6 Ways To Save More Money

We tend to want everything and we sometimes fail to see how these financial decisions weigh us down. It comes down to choosing the best value for our money. This may take some sacrificing, but making those sacrifices for what we truly desire is always worth the effort to come in under budget.  

 

Quit Expensive Habits

 

Smoking – There is no denying that smoking is a hard habit to break and addiction to overcome. But, this one is a no brainer on being expensive! Everyone knows smoking causes cancer. Expensive in practice and expensive in medical bills.

Soda – A dollar a day still adds up! Plus it can do a number on our teeth. 

Alcohol – This one is especially expensive at the bar. Also a few too many will additionally cost finding another ride home.

Coffee – A coffee here, a coffee there, it can surprisingly rack up. Spending $4 on a drink every week day means spending $20 a week – $80 a month and try a whopping $960 a year! Instead brew coffee at home. Between the cost of a coffee pot and the actual coffee, it will save hundreds of dollars every year.

Remember, we don’t have to quit any of them cold turkey . . . that’s just mean.

 

Coupon

 

We don’t need to go all extreme couponing and have a hoarder stock pile of supplies. Which is usually what first comes to my mind when I think of clipping coupons.

Before check out when buying online, pause for a moment and do a quick internet search for a coupon code. Usually you can find a percentage off or even score free shipping!

Another easy way to coupon is to sign up for a grocery store loyalty program. I know the grocery store I use has discounts built in just by entering my phone number at check out.

A little due diligence could end up saving some cash. Don’t leave money on the table!

 

Focus On Inexpensive Entertainment

 

Participating in expensive entertainment such as movies, concerts, sports tickets, etc. are definitely fun and should be enjoyed. What’s not fun is looking at the bank account after the fact.

Week after week, it can really add up fast. Just be aware how often you are participating in expensive forms of entertainment and create a budget around it.

Here are some alternatives for days when you don’t feel like living large

• Take a hike
• Visit a park
• Find free entertainment in your community
• Have a potluck with friends
• Volunteer
• Host a game night

 

Downsize

It’s pretty natural to get into the mindset of wanting the biggest home or the nicest apartment. What we don’t realize is how expensive it is to maintain these vast spaces.

Downsizing the home to just the amount of space we actually live in can help save more money in the long run. A smaller space does not need as many furnishings, nor does it use as much energy in utilities.

To really get savvy by downsizing, think about renting out an extra room or basement as an Airbnb or to a long term tenant.

 

Automate Bill Payments

It’s now easier than ever to automate payments and there are some incentives to do so.

Setting up automatic payments helps us to focus on the bottom line. We don’t have to get bogged down worrying about if we paid a bill on time or even when the due date is.

A payment is never missed with auto pay, so there is no need to worry about late fees and penalties.

Another incentive for automation is a discount. Paying early or in a lump sum can earn a discount from some companies.

For example, I recieve $10 off my total cell phone bill each month just for opting in for an automatic payment. I also receive a hundred dollar discount for paying our car insurance for the year, instead of every 6 months.

 

Cut Out Unnecessary Subscriptions

 

Although some automated bill payments are necessary, don’t get trapped in the idea of having too many subscriptions on automatic payment. Paying for subscription services can be expensive and a lot of the time they are more of a luxury than a necessity. They can easily creep their way into our passive spending without a second thought. Before we know it we are missing out on the opportunity to save more money.

We enjoy these services, so it can be hard to give them the boot!  Also, how many of these subscriptions are for similar services? Chances are at least a few of them between all the beauty boxes, music, games, and streaming services. Start by picking one in each category to keep. Then, you can axe more later to increase the savings.

Always look for ways your spending can work for you instead of against you. Using these 6 ways to save more money, we can get on track towards a more stress free financial life. It’s worth all the effort to come in under budget.