually plan out the meals you are going to have over the next week, and then buy specifically for them. It could just be dinners that you plan, it doesnt matter, it will save you money. That is not only because you know what you will need and thus avoid buying excess, but also because it will stop you eating out, which becomes hugely expensive. Meal, tax, and tips; they all add up.
No More Television
Do you really need your cable subscription these days? Seriously. What about when you realize the average cost of a cable package is about to hit $1500 a year. For that price, you could have all of the streaming services you could possibly want; Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix and anything else that is kicking out around there. Thats all of your favorite TV shows and movies for a teeny-tiny fraction of the cost. Winning.
Shop Online With Patience
Conducting all of your shopping online is one of the most effective ways to save money and for a whole host of reasons. First off, online stores can make their products cheaper because they have fewer overheads. But this isnt the only bonus because the internet is also saturated with websites like DontPayFull.com, which work to find you vouchers and discounts, and money comparison sites like moneysupermarket.com, which guarantee to get you the best price out there. But dont stop there, because one of our favorite little hacks will be sure to save you money. So, next time you go online to internet shop, dont click buy now straight away. Let it sit in your basket for a few days, and then revisit it. Chances are, youll realize you dont need or want what is in there, and that it was just an impulse buy.
Have A Money Date
Once a week, sit down with your finances and work out exactly what your budget is, and how much you can realistically save. This means going through your monthly paycheck to see what you receive (not including bonuses) and then calculating your monthly expenditure. Add up the unavoidable things like your rent or mortgage, tax, fuel costs, phone bills and insurance etc, and then deduct this figure from your salary. This way you will know pretty much exactly what you can spend each month and thus allow you to work out a budget. This will let you see how much you can realistically save. It could be $12 a week, or $226 a month, either way, you will see yourself save fast. $12 a week equals $624 a year. $226 a month equals $2712 a year. It all makes a difference.