On A Budget? Everyday Ways to Save Money
We’re all trying to save money where we can. Sometimes the saving we make can seem so small compared to the huge amounts we spend each month. It is possible, however, to make a saving. We just need to be smart and, in some cases, plan ahead. Take a look at this guide for some inspiration about how to budget every day and save money…
Food
For some of us, this is our biggest expenditure each week. Shopping can be, especially if you have a family, very expensive. The problem is we often buy too much and end up throwing it away. Here are some tips for making your money go further on that weekly shop.
- Don’t buy bags of salad. There far more expensive, and you get a smaller amount. Buy the unwashed variety and get yourself a salad spinner to clean it. The upfront cost may be more, but you’ll save lots in the long run.
- Properly seal all wine and champagne bottles with a vacuum sealer. Again, it’ll mean spending a bit more upfront but you won’t have to throw out any more half-full bottles.
- If you tend to buy a lot of hot drinks out, wait until payday and buy yourself an espresso maker. There really is no need to spend $5-a-day buying coffee when you can make it yourself.
- Plan your meals for the week. So many of us impulse buy things at the supermarket. This means that we end up overspending. Plan all your meals out for the week and just buy what you need. Purposefully make a few cheaper meals like pasta or a big hearty salad which will lower the price of the shop.
Customer Loyalty Programs and Discounts
There are so many companies who offer discount cards and vouchers to their regular customers. Take some time to look into these deals further rather than just brush them off when asked.
- Some supermarkets offer points cards. These cards can be used every time you shop to build up point and eventually get money off your next shop.
- Gyms are also a good place. There are memberships that allow you to save money instantly. If you want to save now, check out some of the deals out there. There are also all kinds of discounts on workout gear too.
Technology
Technology is another useful way to make some everyday cutbacks to keep our budget intact. Try out some of these ideas.
- Skype and Whatsapp are great alternatives to texting. They’re a free way to communicate with others. Keep your phone bill down by doing voice calls and messaging with these programs.
- In a similar way, download rather than buy books and music. You can stream and read these on your smartphone. Saving you time and money.