Save money for emergencies! It is a phrase that is so well-known yet ambiguous because, unfortunately, no ‘money cutter’ can help you cut out the expenses. Yes, unless you start saving up for good, you’ll always find it easier to spend. Either you’ll find your favorite jeans on sale, or a totally unnecessary-yet-so-cute product will catch your attention.
Of course, unless you are a pro-saver and have the best customer-friendly secured credit card to help you get started with the initial steps. But, even if you are scared to get into less spending and more saving world, we are here to help. So, without any further ado, let’s dig in!
Ways to Save More and Spend Less
1. Start Now To Create The Perfect Budget
Starting with the first and foremost step, budgeting. The only way to save money is by taking the initiative to spend less. And, making a solid working budget will help you tons in this regard. But, of course, you don’t have to go all out to create the perfect budget right off the bat. What matters is your thinking and strategy to do that.
By only starting with the baby steps to make a budget that works right for you, you’ll get to notice how foolishly a lavish spender you were before. Of course, we are not talking about the need expenses, but those you consider as ‘trivial’ and ‘few pennies won’t hurt.’ Trust us. When you make a budget, you’ll realize there’s so much you can avoid saving more for emergencies or a better future.
2. Think Hard Before Any Big Purchase
Living on a limited paycheck is hard. But, struggling to keep it going till the last date of the month is even harder. However, you can avoid the major spending tasks to let that heavy burden off your shoulders. For instance, if you want to buy something that would take a considerable amount of your paycheck, reconsider it. Think hard, whether it is a thing you want or a thing you need.
You’ll see a major cut out of unnecessary expenses and at least some of the savings monthly once you start avoiding big purchases all at once. Or, you can confine one big purchase a month to stop ruining your budget. Of course, unless it’s a necessity, you have to but at any cost to live a normal life.
3. Stop Lavish Spending To Save Forever
If you think a mini shopping haul is a must during the month. Or, you deserve to get a self-care day full of fancy food, party night with friends, and whatnot on payday, then you are wrong. We aren’t implying you can’t have fun. But going out of the way just to feel relieved and relaxed is not a good option. Surely, you’ll be regretting your choices, seeing zero balance in the last days of the month.
However, rewarding yourself here and there once you achieved your weekly savings goals can boost up your morale. Whenever you feel like you are struggling with a tight budget, it’s fine to take a day off rather than being demotivated and giving up. So, feel free to treat yourself to your favorite food or a walking date with your best friend on achieving a milestone.
4. You Don’t Need That Much Clothing
The fancy clothes displayed on the mannequins outside the store attract you. You just saw a leather jacket ad which you have been searching for a long time. The style of that faded jeans is so hard to miss. Or, some plain white tee and blue denim outfit caught your eye, and there were among the last remaining pieces available too.
Undoubtedly, resisting the temptation to buy new clothes is hard when they are limited, fancy, and on sale. Like, isn’t it a complete package? Been there, done that! But, let’s face reality. You still have enough clothes to survive, right? Do you still have enough shirts and jeans to live a comfortable life? So, yes, you don’t need to spend that extra money which you could have saved for your ‘road to better future’ account.
5. Take The Initiative To Save Regularly
If you think you can save one week a day while spending carelessly for the rest of the days, you are at fault. Savings don’t become a huge sum of money unless you put the effort to make them big. ‘Daily saving amount’ is a crucial point to consider while making a weekly or monthly budget. Organize your earnings and spendings in a way that you always have something beneficial every day.
The amount doesn’t have to be big to consider it a saving. See whatever you can set aside to put in your piggy bank to submit into your savings account at the end of the month. This sole practice will put you at ease knowing you are saving something on a daily manner.
6. Say Yes To A Good Insurance Policy
According to Chelsea Brennan, you need good insurance, but you don’t need to pay any extra to get the best out of it. She explains you can get quality insurance that will give you endless benefits without going broke to have it. In addition, health, travel, car, and life insurance can save you from unexpected money situations by covering the spending cost.
Chelsea describes insurance to be the savior from bad situations that could have cost you so much otherwise. It is more like financial security in an emergency to your life, health, or belonging. You might indeed have to spend a little extra to buy it, but it’s really not a bad option for the long run.
7. Keep The Record Of Your Spendings
To be a pro-saver and considerate spender, you must know your cash flow. Like, what’s your monthly net income, your expenses, and your savings at the end. Categorize your expenses, subtract your spending from income and see what you are remained with. You can also download a CashFlowTool app to record and sync all your spendings.
The key is to record even the simplest of the expenses. For instance, you bought ice cream, a water bottle, a pair of socks, or even paid for a parking ticket with the card. There should be a record of every penny you spend to calculate weekly. Only then can you observe what needs to be changed.
8. Adopt The ‘What I Need’ Lifestyle
There’s a thin line between needs and wants. If a thing is necessary to survive, it becomes a need. But, if you desire to have something for your satisfaction or pleasure, it is categorized as want. So, adopting a what I need lifestyle is a crucial way to walk on the ‘save more, spend less’ journey.
The tip is to create two columns of wants and needs. Then, every time you feel like buying something, try to place it in the two columns. And, surely, you’ll have your answer through this practice whether you need to spend your hard-earned money on it or not.
9. Cut Down On Your Extra Bills
What makes the most of your monthly income? Rent, phone and mobile bills, energy bills, food and groceries, cable, internet, and insurance. These all seem like must-haves, right? Now, think again. Cut down on any bill that you can. If you have cable and internet connection, choose to keep a more useful one. Avoid eating out daily and buy stuff in bulk from the sale. Keep the leftovers in the fridge to reuse the next day. Store the takeout sauces to utilize as salad dressings or sandwich making.
Look for a mobile service that offers discounts and monthly offers. Pay bills on time to keep your credit card stable and debt-free. If housing takes half of your income, consider finding a better and affordable place.
10. Be Careful With The Seasonal & Vacation Gifts
Yes, you read it right. Seasonal, vocational, and occasional gifts also fall on this money-saving list. Why? Because every penny counts. You can choose to DIY stuff for birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or housewarming occasions. Or, pick a cheaper but fancier option like a gift basket, herb garden, mini plant, or jewelry item.
Making the gifts yourself doesn’t mean you have to compromise your relationship with the person. Instead, it will show them how much you care for them.
11. Overspending Is Never A Good Option
You went out to buy groceries but ended up getting more than you thought. So there goes your weekly budget and your monthly savings. Experian explains making your finance sustainable is the key to avoiding overspending on budget.
It doesn’t mean to take the fun out of your life. But, to always have an emergency fund ready in case of job changes, overspending, or any household broken situations. Like when you go out for dining, order the food that’s not over-expensive. Don’t forget to bring the leftovers; it can be your breakfast or lunch for the next day.
12. Food Take-outs Are Unhealthy For Your Wallet & Stomach
Spending a few dollars daily on your takeout meal sounds like a good option. It is easy and convenient for your busy routine, right? But, if you sum up the monthly amount, you might be amazed it takes out a considerable percentage of your income. On the other hand, you can get food poisoning or stomach ache from daily junk adding to your health bills.
To save money from your necessity food, prefer to make meals at home. You can get enough protein from eggs, fiber from chickpeas or beans, carbohydrates from sweet potatoes, and dairy from milk or yogurt. Make huge portions for the entire week and save every money you can. Of course, you can have a nice treat on the weekend.
13. Prefer The Better Item, Not The Most Expensive One
Expensive is not always the best. Sometimes cheaper alternatives work just fine or even better. It’s all about the marketing a branded name put on their product to make it look fancy and boujee. When the reality is, you can get the same thing from a less popular brand but at a way lower price.
And, when you have a budget to follow and saving accounts to fill, it is best to go for a better dupe. So, next time you are on to buy the expensive item, try and look for its cheaper yet equally good-quality version. Look on Quora, Reddit, or Pinterest to find and see if others are searching for the same thing. You never know. You might end up finding the best budget-friendly brands.
14. Pay Off Debt; Remove Saving Obstacles
The biggest hurdle in the way of saving more is your debt. For instance, if you have a credit debt of 16%, consolidating it to 0% can help you quite a lot. Look for the lowest interest rates, and choose a company that offers the best services in such situations. If possible, negotiate your situation with them to get the best deal.
Try to balance your credit score by keeping the debt value zero. Then, if you pay your bills on time, you can be a good customer eligible for loans and other benefits. Or, you can opt to take a personal loan of a minimum interest rate to pay off your debt and start anew. Andrew Beattie of Investopedia explains 8 ways how you can successfully balance your credit debt.
15. Forget The ‘I Live For Food’ Motto
Some peoples have the sole purpose of trying any and every food out there. It can be possible with a person with a secure and sound monthly income. But, if you belong to a struggling group that wants to make both ends meet and save for good, this is one of the worst choices.
However, if you really love food, then you can make food YouTube your side business. Start by spending just a little, and if you feel the potential of going viral, then you can slowly enhance the setup. Of course, you can always record your everyday meals to be on the budget yet still do what you love.
16. Auto-Memberships & Subs Are Not Needed Anymore
This may sound unnecessary but imagine all the food subscriptions, gym memberships, magazine renewals, and diet charts you once signed up for? They could be costing you money without you knowing. Yes, if you are someone who hardly checks their pay history or bank statement, all the automatic memberships and subscriptions can be costly.
Have a thorough look at your history and accounts to cancel any sub or membership you no longer use or can survive without. Or, if you don’t want to unsub from anything, try and share the referral links with your family and make them download the app or take the trial to earn brownie points.
17. Don’t Rely Entirely On Credit Payments
Do you have a habit of paying bills and everything with your card? Surely, the referrals, rewards points, and bonuses sound good. But, if you rely entirely on a credit card, it may make you spend more. The theory is you don’t feel the cash reduction in real-time. Yes, you get a message of the bill you paid, but it is totally different if you compare it with the one you do with cash in hand.
Divide your majors and trivial spendings and categorize them. It can help you save money on a low income. For instance, try restricting your card for the needs and money bills for the wants.
18. A Saving Account Is The Only Way To Go
According to the 50-30-20 rule, you should save a minimum of 20% of your total income every month. However, saving money at home in a piggy bank or some drawer is never the best option. Why? You’ll always be tempted to spend the amount whenever in a sad or bad mood.
So, your best bet is to open separate savings account dedicated solely to your savings. You can also choose to redirect the 20% of your income straight to the savings out each month. Another thing you can do is keep someone trusty on a check to make sure you don’t end up spending all before the right time.
19. Try The ‘Spending-Freeze’ Rule For A Month
It is more like a 30 days rule challenge in which you restrict yourself from making any purchase for a month. For instance, if you want to buy something, you add it to a ‘spending freeze’ list and forget about it. And, after 30 days, if you still feel like buying it, you then initiate the buying and payment process.
It clears the confusion of wants and needs. If it will be a desire or want, you’ll probably forget it after a week or so. But, the need will remain consistent. The spending freeze will save you from all the lavish spending, overspending, or any big purchase that’s totally unnecessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before moving on to the conclusion, let’s read credit saving and spending answers to some of the most common questions:
By avoiding overspending. Literally, if you start with a list of priorities, monthly goals, and a good budget, you can train yourself to spend less. For example, start with taking out the cash for your brick-and-mortar shopping and only spend the amount you brought.
The name 30 days rule suggests that you should wait for 30 days before purchasing something. If you still feel the need to get it after 30 days, you are good to make the purchase. Otherwise, you’ll realize it wasn’t necessary to have it.
The best 3 tips that can help you save more and spend less are: avoiding fast food (skip eating out and cooking at home), making a shopping list for everything, and keeping a record of your weekly savings.
If you plan a budget and decide on a money spending strategy for your month, you can make both ends meet with $1000. Lower your food, transportation, electricity, clothing bills, and keep an eye on where you are spending. Even $10 savings count!
Bonus: Click to read a real success story on how to live on $1000.
Surely, the best strategy is to manage your expenses as per your income. Pay your credit bill and keep your savings account always filled. Also, consider taking credit counseling to save a maximum amount on every salary.
The 50/30/20 budgeting rule is a strategy to help you spend and save like a pro. The rule suggests dividing your income into three parts — 50% for necessities, 30% for wants, and 30% for credit debts and savings accounts.
Creating the rules that work for you can really make a difference in your spending and saving. But, in general, according to 50 30 20 rule, 20% of your income is the ideal amount to save up every month.
Cut out your food, groceries, car, energy, banking, taxes, and car insurance taxes. Some of them might only help you save a few dollars, but you can save a ton yearly if you add them all up.
Final Verdict
Hard times call for hard-to-make decisions. However, you don’t have to feel depressed or sad about them. On the best note, you can take this opportunity to transform your wealth management from a vague path to a steady road. And, for the best part, you can adapt the habit of credit management and pro-saving during your learning journey.
Moreover, it can help you save enough if you, unfortunately, have to live in stressful conditions in the future. But, don’t worry, we have mentioned everything above you need to know to save more and spend less.