6 Easy Ways To Save Money
This is the era of instant gratification. Whatever we want, we want it now. Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it is also a tell-tale sign of the abundance we enjoy. But there’s one downside. The convenience provided by credit cards and one-click-orders have made it extremely hard to save money if you’re not committed. We don’t need to tell you the ant and the grasshopper story to remind you what happens if you don’t save, right?
If you find saving money hard, we’re here to help. Here are a few easy ways you can save money:
1. Make meal plans for the week
Dining out is one of the biggest expenses for most households. It’s alright if you want to dine out every now and then. But what we want you to do is to avoid those occasions when you have to dine out because you don’t have a choice. You can do that by taking a few hours every weekend for grocery shopping and making a meal plan for the week. This is going to save you a ton of money in the long run.
2. Brew your own coffee
If you can’t live without a dose of caffeine, learn to brew your own coffee. It’s not that hard. Paying $4 to $5 for coffee every day can cost you quite a bit of money, if you do the math. We are not asking you to boycott Starbucks though! Buy coffee at cafes a few days of the week, and brew your coffee at home the rest of the time.
3. Say yes to DIY beauty treatments
Taking care of yourself is important. But those spa visits, pedicures, manicures, massages, etc. really add up. Set aside a certain amount of money in your monthly budget for these things. But you don’t need to go to a professional for all your self-care needs. Use blogs, YouTube and Pinterest to find DIY beauty treatments. Most of the time, you can find a DIY organic treatment that uses ingredients you already have in your home.
4. Choose Quality over quantity
Just like your grandma told you, quality always trumps quantity. Whether you are shopping for food, clothes or electronics, always remember this. Don’t give in to the temptation of buying items that cost less, but cut corners in terms of quality. In the long run, choosing quality over quantity will save you more money. If you have to, wait a little longer, but always buy the best-quality product you can afford.
5. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you
If you are in the habit of spending excessively, that is often a sign that you’re trying to avoid feeling certain emotions. If you feel the urge to go on a shopping spree, take a moment and try to identify if there’s any underlying emotion that’s causing it. Maybe you are just bored or stressed, and spending money is a way to avoid experiencing the underlying emotion.
6. Save money shopping online
Don’t buy products immediately. Unless you need something urgently, add the product to your shopping cart and wait for 48 hours. More often than not, the online merchant will offer you a discount on the items in your shopping cart to close the deal.
Another way you can save money is by using promo codes and discount coupons. Before buying anything online, go to a coupon website and see if there’s a discount coupon or promo code that can help you to save money. It takes very little effort, but can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.