Has it ever happened to you that once you get your paycheck after waiting for a whole month, all of it goes away even before you know it? Well, we have all been there. It is common for people to want to spend their money on nice things as soon as they receive it. Chances are you are one of those people, spilling your hard-earned cash into clothes or entertainment. If you’re reading this is because you’re looking for a way to improve your spending habits. Don’t worry, here you’ll find some tricks to save money without struggle.
Why should I save money?
Before anything else, you have to understand the reasons why you should avoid spending all your money month after month.
The main reason to prioritize saving your money is to secure your future. Saving for retirement is something you will have to do at some point in life, so the sooner you start, the better. By stashing money in your retirement fund, you feed the confidence of not depending on any pension to live happily during your golden years. Besides, if you start at a young age, you can use that money to make it grow over time thanks to the magic of compound interest.
Another important benefit of saving your money is to help yourself in case of a rainy day. No one knows what’s going to happen in the near or long-term future, and chances are that, just like everybody, you may have to face some kind of emergency. Are you prepared to afford a broken fridge, a health emergency, or a must-do home repair? Building an emergency fund will help you to overcome these kinds of situations and avoid getting into debt.
Read also: 4 saving goals to make your financial life easier
As if these reasons were not enough, saving your money can also allow you to spend big. As funny as it sounds, saving month after month will allow you to make some big purchases at some point in the future. Buying a car, a house, or paying for family vacations will not be possible if you don’t start setting some money away every now and then.
Before we begin
Now that you know more about the benefits of saving, we should set some principles that will help you implement some tricks to save money.
- Pick a goal: You need to get clear on what you want to save money for. Keeping your saving goals in mind will make it easier for you to stay motivated to delay the gratification of spending your money right away and instead save it for greater benefits you will enjoy in the future.
- Design a savings plan: Set a date and a certain amount of money you will transfer to your savings each month. This will help you develop the habit of saving and avoid emotional spending.
- Keep control: Check constantly your budget to figure out what you are using your money for. This will allow you to prioritize your savings over your expenses. (If you don’t use a budget yet, get started right away!)
Having the base of these principles will help you make the most of your money. So, as we mentioned earlier, we’re here to help you out, so here are some tricks to save money on your day-to-day.
10 simple tricks to save money
- Reuse your products: If you have something old or broken that you will not be using for its principal function anymore, look for some DIY videos online to learn to turn that thing into something totally useful.
- Sell what you don’t use anymore: You surely have some electronic device that hasn’t been on in months or a musical instrument that’s just laying and gathering dust. Maybe a pair of pants that you thought you liked but you have used just once? You can sell all these things on online platforms or in garage sales to get some extra money to put toward your savings.
- Buy only things you absolutely need: You don’t need that brand new 4K Ultra HD smart tv if you still have a perfectly-functioning tv at home. The same goes for your smartphone or even clothes. By keeping a frugal lifestyle and purchasing only first-need products you’ll avoid spending money on things you can absolutely live happily without.
- Make a shopping list: Whenever you go grocery shopping, make sure to take a shopping list with you. This will help you avoid emotional purchases and ant expenses.
- Compare the prices of similar products: While you’re shopping, make sure to check the prices of different brands for the same product. Obviously, consider opting for the cheapest option as long as you’re okay with its quality.
- Make a weekly menu: Did you know that it is way cheaper to eat homemade food? Having a preset menu will help you avoid eating out and save a significant amount of money. Make sure to plan your menu to prepare healthy meals on a budget.
- Take advantage of sales: Taking two items for the price of one could actually help your savings. Also, think ahead for holidays or special occasions like birthdays so you can buy presents when the shore is on sale.
- Avoid spending on gas: As simple as it sounds, consider taking a walk, riding a bike, or taking public transportation.
- Optimize the use of water: Make sure to stop the water from running when you’re using soap. Fill a cup with water to brush your teeth. When washing your car, use water buckets instead of a hose.
- Take advantage of daylight: Make sure to complete activities such as reading, working out, and working during the day. This will help you avoid turning on so many lights at night and, believe it or not, save some good money on your electricity bill.
To wrap up…
To save money you need to be diligent and patient. As Dave Ramsey uses to say, winning with money is 80% behavior and just 20% head knowledge. This means that nurturing your savings fund is a matter of habit. Of course, it is not something easy to do overnight, but a process that delivers small progress day by day.
These tricks to save money can give you a head start when applied. When you start working on them, you’ll see they’re pretty useful and easy to implement. Over time, you’ll be on your way to reaching your so long saving goals and using these tricks as part of your daily routines without even noticing.
Make sure to explore the rest of the articles in our library to find more tips and tricks that will help you to stay financially fit; all the way from increasing your income to learning how to take care of your money. Good luck!
