I love it when you're looking for tips and secrets on how to save money these days. If you're like me you're tired of hearing people make couponing sound possible, I don't want to spend 20 hours to prove I can save $300 on garbage that will do me no good in the short term.
What will 20 tubes of toothpaste do for me at dinner time? I also don't want to pump starches and fake food that doesn't go bad into my body. Also what is packaged meat? Come on, it's slimey, it's wet, it's weird, and I'm pretty sure you shouldn't be freezing and defrosting it. You might also not eat meat, dairy, soy, or wheat....like myself.
So, smarty mick smarty pants, what do you have up your sleeve you may be asking. Well, I've spent the last year trying to strip away what I waste money on, or just focusing on areas that are creating debt for myself. Here's what I've done to save money.
Delete shopping apps
Unsubscribe to any retailer emails
-You might think these items are saving you money, but it's making you think you HAVE to buy things because you have a deal. If you REALLY need something google around, go to coupon sites, see what deals are current, and shop for what you need wisely.-
Stop trying to be an extreme coupon nut
-Make a list and look for what you need, or clip only what you will really use now. While deals are great if you're trying to save you need to be focusing money on what you use, not what you'll store to collect dust.
Use Target Cartwheel with Target Mobile Coupons and Target Coupons/Coupons
-The only app and coupon system I've seen worth while is Target. You can combine coupons, Target coupons, and Target mobile coupons with the Target Cartwheel discounts. I have been saving $30-$40 on everyday items I really need. If you have a Super Target with food items you've got gold. This app also allows you to look for items, most offers are 5%-40% off.
Get rid of cable. Choose less expensive options and get the new "bunny ears" for free digital tv or use Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. Most people have ALL options.
-We personally found it best to cancel cable and use Roku with our Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu accounts. We have 2 Roku boxes that also offer several other channels with free viewing on popular channels like A&E. If you have a contract that can't be cancelled either put it on vacation status and pay $10 a month for a while, or tell them you're having to cut back. At a minimum you should get lowered rates and/or free movie stations. Let go, you don't need them all!
Cut back on your data plan, or your whole plan in general
-Right now you can save some decent change by either trying TMobile (they'll buy out your contract) or a pay as you go option. You can lower your current plan in almost all cases. These typically also get you to a non contract plan. PRAISE THE PHONE GODS!
Look at how much voice, text, and data you really use each month. You may be over using or under using. Stop using data in places you don't need to and lower your plan. Ask your employer if you can use their network or stream music from your pc rather than your phone. Get in the habit of making sure you're using your internet at home, do you realize how often you're in 4g at home??? Do you really need to talk on the phone or text as much as you are? Do us all a favor don't use it in the car, I bet most of you really rack up most usage here, you'd be amazed.
Pay your bills at the times you get paid
-If you get paid twice a month only pay your bills, all at once, at these times. If a bill is at a bad time or too much is at one part of the month than the other, call and get it switched. Put the time in and set your bills up with your bank or as auto pay, but choose your pay date or a close date afterwards. When you wait as pay as they come you miss due dates and spend more carelessly. If you are really short after all bills are paid you'll start to realize how much you need to be better with your cash.
STOP GOING TO THE MOVIES
-The last time I went I spent $30!!!! Find a local drive in, we pay $6 a person for 2 movies, and take our own food, hi, um, a dollar for candy at the store with your cartwheel vs $5 at the movies.
Be honest about your situation
-You can't pretend to live a life you can't afford anymore, and honestly people can't expect you to either. Don't be the driver, the one always paying, or going out when you can't. Start doing things in. It's a lot more fun than you think, and ask everyone to bring something. If you can invest in a projector and host movie nights at your place, you only need an iphone, a large wall, or like our neighbors, the side of the house! You can stream games, movies, tv shows, etc.
LOOK AT YOUR BILLS
-I've temporarily stopped doing paper free billing (I know I know), do you honestly look at your statements otherwise? You need to see how much interest you're paying and start arranging your payments appropriately to pay down high interest ones, or the ones that are sucking you dry. You may also be paying for things you didn't know about, look at phone bills and utility bills, what's an administration fee? Call and ask, if it doesn't make sense say so, and say you want it removed, hey $3 and some tax adds up.
Consolidate or transfer to lower interest cards...IF you have them available
-You might have available offers to transfer high interest cards to lower interest cards, do this if you can, even if it maxes one card out. You won't really hurt your credit, but right now you're not really worried about that, you need to work on paying things down and eliminating cost where you don't need it.
USE THE CREDIT KARMA APP
-This will become a game for you. You'll start to see how just spending $100 affects your credit. You'll become a paying manic. Suddenly those impulse buys mean something to you.
USE CASH
-Start getting out just $50 or $100 each paycheck. Use only that money to eat out, buy extras, and have fun. If you're brave or able take out cash before groceries, maybe $150, or at least $50 less than your average amount (or whatever is relevant to your situation). Try not to spend more than that amount. For awhile you will spend more, but you're going to realize what $5.00 really is and what it's really worth.
Price items at what you earn per hour
-You're most likely trying to save because you've over spent. You need to put your exhausting time at work into perspective. If you make say $20 per hour are those $80 jeans really worth 4 hours of work? That's half a day for jeans, go to the outlets, only shop sales, try consignments, or take better care of what you have.
Eating Fresh Foods
-Something I've found very hard is to find healthy food at affordable prices. During the summer it's a bit easier, I shop at local farmers markets and corner stands. I also have an amazing mom that has a great garden since I don't have room for one. In the winter some farms still get in some produce, otherwise I buy only a few items per week. I eat what's in season or best price/freshness. Right now it's usually oranges and bananas for fruit, and mostly frozen veggies. You may have to rely on soups and other collective meals rather than wanting fresh raw veggies to say grill or have raw.
Only drive as much as you can afford
-For a pay period drive only to and from work. Note how much gas you used, and use this as a basis for extracurricular activities. Also make sure your tires have the right air for the season, and your oil is regularly changed.
Not all of these changes are up your alley, but I bet trying even just one will land you more cash in your bank account. We have to learn from the generations before us, we can't and shouldn't live beyond our means. Life happens and though you can't take it with you, you can't get it back as easily as it can be taken away. Respect your money and yourself, you work hard for it, and you work hard for a secure life without worry, not for meaningless items you end up forgetting about.
You can do it!
