No one REALLY wants to live on a budget. But let's be realistic, most of us have to. That may mean no month long vacations to a private island resort, but it shouldn't mean cutting back on all the things you love, want, or need in your life! Living within in your means can still feel glamorous, you just need to know where to find the best places to save money are.
1. Going to eat, to me, is something I could never give up completely. It's the one thing that I know will cheer me up, or make me feel good. Restaurants can be really pricey though, especially when you live in a big city. My solution: Restaurants.com. This website offer coupons and deals to local places that I seriously don't think can be beat. A lot of times you can purchase a $25 gift certificate for a place for only $10. Definitely one of my favorite places online!
2. Re-evaluate what you are paying for insurance. Most people can't make changes to their health insurance, but you can definitely shop around for better deals on auto or homeowners insurance. Don't stay with one insurance company because you feel it may be a hassle to switch companies, but that doesn't need to be the case. If your car situation has changed, you've moved, or it's just been a while since you've looked into it, NOW is the time to do your research. Insurance is one place that people are constantly overpaying, or overloading on. Take a look at your car and decide if you still need to same time of coverage on it that you used to have. If it's getting older and decreasing in value (which all cars do) you may not need to full coverage you had before. One resource for getting and comparing quotes you can use is Allstate Insurance Quotes Page. You can check out where you may be overpaying and get a competitive quote. I like this resource because it's simple and easy to use.
3. If you know that you can't live without a furry little creature in your life, try adopting a pet instead of buying one! There are thousands of pets that won't have homes this year. Every major city has a shelter, and there are also a lot of online resources if you are looking. Some will even pay for the animals first shots and immunizations. Some places may even have the option to be a foster family for a pet in need! My favorite online resource for this is an awesome company called PAWS.ORG. They are a not for profit organization dedicated to animal welfare.
4. Cut down on your grocery bill. Before I even leave my house, I do a few things that end up saving me tie and money. First, I make a list. I start with the things I know I will need. Everyone pretty much knows what types of foods they generally purchase on any given trip to the grocery store. There are always those staple items that will get eaten and will be bought again. In my house it's frozen chicken and pasta. After those items are on there, I think about a few things that I would like to have in the house. Whether that be microwave popcorn, or a bag of chips, I put it on the list. By having a few things down, you less likely to impulse buy frivolous items while you are there. I then go onto the grocery store's website and see if they have any coupons or specials. Sometimes stores offer deals for their cardholders or members. If your store has a savings card, make sure you get one! They are free, and can save you a ton of money overtime. My most recent trip to the store I saved $30 just from having the card.
5. If you are like me, you get a little rush from a trip to your favorite clothing store and leaving with bags in hand. I learned early that the regret you feel after spending your entire check for one little plastic bag of cloth well overpowers that initial rush. My personal solution: shop used. That idea may turn off some people, but I think it's because you may be seeing it how I did at first. When a friend of mien suggested I go to used clothing stores, I pictured walking around a goodwill searching through racks and racks of clothing, some of which may have been there longer than I've been alive. She could not believe I had never heard of places like Plato's Closet and Crossroads Trading Co. These places are awesome because everything is organized by type of clothing, and most of the clothes are only 1 or 2 years old. Another great thing about these places is that they also BUY gently used clothing and accessories. They'll either give you cash or in store credit for the items you bring in. It's a great way to supplement your shopping income! I've been doing this for 3 years now and I've always had great experiences!
6. Cut back on the amount of coffee you are purchasing from chains. I love coffee, like borderline obsessed. And if I wasn't on a budget I would literally go to Starbucks everyday. However, if you actually crunch the numbers (which I did) it's possible to spend a SCARY amount of money in a month on coffee.
EX) 1 grande non-fat mocha no whip = $4.35
I was drinking 1 of those a day, 5 days a week = $21.75 a week
4 weeks in a month = $87 a month!
And just for fun... that's $1,044 a year!!! Seriously, do the math. It's scary!
Hope some of these things make a difference for you like they have for me!!
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