I’ve gotten pretty good at saving money over the years, here are my tips!
Look into minimalism. I put this first because if you are someone who feels trapped in a cycle of spending money on clothes and things you don’t need (like I once was) you need to consider a way of life that requires less unnecessary spending and focusses on improving your character and life as a whole. It can be hard to even begin saving when you have a strong urge to buy the latest trends and trinkets, but it is possible to break out of the cycle, and easier if you watch some motivating videos. here are some of my favs (no sponsors!):
Minimalism: What I Stopped Buying!
The Art of Letting Go | The Minimalists | TEDxFargo
Never spend more than you earn. This is easier for some and harder for some but is the most crucial part of saving because you need money left over each week to save. If you’re jobless at the moment, or spending heavily, you need to cut down your spending so its below the amount coming in.
Put your budget in a spreadsheet. I put my weekly budget in an excel document with all my expenses (bus fare, phone service, food and other) and earnings (student loan payments, extra work) and see what can be left over.
Decide how much you want to save, and how much you want to spend from your left over money. lets say you earn $150 per week and must spend $50 on utilities. You have $100 left over to spend and save. If you want to get to your savings goal fast, you should save more than you spend. If you’re relaxed about saving and just want to put away a small amount, you can adjust the ratio accordingly.
Transfer your saving amount into your savings account immediately after you get paid. Let’s say you want to save $60 per week and have $40 left to spend on food, experiences and miscellaneous items. Transfer that $60 into your savings account when you get paid and leave the $40 + utility amount ($50) in you spendings.
Pay for utilities as soon as possible. Pay your service provider load your transport money onto your transport card, put the petrol in your car etc when you get paid, if possible. This leaves you with only your extra $40 spending money in your account, so you know how much you can spend from it throughout the week.
Have Fun! Saving is easiest when you enjoy it (duh!) so try to focus on the satisfaction of a rising bank account, and the reason you’re saving whether it be travel, study, safety, or just to get into the good habit.
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