Hey savvy savers! 🌟 Ready to shake up your money game?
Just a few behavior changes can save you a few hundred bucks easily! Let’s get started!
1. Cash Challenge
Unless you are a meticulous person, it’s not easy to keep track of how much you spend if you use a Credit Card/Debit Card every time you pay for something.
That’s why we tend to spend more than we need.
Here is how to do the cash challenge.
Step 1. Prepare a multi-pocket folder as a wallet.
Step 2. Categorize the monthly spending such as utilities, food, and entertainment.
Step 3. Put cash in each category.
Step 4. Spend everything from the wallet.
The rule is to spend only what you initially decided to spend.
Even if you fail in this challenge, you will see which ones you tend to spend more on, what kind of situations, and how to change it.
That is a big step forward for changing your spending habits!
2. Don't Go Grocery Until Pantry Is Completely Empty
Do you shop at Costco?
Then, you have tons of food in the pantry already.
Challenge yourself (and your family, too!) not to go grocery shopping until your pantry is empty!
I’ve done this before and realized there was so much food that I was wasting! (Because I kept adding more food before using up)
This challenge will make you rethink if you really need what you are buying next time you shop.
3. Shop When You Have Store Coupons
Most retail stores have some free membership to keep their customer lists, and they often send you a coupon, or let you know when they have a huge sale.
Take advantage of these coupons!
I like coupons from DSW, which is a good chunk of $5 off, $10 off, and sometimes $20 off for shoes you buy.
If you plan ahead and set a mind to “don’t buy anything at full price.” you’ll always find a way!
4. Shop At Thrift Stores
Find a thrift store in a rich neighborhood. They most likely have tons of good quality clothes, shoes, and purses in great shape.
People will never know you are wearing last season’s Lululemon leggings that were only $25 from a thrift shop vs. originally $125.
5. Change Auto Insurance
Auto Insurance is insanely expensive.
Luckily, we have many choices to choose from. Stay comfortable with one company. That’s when they increase your premiums.
You can just shop around to get the best deal possible. You could save $500 easily by switching to a different company.
6. Negotiate Cable Bills
Cable companies often run campaigns to get new customers. However, if you’ve been using their service already, you won’t be qualified to get that deal.
Now is the time to ditch one company to the next. Once you do it, these cable companies are in the bitting war to get you as a customer.
It may be a bit of hustle, but you can get the newest and cheapest package available.
7. Stop the Sprinkler System Early in Fall
Do you realize how much water you use during the summer months for sprinkler systems?
A lot!
Your neighbor’s front yard is always cared for so well, and you may feel the pressure to make grass greener than greenest can be.
Once you drop that peer pressure that only exists in your head (or in some neighborhoods, it might not be an illusion!), you can turn your sprinkler system early in the fall, and start late in spring.
Who cares if the grass is a bit burned?
You are helping the environment, as well!
8. Eat Twice A Day
“You must eat three times a day!” is a myth.
The more often you eat, the more you develop insulin resistance, which could lead to diabetes. Your stomach needs resting time to digest. The more insulin resistance you get, the hungrier you become. (Watch Dr. Berg’s YouTube channel!)
That’s why people who snack all the time snack all the time! (That was me before trying fasting over 16 hours!).
The human body doesn’t need as much food as you think.
The less you eat, the more efficient your body becomes.
So it will be a win-win situation for you to save money by eating less, and have a healthier body!
9. Use Dollar Store Gift Wrap
You’ve already spent $35 for a gift, and then you have to run to get wrapping paper, bows, and a card. Soon enough, your $35 gift becomes $50+ expense.
You can avoid that expense by using Dollar Store wrapping paper and gift bags. You can easily save $10+ for each occasion.
10. Bring Your Own Drink From Home
Bring your own water bottles could save you a lot of buying drinks when you are out and about. It is tempting to stop by Starbucks and get the latest drink people are talking about.
Keep the big picture here!
A little effort here and there could make a big difference in the long run.
If you are the kind of person who buys Starbucks every day, you spend at least $5/day. That’s $5×30=$150.
If you invest that amount of money using an investment app like Acorn. Not only do you save that much, but the money invested will grow over time.
11. Declutter Your House
Decluttering works for clearing your mind.
Have you read Mari Kondo‘s book about decluttering? She has many great tips for eliminating things that no longer serve you.
Once you do it, you realize how much money you spend on stuff you don’t need. This is about more than just saving. This is mind-shifting.
When you realize something about yourself that is no longer serving you, it is easier to let that go. Decluttering does that for you.
If you haven’t, start reading these books!
