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21 Ways to Save $1,000
FEBRUARY 2019
With Christmas, New Year, holidays and back-to-school over, now’s a great time to start putting a plan for saving more money into place. While it’s great to increase your income, most of us could save a little bit more than we’re currently saving.
Don't tell me you can't save anymore, because you can! It may not be $1,000, but it will be something. And if you save it regularly, then over time it will become $1,000!
Change just a few things you do and it’s possible to save $1,000. Yes, it is!
For a start get rid of your home phone. Do you really need a home phone and a mobile phone? Do the math and figure out how much you could save by eliminating your home telephone.
Cut back on your mobile phone plan. Look at the minutes you’re using as well as the number of texts you’re sending and receiving, and the gigs you use browsing online. It’s likely there’s a less expensive option for you.
Consider dropping your gym membership. Yes this old chestnut, but it's still relevant. How many of you have a gym membership your rarely, if ever, use? Go for a walk outside. Get a set of dumbbells from the op shop, a garage sale or just use two tins of soup. There are tons of exercise videos online (use that data you're paying for with your mobile plan!).
Try staying at home for your holiday, instead of splurging on an expensive get-away. Hit all the tourist spots. Eat at the fancy restaurants. Make use of auto club and union membership discounts. Look for coupons to local attractions online. You can sleep in your own bed and save a bundle on accommodation and travel costs.
Take your lunch. Just do it. Be proud you're making wise decisions with your money and your health and just give an enigmatic smile if someone makes a snide comment - you know who's going to be ahead financially don't you. Studies have shown that over 2/3 of workers spend over $2,000 a year just on workday lunches! Why not pack your own lunch instead using leftovers (which makes lunch a free meal) or meals you make yourself for less?
Sell the things you no longer use. Have a garage sale or sell them on eBay or a Facebook BSS group. Get them out of your way and put that money into your bank account.
Look at your ATM fees. If you’re unable to conveniently use an ATM for free, look for a banking alternative that saves you money or withdraw your cash at the supermarket when you do your shopping.
Buy generic items. Do you really need brand name water, paracetamol, milk, and spices? If not, buy the generic forms for much less. Actually, do you really need to buy water? Our tap water in Australia is clean and safe (and if you're really worried there are drink bottles that have built in filters) and less than half a cent a litre, compared to $3.47 a litre from a convenience store. Why pay 1,394% more?
Use coupons. We don't have them for groceries, but they are available for lots of other daily necessities and a few treats. Take a look at a site like www.groupon.com.au. You’ll save money as well as find lots of local things to do at a much lower price.
Cut back on your utility usage. Adjust the thermostat a little. Be a little quicker in the shower. Catch the warm up water in a bucket and tip it into the washing machine or the children's bath. Eliminate drafts around doors and windows. Turn the lights off if you're watching TV, or use a table lamp instead of the big lights. Close windows and blinds to keep the heat out. Wear socks to bed and put another blanket on instead of leaving the heater on overnight in winter. Don't use the oven for just one thing - if it's going to heat up make use of all the space and bake lots. It really adds up.
Stop smoking. Smoking four packets of cigarettes a week will cost you over $9,400 a year (and that's a conservative estimate). Look out for your health and your bank account by eliminating this habit from your life. Do you really want to work two months just to pay for your tobacco habit?
Be careful with shipping fees. If you shop online, you’re spending more on shipping over the course of a year than you realize. Start tracking it. Search for free shipping codes or wait for sales that offer free shipping.
Look for free activities. Concerts are expensive, but listening to a local band is often free.
Do it yourself. The internet has information available for you to do nearly anything yourself. Check out YouTube for information about tiling your bathroom, fixing a flat tyre or putting in a new sink.
Buy last year’s electronics. The previous version of a software program can be 80% less than the most current. You can save a bundle on the last version of a mobile phone or other electronic gadget.
It’s okay to haggle. You’ll never make more money in 30 seconds than you will by simply asking for a lower price.
Buy used books. What does a new book have that a used book doesn’t? Alibris.com and Abebooks.com are two places to find good used books. Check out op shops and garage sales and ask at your local library to find out when they have their used book sales.
Buy other stuff that’s gently used. You probably wouldn’t want a used mattress, but there are many used items available for cents on the dollar. For most things, if they're in good nick, no one will know if they're pre-loved.
Consider eating less meat or eliminate meat altogether. Meat is much more expensive than many other protein options like eggs and beans and it is just going to get more expensive as a result of the Queensland floods. There are lots of truly delicious vegetarian dishes in the Recipe File, or search online. Choose the recipes that contain ingredients you normally buy and you'll not only eat food you like but save money too.
Increase your insurance excess. Higher excess equals lower payments. Put the excess amount aside so it's there if you ever need it; in the meantime it's earning you a little interest.
Get rid of the premium cable packages. Premium cable channels are very expensive. So ask yourself how often you really watch cable shows? Do you want it just for the sport channels? Do the math to see how much you could save. If you must have something, try Netflix or Stan and compare the cost per month.
And now you've made the changes, remember: money isn't saved until it's safely in the bank; until then it's just not spent!
Don't tell me you can't save anymore, because you can! It may not be $1,000, but it will be something. And if you save it regularly, then over time it will become $1,000!
Change just a few things you do and it’s possible to save $1,000. Yes, it is!
For a start get rid of your home phone. Do you really need a home phone and a mobile phone? Do the math and figure out how much you could save by eliminating your home telephone.
Cut back on your mobile phone plan. Look at the minutes you’re using as well as the number of texts you’re sending and receiving, and the gigs you use browsing online. It’s likely there’s a less expensive option for you.
Consider dropping your gym membership. Yes this old chestnut, but it's still relevant. How many of you have a gym membership your rarely, if ever, use? Go for a walk outside. Get a set of dumbbells from the op shop, a garage sale or just use two tins of soup. There are tons of exercise videos online (use that data you're paying for with your mobile plan!).
Try staying at home for your holiday, instead of splurging on an expensive get-away. Hit all the tourist spots. Eat at the fancy restaurants. Make use of auto club and union membership discounts. Look for coupons to local attractions online. You can sleep in your own bed and save a bundle on accommodation and travel costs.
Take your lunch. Just do it. Be proud you're making wise decisions with your money and your health and just give an enigmatic smile if someone makes a snide comment - you know who's going to be ahead financially don't you. Studies have shown that over 2/3 of workers spend over $2,000 a year just on workday lunches! Why not pack your own lunch instead using leftovers (which makes lunch a free meal) or meals you make yourself for less?
Sell the things you no longer use. Have a garage sale or sell them on eBay or a Facebook BSS group. Get them out of your way and put that money into your bank account.
Look at your ATM fees. If you’re unable to conveniently use an ATM for free, look for a banking alternative that saves you money or withdraw your cash at the supermarket when you do your shopping.
Buy generic items. Do you really need brand name water, paracetamol, milk, and spices? If not, buy the generic forms for much less. Actually, do you really need to buy water? Our tap water in Australia is clean and safe (and if you're really worried there are drink bottles that have built in filters) and less than half a cent a litre, compared to $3.47 a litre from a convenience store. Why pay 1,394% more?
Use coupons. We don't have them for groceries, but they are available for lots of other daily necessities and a few treats. Take a look at a site like www.groupon.com.au. You’ll save money as well as find lots of local things to do at a much lower price.
Cut back on your utility usage. Adjust the thermostat a little. Be a little quicker in the shower. Catch the warm up water in a bucket and tip it into the washing machine or the children's bath. Eliminate drafts around doors and windows. Turn the lights off if you're watching TV, or use a table lamp instead of the big lights. Close windows and blinds to keep the heat out. Wear socks to bed and put another blanket on instead of leaving the heater on overnight in winter. Don't use the oven for just one thing - if it's going to heat up make use of all the space and bake lots. It really adds up.
Stop smoking. Smoking four packets of cigarettes a week will cost you over $9,400 a year (and that's a conservative estimate). Look out for your health and your bank account by eliminating this habit from your life. Do you really want to work two months just to pay for your tobacco habit?
Be careful with shipping fees. If you shop online, you’re spending more on shipping over the course of a year than you realize. Start tracking it. Search for free shipping codes or wait for sales that offer free shipping.
Look for free activities. Concerts are expensive, but listening to a local band is often free.
Do it yourself. The internet has information available for you to do nearly anything yourself. Check out YouTube for information about tiling your bathroom, fixing a flat tyre or putting in a new sink.
Buy last year’s electronics. The previous version of a software program can be 80% less than the most current. You can save a bundle on the last version of a mobile phone or other electronic gadget.
It’s okay to haggle. You’ll never make more money in 30 seconds than you will by simply asking for a lower price.
Buy used books. What does a new book have that a used book doesn’t? Alibris.com and Abebooks.com are two places to find good used books. Check out op shops and garage sales and ask at your local library to find out when they have their used book sales.
Buy other stuff that’s gently used. You probably wouldn’t want a used mattress, but there are many used items available for cents on the dollar. For most things, if they're in good nick, no one will know if they're pre-loved.
Consider eating less meat or eliminate meat altogether. Meat is much more expensive than many other protein options like eggs and beans and it is just going to get more expensive as a result of the Queensland floods. There are lots of truly delicious vegetarian dishes in the Recipe File, or search online. Choose the recipes that contain ingredients you normally buy and you'll not only eat food you like but save money too.
Increase your insurance excess. Higher excess equals lower payments. Put the excess amount aside so it's there if you ever need it; in the meantime it's earning you a little interest.
Get rid of the premium cable packages. Premium cable channels are very expensive. So ask yourself how often you really watch cable shows? Do you want it just for the sport channels? Do the math to see how much you could save. If you must have something, try Netflix or Stan and compare the cost per month.
And now you've made the changes, remember: money isn't saved until it's safely in the bank; until then it's just not spent!