Saving money is a hot topic. We spend so much of our lives working to make money, but no matter what we do it seems to disappear so quickly. If you feel this way, you’re not alone! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save money and below are some that don’t include the ever popular “give up your daily latte” advice. What’s important is focusing on what you truly want/need to spend money on, and cutting your costs as much as possible elsewhere.
Try no spend days
If we look at how much we spend in a day, it can really add up. Of course, some days are more expensive than others. However, if you can choose one day a week, or even one whole week a month where you decide that you won’t spend any money it can really add up.
Plan meals around what you have
One of the most expensive parts of most budgets is groceries. We spend so much money on food, and most people end up throwing out uneaten food each month. Not only does this create a lot of waste, it’s a huge waste of money. If you’re spending $300 per month and throwing away 10% of the food you buy, you’re essentially throwing away $30 per month. To combat this, try meal planning around food that you already have. Take inventory of what you have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry and find as many meals as possible using those ingredients. When you go to the store you’ll just have to fill in the blanks, cutting your grocery budget and ensuring you aren’t wasting food.
Ask yourself questions before making a purchase
It can be hard to resist buying items you don’t necessarily need when you’re in the moment. Sometimes it can be helpful to come up with questions you can ask yourself before making a purchase. Some examples would be “Do I really want to buy this grocery item, or am I just hungry for it right now?” and “If this item weren’t on sale, would I still purchase it?”
Hopefully the suggestions above have given you some ideas on how to save money in an easy way that is sustainable for you. It’s important to note that saving money is a process that you can slowly learn over time by creating good money saving habits.
