In this world of tight budgets and economic uncertainty, and COVID, 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 the best way to do it is by altering several small things. You might only save a few pennies here and there in those areas, but you will find that it is the little things that 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 on items significantly compared to grocery stores. If it isn’t worth the hassle to go to a grocery store, you probably don’t need it anyway. This also applies to many specialty stores, such as a pharmacy where the medication may be reasonable, but many items are not.
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. Regardless, at least pay the minimum on each account to avoid late charges, and if you miss one or more depending on the lender, they may reduce your limit or increase the percentage interest you have to pay. Both can cost you in terms that are more than just your wallet.
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. When you get home, drop that coinage in a jar and let it accumulate. You will be surprised at how quickly it adds up. One year I had almost $250 saved this way. It really can add up.
4- Carpool as much as possible.
You can be doing yourself and others a lot of 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 are obvious ones to do. You can also get to know your neighbor and coordinate shopping trips. With COVID, many are traveling less, but as things slowly improve, we are finding ourselves driving more and increasing the amount we are spending on travel compared to the previous year or so.
6- 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 for a low price. Yard sales are good places to look for things that you need for the 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. And remember to look for a store loyalty card that can get you additional instant savings on your purchases.
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 more information on ways to save, visit the following. One site with some good ideas is https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/the-secret-to-saving-money, and a previous post on this site can be seen at https://kgmeyerpc.com/30-plus-ways-to-save-money/.
For more assistance or if you need any financial assistance, contact me directly or seek out a fee-only Registered Financial Counselor.
