Who doesn’t want to save some money?
We’ve been working on tracking our spending better, setting up a budget, and finding new ways to save some money. Here are some simple but powerful ways to start saving more money and get your finances in better shape.
Track Your Spending
You may think you know exactly where your money goes, but trust me, you don’t really until you actually start tracking every dollar.
We do this through the free Mint app. It was a huge wake up call when we started but we were able to make some simple adjustments and now we’re able to put much more into savings!
Limit Eating Out
This is huge – eating out really adds up. It’s important to have stuff on hand for really simpledinners – even if it’s just a PB&J sandwich.
We have several favorite quick, easy dinners but keeping stuff on hand available for a fast dinner and for lunches out will end up saving you a ton of money. Even a frozen pizza is usually cheaper than a trip through the drive-thru.
Audit Your Bills
Take some time to call your service providers for insurance, utilities, phone, cable, internet, etc. Sometimes just simply asking if there’s a way to lower your bill will result in some new options.
Shop Smart
Don’t just buy the first thing you see. Compare prices and quality between stores, read reviews, and weigh some pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.
Also, if you’re shopping online, check for coupon codes! You can get cash back through Ebates and check for other discount codes through sites such as BluePromoCode.
Get Creative
Spend some time thinking of small, creative ways you can save money or make some extra side income. What are some unique things that apply to you and your life that you could use to save or make money?
These five things can add up to major savings. Whether you’re saving for a vacation, to pay off debt, a down payment on a house, or whatever else you need, with some small effort and discipline you can have a decent savings set aside for emergencies and future needs.
Kristyon March 13, 2015 at 8:28 am
Eating out can eat up our monthly budget in two days. We keep peanut butter on hand, but also some microwave freezer meals made from leftovers.
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Victoriaon March 13, 2015 at 9:43 am
I haven’t heard of blue promocode before. Thanks for the tip.
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Clare Speeron March 13, 2015 at 9:57 am
Thanks for the tips – really practical!
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Laurenon March 13, 2015 at 11:10 am
yes eating out is def a budget buster for us!! We notice a big difference when we cut that out!
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Annaon March 13, 2015 at 11:30 am
Shop smart! When my husband’s employer told him that he would reimburse him for phone expenses (instead of having him on the company plan), he immediately started shopping for a contract with a cell service. I think he assumed that they would give him a deal for signing a 2 year contract. Umm…not so! We stand to save $500/year by keeping both of us on a Pay-as-you go or Prepaid plan through the same provider. Same provider, same service, less expensive phone…cell companies trap people in with the lure of a fancy phone and then the insurance they have to buy because they have such an expensive phone. Honestly, I just tried out an iPhone for 3 months and hated it!! I desperately wanted my $80 android phone back. While the fancy phones are nice and have great features….we really do need to realize that they are not “free”.
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Robyn Petrikon March 13, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Eating out is always the hardest spending habit to curb, especially whenever our friends want to socialize over a meal. If we ate out less, we’d probably save at least $200 a month, but it’s hard to say no to!
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Reelika @Financially Wise On Heelson March 14, 2015 at 7:37 pm
I audit my bills all the time! It is honestly the only way I can keep everything under control. I even audit all the small bills, cents etc 🙂 But it feels good to know what is going on with my finances and whether I am still on track with my budget and goals!
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Jasmine Wattson June 25, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Some great tips here. Eating out is a big one. Once I monitored how much I was eating out on a monthly basis, I was able to save an extra $100-$200 a month!
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mustafiz@how to save moneyon May 20, 2017 at 3:14 am
Awesome post! Definitely some great tips and advice on save money. I am totally agree with you, bcoz It’s also great to start a saving account for emergencies or long term goals! thanks for sharing this awesome article.I am so glad that reading your article.love it.
markohenry@resently posted…what is the best way to save moneyReply
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