Budget. Savings. Finances. If these words make you break out in a sweat or laugh dismissively, keep reading for a few easy changes you can make to save your hard-earned cash.
Use Cash
In a study done by Marketing Letters, they found that people spend 100% more when they use a card to pay instead of cash. So, why is that? Let’s say you’re going out to dinner and have a $50 budget. If you’re using cash, you’ll be more careful of what you’re ordering to make sure you have enough to cover the bill. Whereas, if you’re using a card, it’s easier to go over budget because there’s no penalty for over-spending.
Save Change
Once you’ve mastered the art of using cash to pay, you’ll start to notice a lot more change in your life (the coin kind). Start saving this change in a jar – you’ll be amazed at how quickly it adds up! Once your jar is full, take it to your local grocery store’s coin machine. (Beware of fees, though.)
Unsubscribe from Emails
Do yourself a favor and unsubscribe from your favorite store’s promotional emails. You’ll thank us later. Unless you’re waiting for something you need to go on sale – it’ll just cause you to spend money when you don’t need to.
Cook at Home
Stop going out and start planning your meals for the week. The $50 you’re spending going out to lunch every week would go a lot further at the grocery store. Plus, any dinner leftovers can be used for lunch the next day, stretching your dollars even further.
Buy Used
Buying used is a huge way to save extra money. Visit your local thrift and consignment stores, check out Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, and hit up garage sales for new-to-you things like:
- Cars
- Bikes
- Furniture
- Clothes (especially children’s)
- Books
- Kitchen Appliances
- Sports Equipment
- Tools
- Musical Instruments
- Wedding Dresses
Shop for New Insurance
Shopping around for new car and/or home insurance every few years is another trick we’ve learned. Pricing can change often and the differences between two companies can be substantial. We also recommend asking about any discounts they’re able to offer, as they could significantly lower your payments.
