People make saving money seem a lot harder than it actually is. The truth is you can make small changes that allow you to save money every day. Whether you push yourself not to spend or plan meals ahead of time, you can do it. Let’s look at how to save money every day.
Push Yourself NOT to Spend
We all have that one item that we waste money on. For example, it might be a fancy cup of coffee. Challenge yourself to not buy that coffee for as long as you can. This can save you a lot of money. Let’s say the coffee is $5 and you make it 30 days without buying one. That’s $150 saved. Just think about what you could do with that money.
Find ways that you can still enjoy your favorite treat, but just for a lot less. Like the example above, can you find a way to make coffee at home that you really enjoy so that you don't miss your coffee at the coffee shop. Could you set aside one day to enjoy an indulgence rather than succumbing every day?
Check Your Thermostat
What temperature do you keep your house? Could you lower it a degree or two during the winter or raise it a degree or two during the summer?
If not, are there other ways that you can save money on heating and cooling your home? You could use a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature for the 8+ hours you're at work (if you work outside the home). Check with your electric company, since some companies offer rebates when you buy a programmable thermostat.
Choose Free Entertainment
There are so many ways to entertain yourself for free. If you have an internet connection, you have the ability to stream movies, TV shows, and music for free. You can also download thousands of books from Amazon for free. Of course, don’t forget about your local library either. And, you can even download lots of free games to your phone.
Find Alternative Ways to Exercise
Do you have a gym membership? If so, really think about how often you use it. If you use it all the time, great. If not, could you cancel your gym membership (and the fees that go along with it) and find another place to exercise?
Are there trails near your home where you can walk or run? Or maybe a track that's open to the public at a local school? Or maybe you even live in an HOA or apartment complex that already has a gym available to you.
Save Money on Gas
Gas is a big monthly expense for us since we live 13 miles from our boys' school and my husband works downtown. My husband saves money on gas by purchasing a train pass through his work with pretax money. And we use the Gas Buddy app to check prices at the gas stations along our route when we need to fill up. Gas prices can vary widely from station to station and city to city.
If you live close enough to work, you could consider walking or biking to save money on gas. Bonus, you'll also get some added exercise.
Save Your Loose Change
Loose change doesn’t have to be a hassle. Take your change at the end of each day and put it in a jar. Do this for one year and you’ll be surprised at how much money has added up. This can be a great way to come up with extra money for the holidays or vacation.
Round Up Purchases
If you use your debit card more than cash, round up your purchases in your checkbook register. Over time, this will add up to a nice cushion in your bank account. Best of all, it’s so easy to do. In fact, balancing your checkbook will be much easier.
Plan Meals
Take the time once a week to plan meals. This will help prevent the urge to get fast food or take out every night. Fast food may not seem expensive until you sit down and add it all up. Plan easy meals for your busiest nights so that you can save money.
Pack Your Lunch
Eating out for lunch every day can add up quickly! With just a little bit of planning, you can pack your lunch every day. My husband tends to bring dinner leftovers for lunch the next day. And, we have an assortment of food available that my boys can use to pack their own lunches for school. We save a ton of money on food, and it's healthier too!
If you want to save money every day, make a couple changes to your life and see how quickly the money adds up. You’ll be surprised at how these small changes can make a huge difference.
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