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I think it's time we had a new challenge, and a new way of saving our money. Or rather not spending it, because money isn't really saved until it is in the bank. Until then it's just not spent. 

A few years ago I would post on my blog about what we spent, what we didn’t spend and what we saved (and it was saved, I would move that money to the relevant bank account). It was a good way of being conscious of spending and of saving, and really helped to keep our spending under control. Yes, even I, a seasoned Cheapskater, can make unplanned purchases occasionally.

So my challenge to you is to be conscious of what you are spending your money on, and to find a cheaper alternative, whether it's MOOed by you or bought, and calculate how much you have potentially saved.

That could mean you MOO whatever you need. 

It could mean you switch brands, or stores.

It could mean you use any discount offers you have to your advantage. 

And then you need to calculate what you didn’t spend, and bank that money so that it really is saved!
Money isn't saved until it is safely in the bank. 
Until then, it's just not spent.
Not sure how to start?
Think about that coffee you get on the way to work each morning.

It's delicious, and warm and makes battling the traffic and peak hour so much easier. And at $5.60 a day, it's costing you $28 a week, or $121 a month or $1,461 a year. 

Don't give up your coffee, just change the way you  enjoy it. 
A good keep cup costs around $30 - that's a one-off expense.
A milk frother, if you want one, costs $30.
Then if you like pod coffee, they average 37 cents each (less if you get them on sale and stockpile them).
A cup of milk costs 37 cents. 
It takes about 3 minutes to make a cup of coffee in the morning, including brewing the pod and heating and frothing the milk, so it's a time saver too.
Your daily joe will cost you 74 cents a day, or  $3.70 a week (less than ONE bought coffee) or $193 a year, plus the $60 for the keep cup and the milk frother, so the first year your daily coffee is going to cost $253 - keeping $1,208 in your budget. 

With this challenge, you get to bank $24.30 a week that you're not spending on coffee. Do it for a year and watch your savings grow!

So what can you change to keep more of your money? 

MOO pizza instead of buying them?
Make Cheapskates Washing Powder instead of buying it?
Buy your favourite tea when it's on half price sale?
Have a birthday party at home instead of at the play centre?
Join the handmade Christmas fun?

There are so many things we can spend less on, and without too much effort too. We have been brainwashed into thinking that we can't do things for ourselves, when we can. 

We've been told there is a cost of living crisis, and for some folk there is, because they haven't learned the secret to saving money is to simply choose to find ways to have the things they want and need, and save the difference, rather than spend it, 

I hope you join me in this challenge, and I hope you can see how easy it is to save money living the Cheapskates way.
Join the challenge
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  • Home
  • Join the Club
  • About Us
    • Cath's Story
    • Ask Cath
    • Glossary of Cheapskating Terms
  • Forum
    • Current Forum Discussions
    • How to Use the Member Forum
  • Inspiration
    • Getting Started
    • Handmade Christmas Central >
      • Handmade Christmas 2025 is about to start
    • 31 Days of MOO Index
    • Articles
    • Back to Basics >
      • Back to Basics
      • Back to Basics Index
    • Housekeeping Routines
    • Budget Renovations
    • Saving Stories
  • SAVING REVOLUTION
    • 2025 Saving Revolution Index
    • Saving Revolution Resources
  • Recipes
    • Recipe File Index
    • Meal Plans
    • Add a Recipe
    • $300 a Month Food Challenge >
      • $300 a Month Food Challenge
      • The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
  • Newsletters
    • Newsletters 2025
  • Saving Money
    • Bill Paying System
    • Cheapskates Tip Store
    • Tip Sheets
    • Top Tip Competition
  • Contact
    • Changing Details
    • Help Files >
      • Help File TOTD