If you are like most people, you are faced with the challenge of finding how to save money every month. In many cases, it is more something you have to do than want to do. It is never a pleasant challenge because it requires changing habits, becoming more disciplined, and making sacrifices. If you can find a way to make little adjustments to several areas, then you might not feel that it is all that hard a challenge. Here are some suggestions that may help you find a way to meet your budget goals and save money every month.
When grocery shopping, try to load up on those staples when you see they are on sale. Look for coupons, discount brands, scratch, dent items, or anything with a reduced price. The quality will be good enough for your household.
Conserve energy when you can. Not only is it environmentally responsible, it is fiscally responsible. Powering down or unplugging items that aren’t in use will always help lower your energy bill. Use less water using high-efficiency shower heads and water aerators on your faucets. Dress warmly and use more blankets in the winter to use less heat. In the mild seasons, open your windows. In the summer, keep your blinds shut during the day to keep the heat out. For more, click Conserving Energy.
Cut back on entertainment expenses. Try seeing movies at matinee times, making sure you eat before you go so you don’t overpay for snacks during the movie. Better than that, wait until the movie is released to a second-run movie theater or released on video. Try to find ways to entertain yourself without spending money.
Try to carpool, use public transportation, or ride a bike. Try to find ways out of the driver’s seat of your car, and you will find ways to save yourself some money. For how to set up a carpool at work, click Carpool.
Eat at home more. It is tempting to run out to a fast-food restaurant or a dine-in place instead of taking the time to cook a meal, which adds up quickly. While a meal at a sit-down restaurant may cost about $15-20 a person, you can treat a group of 2-5 people to a nice meal for that amount.
Stop smoking. You don’t have to worry if you don’t have that habit. If you are one of the millions who spend $5-10 per day on something that only makes you sick, try to find something better to do with your money. Every day you sacrifice your health and budget to fill your lungs with pollutants. There are better things that you can do. The long-term cost may be much more than that as you deal with health problems caused by your habit. Save money now and down the road by stopping smoking. Consider it your retirement plan. For tips on stopping smoking, click Stop Smoking.
There are many ways how to save money every month. Some might not seem attractive to you until you see the result: a little more money in your account at the end of the month. Once you start seeing those results, you may want to turn it into a challenge to see if you can do more. Keep pushing yourself to save more and see how well you can save money.
If you need help budgeting and saving money and living in the Nashville Metro, don’t hesitate to contact me directly. If you live outside middle Tennessee, contact me or seek out a fee-only Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) near you.
