11.04.2009 / Return to Frugality
It can be hard to save money and stay within a budget when it feels like you are missing out on the things you want to buy now. However, paying yourself first is easy and rewarding if you follow a few simple savings tips:
"Paying yourself first is easy and rewarding if you follow a few simple savings tips."
- Grocery shop less often – Reducing the number of trips to the store has the added benefit of reducing the number of “extra” items on your monthly grocery bill. Never forget to create a list and stick to it, and build your budget around shopping only once per week. If you can get by with shopping twice a month, that’s even more savings for you! Fewer trips to the store also can save you gas in the car.
- Travel on a budget – Being flexible about your travel dates can save on airfare or hotel rates. Most airlines offer much cheaper tickets if you fly during the middle of the week. While traveling, pack a picnic lunch for a fun and inexpensive alternative to eating out.
- Enjoy the show for less – The average trip to the movies costs more than $30 after buying tickets and snacks. Take advantage of reduced ticket prices for matinee showings. Try a movie rental membership for as little as $5 a month. Your fridge is a great snack bar, and candy or popcorn from the grocery store is less than half the price of buying it at the theatre.
- Bring your lunch to work – Every time you bring your lunch to work, put aside $5 for savings. In just one month, you’ll have saved more than $100!
- Drink the company coffee – Bringing your own creamer and flavorings makes this one less painful. You can save up to $4 a day by drinking the office brew.
By shaving a few dollars out of your spending each week, you can quickly reach your savings goals and stay within your budget.
Do you have any tips that you’ve found have been helpful in cutting expenses? Please share them.
Here's a method that I have found helpful. Get a small notebook and carry it and a pen/pencil with you. Whenever you buy anything write it down in the notebook. No matter how small the purchase write it down. You'll find that you will avoid impulse purchases and as an extra benefit will have a list of what you spent you money. After a month you can expand to tracking expenses buy type and will have painlessly started to budget your money.
Posted
by dkk
at 08:46 PM, Nov 03, 2009
