Does anyone have any tips on saving money? How do you save your money? What do you do and not do?
2007-10-28 08:29:40 · 3 answers · asked by Virginia 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
I agree with aecruiser about controlling your money vs. letting your money control you. I do something similar in that I pay myself first (through savings both to a savings account and my fully funded 401k). I have credit cards, but don't use them. I do buy some things that I don't need, but they are planned for in advance. (For example, I have a 52" LCD TV that I paid cash for -- watching TV and movies at home is important to me).
I look for both big and little ways to save money. I don't have a cell phone. I pay cash for cars so that I don't have a car payment (I drive older cars). I shop for insurance every year (companies have no loyalty to you and they don't work to keep your business). I maintain excellent credit so that when I need it, it is both available and cheap. I don't usually buy soft drinks or coffee at convenience stores or coffee shops (that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate a good cup of joe, I just make it at home). I am very, very careful about signing up for anything with a monthly payment. No payments are deducted from my accounts without me clicking a button or writing a check.
Part of our entertainment budget is for going out to dinner. I enjoy a good meal out, but I am aware of what my budget is and how often I can do it. Gift giving and charity giving is both carefully planned so that impulse decisions are not made.
Vacations are carefully planned in advance to avoid excessive spending there.
It is constant work, constant vigilance against spending money wastefully.
2007-10-29 06:26:19 · answer #1 · answered by Rush is a band 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I only buy things that I need and have budgeted for. I pay myself first my savings at the beginning of the month and live on the rest. Since I don't own credit cards, I must live on the rest. If you want to eat out etc. see where it fits into your budget and then follow your budget. It isn't really that hard. As long as you know where every dime you make is going, you can easily make adjustments and plan. It is the mindless purchases that rack up. Then you get to the end of the month and wonder where all that money went. The money left you because you chose to not control it, therefore it controlled you.
Hope this helps!
2007-10-28 08:34:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's called a College Degree.
2007-10-28 14:21:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋