Trying to the budget can be a nightmare for most people, especially when you’ve got a lot of expenses. However, there are many ways to end up saving your money, and even being able to do it quickly. If you pay attention to the following tips, you should start making a dent in your expenditures.
1. Pay Yourself First
For a short-term plan to control your money to be successful, you need to make sure that you pay yourself first. This is probably the most common tip for saving, but that’s because it works, and it’s relatively easy to do. This technique basically means making sure that you are constantly saving, so you always have money in your bank account for anything that comes up in your life. When you are paid, put aside a small amount, whatever you can afford, in an individual account, or even in a jar temporarily, until you can deposit it in the bank—just don’t spend it.
After all, there’s no point in trying to get control of your money if you don’t have money on hand for anything unexpected that you might need the cash for.
2. Start a Savings Account
You’re obviously going to need somewhere to put your money in order to save it besides the jar we spoke about. That’s where a Savings Account comes in; as the name suggests, this type of account is primarily for saving your money, so it’ll be available when you need to spend it.
Essentially, this means that your money is kept in the bank for you to use if, for example, there’s an emergency doctor bill or car repair and other unexpected expenses. Saving money in this type of account can prove to be very valuable, much more than the cost of a cup of coffee every day. After all, if you spend $3.00 for coffee each day, you could be saving nearly $100 a month, or you can calculate via calculator, simply by making the coffee at home and putting that money in a Savings Account. This can be a huge benefit to you, but it has a small drawback: Your money isn’t instantly available and may require a trip to the bank. Still, that’s better than not having it if you need it
3. Try Shopping Online
Shopping online is one of the core ways to finally get control of your money, and it’s also one of the most obvious. Things such as clothes and other household items can be found a lot cheaper online, so you’ll be able to save a great deal of money by hunting for the best deals online.
There are also several apps and browser add-ons that help you apply coupon codes to purchases, meaning that you could end up saving even more than you would if you just went to a traditional store. Some of the apps even apply these codes automatically, so you don’t even need to worry about finding applicable codes online. Besides, DealDrop can be a great option to find a huge variety of discount codes.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Use Coupons
Speaking of coupons, you could also apply this money-saving skill to stores that aren’t online. The benefit of using coupons in real life is that many grocery stores run promotions that help you save money on your shopping. Many of these promos can be found in local newspapers and generally apply to favorite food items. Coupons are regularly offered on all kinds of food and cooking needs. Use them to save your hard-earned money. While coupons usually are for small amounts, they can add up to real savings if you use them regularly.
However, you do need to be on the lookout for these coupons; even though they’re advertised, they usually have only a short period in which they can be used, so you’ve got to be quick. Some stores even offer discounts for using their app or purchasing your groceries online, so you’ll end up saving even more if you use that in combination with coupons codes you find.
5. Talk to Your Bank or Financial Institution
When was the last time that you looked at how much you were actually paying for your credit card purchases? The chances are that it’s been a while, and that means you could be paying back more than you have to when you buy something with your credit card.
Banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions typically charge over 20% as an interest rate, but they sometimes offer lower interest for certain customers, especially if you’ve been with them for a while. Because of that possibility, it’s worth asking for a lower interest rate on your credit card purchases.
This could also apply to any other loans that you might have gotten from the bank; if you’ve shown that you can pay back your loan, they might be willing to lower your interest rates. Granted, you’ll be paying back your loans for a longer time. However, you’ll be paying less every month for those $5000 direct lenders, which will help in the short term, as it will loosen up some money that you can put in your Savings Account.
6. Learn to Say No
The problem many people have when it comes to money is that they can rarely say no to something they want, be it a night out, dinner out with friends, or even getting some new clothes. You end up spending much more money than you should. This is where learning to say no comes into play, and it’s a great way to help control your spending and add to your savings.
Having discipline means that you’ll save money in both the long and the short-term; nobody needs a fancy night out every weekend, especially when they’re trying to be frugal. Once you manage to cut down on unneeded purchases, you’ll be in a better position to save your money.
However, denying yourself doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy yourself every so often. You simply need to learn how to do it in moderation and within your budget, which involves learning to say no often, especially when you need to save for something in particular.
Do all that, and you’ll have a great start to finally being in charge of your money and feeling more secure in case of an emergency. It doesn’t mean that you need to live like a, though; it just means that you need to start taking a hard look at exactly how you’re spending your money, and where you can spend it better and smarter.
That’s the key to getting control of your finances; spend smart and think about where your money is actually going.