Here are the six easiest ways for saving money every day of your life. No, you won't be required to rob a bank or steal some gas. You just have to commit to these six simple ways. The trick with saving money is changing your buying habits. These six steps show you the new habits you must adopt to save money each day.
1. This might sound crazy, but DON'T CARRY CASH. If I gave you a five dollar bill, I guarantee you'll have it spent in a day. Why? You spend because you have the money with you. You might spend it on coffee or a snack or something not food related at all such as a magazine. However, if you don't have the cash, you'll stop those small-item impulse purchases.
2. DON'T BUY THAT TODAY! I agree everybody should have a super deluxe sparkly whatever. The question you need to ask yourself is DO -I- NEED THAT? This isn't a question that gets answered in the shopping aisle. It gets answered in the next day or two. Guess what, most people find the next day that don't need the item and are glad they didn't buy it. You've just saved money by not buying something you had convinced yourself you needed!
3. BORROW RATHER THAN BUY. This goes for opting for the public library over the movie rental store. Borrow a step ladder to clean your gutters if you only use it once a year. Everybody has extra stuff they aren't using it. Borrow from your friends and neighbors. Look how many items you've bought and only used once! Don't waste you money like that. Borrow it!
4. DON'T PLAY THE LOTTERY. You're thinking a dollar here and a dollar there isn't a big deal. Be honest, do you ever buy just one ticket? Buying three a week is $156 a year. Scratch-off cards can run as high as $10 to $20 a piece. The odds aren't in your favor for winning the lottery or the scratch-offs. Save that money for other things.
5. Don't hate me for suggesting this...CHANGE YOUR HOBBY. Growing up, my main hobby was fishing. The cost of $15 per year for a license and money for occasional new fishing lures was easily under $75 dollars a year. Later in life, I started playing golf. I could blow $75 in one weekend playing golf. Calculate that out to 20 games a year and that's $1500. Look at your hobbies and see if you need to find something more inline with your income.
6. DON'T SPEND WHAT YOU SAVE! I can easily tell myself that because I saved $10 on a shirt, I can spend that money on something else. WRONG! Saving money means s-a-v-i-n-g m-o-n-e-y. If I save $10 on a shirt, I now have more money for paying off my credit card debt, more money for groceries, and more money for paying my utility bills.
Every item in this list will help you save money. The more you can cut your spending, the more money you can save for retirement, pay down on debt, and save for a vacation.
http://www.debt-reduction-solution.com provides information on debt reduction and how you can kill off deadly credit card debt.
More great money saving techniques for your bills and expenses.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Money Saving Tips For College Students
If you're a student, chances are that you could do with a bit of spare money. Rather than taking on another part-time job, or begging your parents for extra cash, try some of these easy ways of saving money on what you buy. The old proverb a penny saved is a penny earned really is true.
Always ask for a discount
The top money-saving tip for every student is to always, always ask for a discount. Many shops offer 10% off for students, but they don't always advertise this - you need to ask. Some restaurants will also give discounts: have a hunt for student-specific online vouchers.
And don't forget the cinema and theatre; you can usually get tickets at the concession rate by showing a student card. Many theme parks and other attractions will also offer a discount.
Buy second-hand books
Most students spend a good percentage of their budget on textbooks. Before you buy another book, make sure you check Amazon first to see if it's available second-hand. Used text books are often in great condition (since many students barely open them during their studies), and will save you a good percentage of the cover price.
If you're looking for cheap fiction, try local library sales and charity shops. Buy new or second-hand clothes cheaply
Clothes are another area where you can save a lot of money by not shopping on the high street. Ebay should be your first port of call for any garment - if you're iffy about buying something that's been worn by someone else, look for "BNWT" (Brand New With Tags) and "BNWOT" (Brand New Withut Tags). You can pick up some amazing bargains.
Thrift stores or charity shops are also good sources of cheap clothes, though your choice will be more limited.
Carry limited cash with you If you can never quite figure out where all the money goes, and if you put everything on plastic when you shop or go out, try spending cash instead. This is a great way to make sure you stick to a spending limit, and it really helps you to avoid buying things on impulse. Charging everything to a credit card can make you feel like the money isn't real - until you get the bill.
Shop for groceries at the end of the day
If you're buying fresh food, go shopping in the early evening. Any items with today's "sell by" or "best before" date will be considerably reduced. Foods which can be frozen are particularly good bargains here - look out for cheap chicken, sausages or mince. Vegetables are also often well reduced, but you'll need to use them within a day or two. If necessary, cook double or triple portions that evening, then put the rest in the fridge or freezer for tomorrow.
Ali Hale is a postgraduate student of Creative & Life Writing, and runs the blog Alpha Student ("Helping you make the most of your time at Uni"). If you're looking for a writer or a website, you can hire her via Aliventures.
Household Items
Cars and Gas
Food and Dining
Entertainment
Bills and Expenses
The top money-saving tip for every student is to always, always ask for a discount. Many shops offer 10% off for students, but they don't always advertise this - you need to ask. Some restaurants will also give discounts: have a hunt for student-specific online vouchers.
And don't forget the cinema and theatre; you can usually get tickets at the concession rate by showing a student card. Many theme parks and other attractions will also offer a discount.
Buy second-hand books
Most students spend a good percentage of their budget on textbooks. Before you buy another book, make sure you check Amazon first to see if it's available second-hand. Used text books are often in great condition (since many students barely open them during their studies), and will save you a good percentage of the cover price.
If you're looking for cheap fiction, try local library sales and charity shops. Buy new or second-hand clothes cheaply
Clothes are another area where you can save a lot of money by not shopping on the high street. Ebay should be your first port of call for any garment - if you're iffy about buying something that's been worn by someone else, look for "BNWT" (Brand New With Tags) and "BNWOT" (Brand New Withut Tags). You can pick up some amazing bargains.
Thrift stores or charity shops are also good sources of cheap clothes, though your choice will be more limited.
Carry limited cash with you If you can never quite figure out where all the money goes, and if you put everything on plastic when you shop or go out, try spending cash instead. This is a great way to make sure you stick to a spending limit, and it really helps you to avoid buying things on impulse. Charging everything to a credit card can make you feel like the money isn't real - until you get the bill.
Shop for groceries at the end of the day
If you're buying fresh food, go shopping in the early evening. Any items with today's "sell by" or "best before" date will be considerably reduced. Foods which can be frozen are particularly good bargains here - look out for cheap chicken, sausages or mince. Vegetables are also often well reduced, but you'll need to use them within a day or two. If necessary, cook double or triple portions that evening, then put the rest in the fridge or freezer for tomorrow.
Ali Hale is a postgraduate student of Creative & Life Writing, and runs the blog Alpha Student ("Helping you make the most of your time at Uni"). If you're looking for a writer or a website, you can hire her via Aliventures.
Discover more money saving techniques:
Household Items
Cars and Gas
Food and Dining
Entertainment
Bills and Expenses
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