Five Everyday Ways to Save Some Cash
Saving money can be hard! After bills, groceries, and gas, you may not have much left over to tuck away into your savings or retirement accounts.
It’s true that you could sign up for overtime or take a second job, but your time is precious! If you already feel like you’re stretched for time, you should look for ways to cut back so you’ve got more money to put into those savings accounts at the end of the month.
That doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your car or move into a small apartment either! Here are five quick, easy, everyday ways you can save some cash right now.
Eat and Drink Out Less
If you and your family are extremely busy, your local fast food joint probably knows you by name. There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to a quick hamburger every now and then, but if you want to save some money, you need to reduce the amount of times you eat out.
Don’t forget about all those little treats too! You can save quite a bit of money by making your coffee at home. You could also save money if you’re buying soda online instead of stopping at the gas station every day on your way home.
Find a Low- or No-Cost Hobby
Some people have the opposite problem. Instead of being strapped for time, they have a little too much time on their hands. Unfortunately, people who have extra time on their hands often end up spending more money. After all, why not go out and do a little shopping if you have the time!
Instead, consider finding a low- or no-cost hobby. A few ideas include:
- Gardening
- Walking
- Biking
- Scrapbooking
- Knitting
- Cooking
- Drawing or painting
- Writing
- Dancing
If you find something to take up a good chunk of your free time when you’d normally be sitting around, wondering what to do, you can reduce the amount of cash you spend on frivolous items.
Lower Your Banking Fees
Fees, especially concerning money matters, can quietly eat away at your finances. That’s why it’s crucial to do your research and seek out banks and money services with the lowest fees possible. While some banks may charge monthly checking account fees, not all of them do. By switching to a bank that doesn’t charge these fees, you can save a few extra dollars each month. And let’s not overlook the fees associated with money transfer services! For example, if you want to send money to a friend or family member in Ecuador, you should look for a service provider that has low fees and a good exchange rate.
It’s understandable that you are accustomed to visiting the bank for financial transactions, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best option. While it may suffice for transfers within the same bank, sending money abroad can be costly due to high fees and unfavorable currency exchange rates. That’s why exploring alternative solutions is important. You can consider using a money transfer comparison website to find cheaper alternatives. For example, if you need to send money from Pakistan to someone in India, using Pyypl to send money to India can be a convenient and cost-effective way to do so, regardless of the destination.
Wait 24-48 Hours Before Making a Purchase
Some of us are more impulsive than others. That can make for a fun afternoon if you decide to hit the beach on a whim, but it can be murder on your bank account if it means buying another name brand handbag.
If you know you’re a bit of an impulsive spender, plan on waiting between 24 and 48 hours before you make any purchase. So for example, if you really want that new handbag, think it over and come to a decision the next day. Usually, if you are forced to wait, you’ll realize that you don’t need that handbag after all. If you use this technique for every purchase, you can save wads of cash.
Ditch Some of Your Subscriptions
When you think of ditching subscriptions, cable is likely to come to mind. That’s because ditching cable is a great idea! With TV streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, traditional cable is quickly becoming obsolete. You can save even more money if you ditch all the television subscriptions and use an antenna instead.
There are plenty of other subscriptions you can ditch too like:
- Magazines
- Memberships to the gym
- Music streaming services
- Subscription boxes
You don’t necessarily have to get rid of all your subscriptions, but you should get rid of the ones that aren’t necessary. For example, can you stream music online for free and put up with ads so you don’t have to pay for a streaming service? Can you ride your bike to work so you can get rid of your membership to the gym?
You may not save hundreds of dollars every month by following these tips, but every little bit counts! If you cut back at least a little bit of spending every week, you can definitely find yourself with plenty of extra money to put into your savings accounts at the end of the year.