Everyone these days is looking to find ways to save money. Many of the ways we have discovered in our family of six can help others. These changes are easy to make and no one needs to go living off the grid to do it. Instead these 10 easy and simple changes can net big results.
1. Eating on a Budget: Food can really eat up more of your money that you think it will. When we did not go in with a plan, budget, and cook more at home we spent tons of extra money. I swear we spent just as much if not more money before we had kids as we do now that we are a family of 6. Before we bought lots of frozen meals, did not plan or budget & we ate out more. Changing those habits alone was a massive cost savings.
2. Utility Budget Plans: We realized that we had months were someutilities were higher and others were very low or nonexistent. We called & found out we could do a budget plan. This means we pay the same amount of money every month & we know exactly how much to budget. If you are not able to do a bud to get plan with the company, then create your own budget plan & stick to it. Factor in paying the same amount every month & pay it.
3. Turn down the thermostat: OK, I know everyone says to do this, but seriously it can add up. We just turned it down by 3 degrees and we are still comfortable. No one is freezing his or her "tushie off & we save money on our bill.
4. Turn off the TV: Not only does the TV use extra energy and that will add up on the electric bill increasing your utility costs but it also is a time sucker.Turning it off a few hours a day gives you more time to do things (like cook at home, read a book, get outside to enjoy some fresh air) and it saves money.
5. Check out your local libraries: I use to spend so much money on books. Now I make use of the local libraries & do not spend a penny. Our libraries also allow you to use your card at a variety of different public libraries. It is great for the kids and creating a day out as well. Just make sure you are turning the books back in on time.
6. Drink Water: When you drink water more often you save money on filler drinks like soda/pop and you get to see if you are really hungry or if you are eating out of boredom saving money on extra food. It also helps you feel better to rehydrate & you might lose a few extra poundsthat those drinks are adding on.
7. Cancel unused memberships and any extra services: If you are one of those folks who has a membership that is going to waste to the gym or some other service then cancel it. We had a service that was automatically billed and it was to have a debit card. But it was an account we do not use, it is only a savings, while it was a small fee a month it added up over the course of a year. Canceling that fee saved money that can now stay in our savings.
8. Distinguish in need from a want: Probably the hardest thing in our materialistic culture. I know I struggle with this but taking an extra two minutes can make a huge difference. Ask yourself if you need what you are buying? Do you already have something that would work? Could you wait to buy it andcome back a week later? Often you will find that you do not want it a week later. It helps with impulse buys want to do this, Target & Costco were my places that I had the worse time with. I would see something; think it was a need when really it was a want. For the Hubby is Home Depot, we all have our weak spots.
9. Shop with a list: We use this when shopping for groceries and anything else now. It is another tool to distinguish from a want to need & keep us on track. It only takes a few seconds to make a list but it can save hours of worry over a bill or on cash shortage later in the month.
10. Use Cash: A good way to save money because when you have cash, actual paper money in hand, you spend less. Handing over cold hard cash for purchases makes us think about thepurchase more and we are more likely to shop within our means. Debit cards, even though they come out of our bank accounts, do not have the same outcome for us. I know that for Hubby he did not think about the little purchases on that debit card (that add up!) but with cash in hand he does. We also think more about big purchases if we are using cash versus credit or even a debit card.
I hope these 10 simple and easy ways to save money help you and your family.
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