People nowadays are struggling. Even in an economy that’s doing fairly well, the middle class still sees their fair share of obstacles to provide for their families. We could sit and debate why that is, but just to state a fact, this is what’s happening in our society today. A lot of people are asking how they can save money.
As I’ve gotten older and become wiser, I’ve learned why many families are in these tough financial situations they’re in today and it all comes down to improper spending. People just buy the most ridiculous and unnecessary things and many don’t even know it.
Now, there are some that do and that’s OK. Some, well, a lot of people, just like to “live for the now”. Instant gratification has pretty much become the norm in society. We want what we want and we want it yesterday. And why not? We only live once, right? I was even a part of this mindset. That is, until recently.
The more studying I’ve done on the topic, I found that I hadn’t been doing it right. I’m saving now, more than ever. To most people, saving money means using codes and coupons to get things discounted. My view of saving, however, entails not spending money at all. If those codes and rewards allow me to get something for free, I’ll take it. For many of those things though, in order to get something free, you have to buy a certain amount of whatever it is first. To me, that’s not free. For something to be free, no amount of money should come from my pocket.
You can also save by not buying things you just don’t need. An example of what I mean is napkins. I don’t buy napkins at all, except for the rare birthday party and what not. I use paper towels instead. Paper towels are thicker than napkins so that means they’re more versatile. They can be used to clean just about anything, and that includes your face. If you’re someone who buys both, ditch the napkins.
Another example is tissues. Tissues are just not on my list. I lived with my dad for a number of years and he would just use toilet paper for his nose. You’re already purchasing toilet paper for the bathroom, so tissues are something else you don’t need. But wait, there’s more! Think, toilet paper can go in the toilet so that’s less garbage you’re producing, too. TP is twice as nice.
Lastly, paper plates. I know many families that buy paper plates because it’s more convenient. Why? You’re having to produce more garbage. You can just buy real plates and silverware. So you have to wash more dishes? That’s not that big of a deal. We could all use the exercise. Or simply use your dishwasher which just about every home comes with nowadays. It really doesn’t take up that much of your time.
Now, when you do have to buy things, there’s always the cheaper route. Just about everything these days has a generic version of the name brands and there’s nothing wrong with that. From the retail side, generic brands are just as good, if not better than the name brands because most of it is exactly the same as the name brands! The only difference? It doesn’t leave your wallet hurting. I don’t mind buying generic brands and neither should you, because the money you save on buying cheaper products, you could be using on buying more fruits, vegetables, and more healthier foods.
This one is for those who have kids. Let’s face it, children are expensive. They need a lot, so we end up spending a lot. There are some things that fall into the ‘want’ category though and it’s here where you can save a little money. This will kind of go along the lines of the last point.
Children liked to be entertained. They need to be. When it comes to entertaining them, instead of big brand toys, go with more cheap toys. Going to a thrift or dollar store will help with this as their stuff is cheaper than the bigger stores.
But, aren’t they made cheaper, too? Of course. However, that’s not the concern. Children have short attention spans. One day, they’ll be playing with one toy. A couple of days later, they’ll be playing with a completely different toy. Children are destructive, as well. So, if your child loses or breaks or just simply grows out of a cheaper toy, you won’t feel as bad as if you would have gotten the more expensive toys.
In addition, it really doesn’t take much to entertain children at all. Their imaginations are exceptional at that age. Most of the children I know will play with the boxes our online orders come in or a water bottle we just finished drinking. If you’re crafty and can make your children’s toys and games, you’ll be saving tons of money.
One last hack I’ve found to save a little bit of cash is for those who purchase things for holidays. I think we all know by now that right after a holiday, stores mark down their holiday merchandise close to half off. This is extreme savings right there. Many people don’t celebrate certain holidays on the specific day of the holiday anyways, so that would work out great for your wallet. Or, worst case scenario, you have decorations and things for next year. This goes great for something like Halloween costumes.
And there you have it. Hopefully, these ideas can get you started at putting money in your pocket. I mean that literally, too. One huge way to save is giving yourself an allowance. Sure, plastic is great nowadays, but when we use paper, we can physically see where our money is going. Psychologically, when we see our allowance running low, we’ll think we’re running out of money. This also will help you see what’s in your checking account and maybe even put more into your savings for later in life.
What are some ways you’ve come up with to help you grow your savings?