How to Save Money: 8 Simple Tips
Do you feel a little guilty when you talk about saving money? When it comes to saving money, you have good intentions, but something always comes up. Saving money takes a back seat to life stuff when the car needs new tires, the teenager needs braces, and the home needs a new roof. As a result, you put it off. You promise yourself that once you reach a certain milestone, such as turning a certain age or getting that raise, you'll figure out how to save money.
But, in reality, you'll only start saving money if you develop good money habits and prioritize your future needs over your current desires—in other words, if you make saving money a priority. And you don't have to wait for everything to fall into place before you start saving. There are a plethora (and we mean plethora) of cost-effective ways to save money and breathe new life into your budget.
You'll be on your way to saving money in no time if you make a few changes to your spending. But it's not rocket science. Here are 10 ways on how to save money (that actually makes sense).
8 Practical Ways to Save Money
1. Say goodbye to debt.
When it comes to saving money, monthly debt payments are the biggest money suck. Debt deprives you of your earnings! So it's past time for you to pay off that loan. The debt snowball method is the quickest way to pay off debt. This is where you pay off your debts, starting with the lowest and working your way up to the biggest. Isn't that a little tense? Don't worry, it's more about changing behavior than it is about numbers. You can finally use your extra income to make progress toward your savings goals once your income has been freed up.
2. Cut down on groceries.
Most people are surprised to learn how much they spend at the grocery store each month after creating a budget. And if you're an average American family of four (with two children under the age of five), you're likely spending around $929.1 per year. Oh, no! It's so simple to stroll through those aisles, picking up a bag of Oreos here and a few bags of chips there, and then topping it off with the fun treats at the register. However, those small purchases (also known as budget busters) add up quickly and end up blowing the budget every month.
Plan your weekly dinners and take a good look at what you already have in your pantry before going to the supermarket to save money on groceries. Why would you want to buy more of something you already own? Leave the kids at home if you really want to stick to your list.
Would you like to save money and time? Try ordering groceries online and having them delivered. It's available at most big supermarkets these days (sometimes even for free), and it can save you a lot of money. Picking up your groceries eliminates the temptation you might have felt if you smelled those freshly baked chocolate chip cookies floating through the aisles. In other words, you're compelled to stick to your shopping list and avoid impulse purchases.
3. Cancel automatic subscriptions and memberships.
You're also paying for Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, gym memberships, trendy subscription boxes, and Amazon Prime, among other things. Any subscriptions you don't use on a regular basis should be canceled. When you make a purchase, make sure to turn off auto-renew. If you cancel it and realize you can't live without it, consider resubscribing—but only if it fits into your new, tighter budget.
Consider sharing memberships with some family or friends for those subscriptions you do want to keep. Many streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu, allow you to watch your favorite shows on two or more screens at the same time (with an upgraded account). That way, everyone benefits—and everyone save!
4. Buy generic.
Giving up name brands is without a doubt one of the simplest ways to save money. In most cases, brand-name products are only better because of their advertisements. Take a look at that box, for example. The logo is absolutely stunning! And that's pretty much the end of it. Generic medicines, staple foods (such as rice and beans), cleaning supplies, and paper products are much less expensive than their brand-name, overpriced counterparts—and they work just as well.
5. Cut ties with cable.
It's no secret that cable costs are skyrocketing. Cable TV costs about $107 per month on average, which adds up to more than $1,200 per year! 2 The good news is that cable is no longer the only way to watch your favorite shows. Cut the cord and learn how to save money by using network apps and streaming services as alternatives to cable. But keep in mind that this isn't the place to be if you're looking for a subscription service. Only sign up for streaming services that you want to use. If you sign up for anything, you could end up spending more than you do on cable!
6. Save money automatically.
You may be surprised to learn that you can save money without even realizing it. Yes, you should set up your bank account to transfer money from your checking account to your savings account on a monthly basis. If that sounds frightening, you can set up a direct deposit to automatically deposit 10% of each paycheck into your savings account. It's a bang!
7. Spend extra or unexpected income wisely.
Put a great job bonus (congratulations! ), inheritance, or tax refund to good use. And by "good use," we don't mean adding that fancy new stamp to your stamp collection or simply stashing it in the bank to camp out.
If you still have debt, you'd be better off using those funds to pay off your student loans or credit card balance rather than putting them in a savings account. If you're debt-free, but the extra money toward your emergency fund, which you'll need in case of an emergency.
Bonus tip: If you consistently receive large tax refunds, it's time to adjust your withholding on your paycheck so you can take home even more money each month. Plus, you don't want to give the government any more money than is absolutely necessary, do you?
8. Ask about discounts (and pay in cash).
If you don't ask, you'll never know—and you should always ask. Check to see if a movie theater, museum, or sporting event offers any special discounts for seniors, students, teachers, military, or AAA members the next time you buy tickets. If not, never underestimate the power of cash as a bargaining chip! If you enjoy using discounts like me, this Dont Mess With My Discount Shirt is definitely for you.
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