Budgeting Without Effort
We all know by now that the economy has seen better times so we are all trying to find ways to stick aside a few extra dollars each month in case times get really bad. We are trimming back to essentials and avoiding doing things like eating out, or buying fancy toys that we don't need. The one thing that jumps out at us is that saving money isn't really all that difficult as some of us make it out to be. If you want to save money here are a few easy tips to save money.
Do you scoff at the thought of clipping coupons? Do you see it as something that only old ladies do? Well think again! Clipping coupons for things that you buy anyway are one of the easiest and simplest ways to save money and doing so only takes about five minutes of your time. It doesn't sound like a lot to save 20-30 cents on a tube of toothpaste, but get coupons for ten items every time you go shopping and it ads up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Next, how often do you buy items the first place you see them? More often than not the first place you see a product is not the cheapest place you could see a product. Shopping around is a great way to save money and with almost every company having their merchandise on their website you can comparison shop from the comfort of your own home. Take a few extra minutes and find the best price, it can really add up.
How many of you are impulse shoppers that run out and buy something as soon as you want it? I admit I am too, but it's a terrible habit if you're looking to save some money. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, comparison shopping is a great way to save money, but impulse buying pretty much ensures that you aren't comparing prices at all. If you don't need something, wait until you see it on sale somewhere and buy it then. A little patience can go a long way in keeping money in your wallet.
When you go shopping, do you buy name brand items only? A lot of us do, but generics are a fraction of the cost and often times are the exact same product. I don't mean a similar product, I mean the exact same thing, just in a cheaper package that allows the store to sell it for less. Many of us stick up our noses at generics, but you really shouldn't. Theyre a great way to get the products you love for a fraction of the price.
Lastly, you need to make a budget. I know a lot of you cringe at the thought, but it really isn't as bad as it sounds. I don't mean you should plot everything you buy on a graph and make fancy pie charts, I just mean you should make note of how much money you make every week or every month, and figure out how many bills you have over the same time period. By doing this you know how much money you have to spend on going out to eat or buying things you don't really need, and will help encourage you to stick some of that money in your savings account.
Do you scoff at the thought of clipping coupons? Do you see it as something that only old ladies do? Well think again! Clipping coupons for things that you buy anyway are one of the easiest and simplest ways to save money and doing so only takes about five minutes of your time. It doesn't sound like a lot to save 20-30 cents on a tube of toothpaste, but get coupons for ten items every time you go shopping and it ads up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Next, how often do you buy items the first place you see them? More often than not the first place you see a product is not the cheapest place you could see a product. Shopping around is a great way to save money and with almost every company having their merchandise on their website you can comparison shop from the comfort of your own home. Take a few extra minutes and find the best price, it can really add up.
How many of you are impulse shoppers that run out and buy something as soon as you want it? I admit I am too, but it's a terrible habit if you're looking to save some money. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, comparison shopping is a great way to save money, but impulse buying pretty much ensures that you aren't comparing prices at all. If you don't need something, wait until you see it on sale somewhere and buy it then. A little patience can go a long way in keeping money in your wallet.
When you go shopping, do you buy name brand items only? A lot of us do, but generics are a fraction of the cost and often times are the exact same product. I don't mean a similar product, I mean the exact same thing, just in a cheaper package that allows the store to sell it for less. Many of us stick up our noses at generics, but you really shouldn't. Theyre a great way to get the products you love for a fraction of the price.
Lastly, you need to make a budget. I know a lot of you cringe at the thought, but it really isn't as bad as it sounds. I don't mean you should plot everything you buy on a graph and make fancy pie charts, I just mean you should make note of how much money you make every week or every month, and figure out how many bills you have over the same time period. By doing this you know how much money you have to spend on going out to eat or buying things you don't really need, and will help encourage you to stick some of that money in your savings account.
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Are you looking for some great money saving ideas? Check out Spare Dollars for advice on how to save money quickly and painlessly, on everyday items that you use anyway. For this and more money saving ideas check us out.