To be a successful saver, you will need to turn the act of saving into a lifestyle. Many people don’t think they have enough money to be able to save, but in most cases that’s simply not true. There are many ways to save money that are often overlooked. Follow these money saving tips to get on the right track with saving – whether it’s for college, retirement, or a family vacation – saving is important.
8 Easy Ways to Save Money
1. Use less energy. Turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use. Turn the thermostat up in the winter and down in the summer. Take a break from the television. Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Videos, and Hulu Plus are great alternatives to cable.
2. Use credit cards with no annual fee. Pay off credit debt as soon as possible to avoid finance charges.
3. Think before you buy. Don’t buy things you don’t need just because they are on sale. If you do need something, try and wait until it goes on sale. Never shop without a list and avoid impulse buying.
4. Eat at home. Make your own coffee to bring to work and brown bag your lunch at least a few days a week. If you don’t have time to make your lunch each morning, make all of your lunches on Sunday and thaw them out the night before – or pack salads and wraps, things that don’t have to be frozen.
5. Anticipate. Electricity bills are usually higher in the summer and winter months. Get on budget billing so your bill will be easier to fit into your budgeting plans. Buy birthday or Christmas gifts ahead of time when they are on sale. I buy gifts all year round when I see them on sale so I don’t have the expense all at once. We are always posting great toy deals from to help our readers get those gifts for less. Be sure to keep a good eye on our Amazon Category so you don’t miss any chance to score a nice buy! You can also give homemade gifts. Scour Pinterest for homemade gift ideas.
6. Know what you want. Having goals will give you a reason to save; set a deadline and make goals achievable one at a time.
7. Open a savings account and pay into it first. Join my 52 Week Money Saving Challenge. Don’t try and put what is left over at the end of the month, chances are there won’t be anything left. Put in a certain percentage of your income every month. Shop around for the best interest rates. Use a separate bank for your savings. This might make it harder to get to. Out of sight, out of mind.
8. Make a realistic budget and stick to it. You have to have enough money to live on. Draw up a budget with your income and expenses. Work out what you can expect to put into savings. Try to put a certain percentage of your income into savings each month.
Saving is so important, but you have to make it a priority or it won’t work! There are always expenses that come up (hello, children!), bills that need to be paid, etc. Make savings your first bill and it won’t be as difficult. It becomes a habit eventually, and then it’s even easier!
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