In this world of tight budgets and economic uncertainty, the need to find ways to help save money has people scrounging for how to save money tips. It is tempting to find one or two things that will save a household a lot of money, but altering several small things is the best way to do it. In those areas, you might only save a few pennies here and there, but you will find that the little things can add up to a lot. Many of these ways might not be very obvious to you, and some might be ideas that will have you scratching your head and asking why you hadn’t thought of this earlier. Here are five ideas that fit into that mold.
1- Stop shopping at convenience stores.
Convenience stores are notorious for marking up the price of items significantly compared to grocery stores, Walmart, Target, or even Amazon. If it isn’t worth the hassle to look for the best price possible, you probably don’t need it anyway.
2- Avoid late fees when paying bills.
Pay your bills on time so that you aren’t charged that unnecessary extra amount. If the problem is a lack of organization and forgetting the dates, use a reminder service like Google’s calendar feature to send you a text or email to let you know when due dates are approaching. If you are worried about not having enough funds, call ahead and see about changing the due date or getting an extension.
Please do not ignore the problem if you cannot pay, as that is almost a sure-fire way to rack up unnecessary fees. Always call and work with your creditor to avoid the potential of these fees. You are not alone in having this issue at present with such high inflation and economic uncertainty.
3- Save your change.
Make it a habit to keep all that pocket change in a jar. Use cash to pay for most things, and instead of trying to give the right change, only use the bills. Drop that coinage in a jar when you get home and let it accumulate. You will be surprised at how quickly it adds up.
4- Carpool as much as possible.
You can be doing yourself and others good when you decide to travel together. It might not be as convenient, but it can help in the long run. Carpooling to work or taking the kids to school is obvious, and you can also get to know your neighbor and coordinate shopping trips.
For many, public transportation is not an option, but try limiting your trips and delaying some until you have several and make one trip to all the places you need to.
5- Buy Used or Discounted
You can find a decent collection of clothes and other needs if you buy used or at discount stores. Shopping at consignment shops or Goodwill will provide you with some good options. Discount stores like TJ Maxx or Marshalls are good places to find good designer clothes at a lower price. Yard sales are also good places to look for things you need for your home. Discount food stores will give you the most value on food products. The names of the brands may not be familiar, but you won’t notice much of a difference in taste or quality.
You can find many more ways to save money, but the keys are getting organized, being disciplined, and learning to sacrifice. There won’t be many how to save money tips that will save you much money on their own but using several together will net you the results you want.
For an older post on 30 Ways to Save, please click HERE. If you are experiencing financial issues and need help getting back on track or assistance with budgeting, feel free to contact me if you are in or near the Metro-Nashville area. If you are outside middle Tennessee or feel more comfortable with someone closer to you, seek out a qualified fee-only Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) near you.
