tips on saving money???

Question

Im such a big spender and it needs to stop, but how? does any one have some brill tips on saving money please?

Answer 1

First - make a budget.

List all the things that you HAVE to pay, and the monthly cost - rent/mortgage, car, credit cards, food, utilities. On this list, "have to pay" means things you are legally contracted to pay - it doesn't mean $5 each day for Starbucks, because you didn't get up on time and you need a caffeine jolt to wake up, and it doesn't mean that darling purse you saw the other day.

Second - make a list of your other expenses, and their monthly cost. Write down anything and everything else: Starbucks, gas for the car, clothes, meals out, school supplies, pizza for Saturday night, gym membership, everything.

Group these things into 3 groups:
- things you really need, like gas for the car,
- things you can easily do without, or that are frivolous purchases (that darling purse goes here)
- things that fall in between these groups.

Third - add up all your sources of income for the month, and subtract the first list from that. This gives you your disposable income - money you're free to spend on things as you choose.

Fourth - decide which items from the 3 groups you really can afford, and add them to the budget. Most or all of the things you really need will go here. Practically none of the frivolous things will. You have to pick and choose from the middle group.

Add up all the items on the budget, and see if you've gone over your monthly income. If you have, you have to reduce the list more. Drop the gym membership, drop the landline and use only a cell phone, sell the car and ride the bus? You decide. If you can't decide, you may have to get a 2nd job. Find something to do on weekends or evenings.

Once you get to a point where you have a budget that lets you save some money, STICK TO IT. Use some of the extra money to pay off credit card bills if you have them, and put the rest into a separate account that you promise to not touch unless it's an emergency. And a sale at Bloomngdales doesn't qualify as an emergency, either.

Answer 2

1. Put yourself on a budget. A budget helps you to define what expenses are fixed, like rent, utilties, insurance, etc. and what expenses are not fixed, like hair & makeup, clothing, entertainment, etc.

2. If your workplace offers it, get a direct deposit. Place some money (you choose the %) from everypaycheck into savings and the rest in checking.

3. Cutting corners:
a. Use baking soda and vinegar as cleaning products. Buy a $3 spray bottles and fill it with a 50% vinegar solution. Great for cutting grease, cleaning glass and countertops. Baking soda is great for tubs and showers and other bathroom fixtures.

b. Coffee, tea or soda? Keep a supply at home from your local warehouse club. Bring them along with you wherever you go. Use a thermal travel mug for hot beverages. Buying these beverages from a restaurant even once a day can really add up.
If you now spend $3 a day on beverages, you can save $30-60 a month by drinking from your home supply instead.

c. Dining out? Switch gears. Even if you buy a frozen name-brand dinner form your favorite resturant, you will save big $$ over eating in a restaurant and paying atip to your server (Sorry to all you wait staffers out there!). Cooking at home is much more economical...and it can be just as convenient if you cook extra and freeze individual portions to reheat later.

d. Shop off season. Buy sweaters at the end of winter, swimsuits at the end of summer. You get the idea.

Answer 3

The first critical step to resolve a crisis like this is going to sound silly, but it's the most important thing to do if you honestly want to fix your problem and become wealthy. Almost anyone, even the lowest earners among us, if they do this one thing, can become wealthy... (now I sound like an infomercial, LOL!)...

For a month, write down where every last penny you spend actually goes, and where it came from.

This is the only way to get a real picture of what you are doing that needs to change. If you discover that the biggest drain on your resources is the rent/mortgage (which should be 25% or less of your paycheck), you'll know you need to move. More likely, though, you will discover you are spending more on soy lattes than on your retirement savings plan, and that's easy to fix!

Good luck!

Answer 4

As soon as you get paid, put away 10% of your income. Always.

As soon as you have a nice amount... put it i high interest cd account.

Read the book "The richest Man in Babylon" by George Clasen... it will change your life.

Go online and find coupons.... buy groceries and before you run out.... at your leisure go shopping.... but only buy what's on sale. If you don't wait until you run out, you wont be forced to overpay for things you need.

Rent a movie instead of going to the theatre.

Eat at home instead of eating out.

Fill-up on Gas when you notice it's cheapest... if it rises today....get less gas... tomorrow it may be cheaper.

Buy a bottle... drink at home... don't buy drinks at clubs.

When possible... carpool.

Answer 5

Write yourself a check for $100 every time you get a paycheck. Store all the checks in your desk or somewhere, and at the end of the year you'll have $2,400 cash to spend on what you were saving for!

Answer 6

If you cannot afford it in cash then don't charge it!
That's what i have been doing in the last year and it has definitely saved me hundreds, if not thousands of dollars!
Also, try to cut down on your hanging out time (unless someone else is paying for you of course) many times in the past i would go out from Friday to Sunday, eat out, drink out, travel and just charge ands charge and charge... you don't have to spend all your weekends in your house watching TV but be creative and try not to spend too much money going out and eating out!

Answer 7

You probably need to set yourself a budget, and stick by it, it takes will power. If you need to spend money maybe you should consider investing it somehow. Get a hobby that's not too expensive, so you divert your interest some place else.

Answer 8

quit smoking and or quit buying Starbucks coffee. That's $5 a day $25 a week. It will add up.

Answer 9

yea, put it where it cant be reached, like a seperate bank account or ask parents to look after if for you, then forget it is even there....

in a few months time you will be surprised by the 'forgotton' money,

Answer 10

pay your bills as soon as you get paid. then take out some cash for you to use for groceries and things you need....cut up your debit or credit cards...you won't spend it if it means a trip to the bank every time.