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Top Tips for Saving Money Every. Single. Day.
Saving money is easy (and it's not just a book title!). You can save money every single day, easily. Little things make a big difference to your bottom line; things like takeaway dinners or that drive-through coffee, or the odd magazine ($25 for a craft mag - ouch!).
You may not do those things every day, but when you do spend that money, it's eating into your saving ability.
It's the start of a new year. January 1st, 2022. Make it your goal to switch up your spending habits so that you keep more of your hard earned. Yes, you'll need to sacrifice some things and change the way you look at your spending, but really do you want to be spending $1,500 a year on pizza? Or $300 on craft magazines that you'll look at then stack on the bookshelf (especially when you can get so many wonderful ideas online for free).
Living the Cheapskates way gives you control of your money, and that includes controlling how it is spent.
So here are some simple ways you can save money every single day.
1. Takeaway coffee. I love a good coffee as much (probably more) than the next person but really, at $5.40 a cup it adds up quickly. I'm not saying don't have it at all, I'm saying put the brakes on. One takeaway coffee a day adds up to $1,971 a year. What could you do with an extra $1,971?
2. Takeaway meals. I understand the "lets just get takeaway" feeling after a long, busy day, but wouldn't you rather keep the $1,500 in your bank account? Create some favourite fake-away meals and keep them in the freezer. They'll be just as quick, but nowhere near as expensive.
3. Soft drinks and snacks. So far this list is very food oriented, but these two can really hurt your hip pocket. There are recipes in the Drinks recipe file for MOO soft drinks and snacks that you can make for just a few cents, and they rival anything you can pay $2 or more for. Pita chips are cheap, quick and easy to make. Overnight Ginger Beer or Lemonade with Bubbles are easy to make and really refreshing especially in this hot weather. Give them a miss at the supermarket and keep around $1,000 in your purse.
4. Meal planning. Having a meal plan that uses what you have saves you so much money, and time, and energy. By using what you have, you're not wasting anything - waste, even if it is fed to the chooks or composted, is money in the bin. Before you go shopping, check what you have in the pantry, fridge and freezer and plan your meals around those ingredients, and only buy what you need. No waste, and no need to resort to takeaway.
5. Power costs. We are all aware of the ever increasing cost of electricity and gas. And we all shop around for the best rates. And we all continue to moan about how much those power bills are. Stop whining, and start looking for ways to cut those costs. Make sure appliances are turned off completely; if necessary unplug them from the power point. Run dishwashers and washing machines efficiently - when full and if possible during off-peak times. Only heat or cool the rooms you use. Ditch the clothes dryer - yes, it can be done. Turn thermostats up in summer and down in winter and dress appropriately.
6. Subscriptions. It could be Amazon Prime or Netflix or an app that you pay to subscribe to. If you're not using it, and getting the full value from it, then it is time to cancel it. Don't get conned into paying to have ads removed from You Tube, or on online games. Yes, they can be annoying but at least they don't cost you anything, unlike not watching them and having to pay for the privilege. Seriously - stop paying to not watch ads!
7. Direct debits. Check to see what direct debits you have coming from your bank account each month. Make sure you are still using what you are paying for. Be vigilant for a couple of months to make sure you get them all.
8. Disposables. Paper towel, straws, baby wipes, cleaning wipes, make-up wipes, clingwrap, ziplock bags, baking paper, serviettes and the list goes on. These can all be ditched for reusable versions and you'll be saving some money and helping by not sending so much to landfill.
9. Bottled water. Don't buy it. We are blessed with very clean and safe tap water in Australia, and it's cheap - under 1 cent per litre. Compare that to the bottled water you're buying and it just doesn't make sense to pay $3.40 for a bottle of water. Splurge on a good drink bottle or two, and fill them from your kitchen tap. The water is just as good and you'll be saving around $1,200 a year.
10. Shop at home first. Need a present? What do you already have that you can use? Do you have something in the present box that will do or perhaps an unwanted gift you can re-gift? Can you make a card or do you have some hidden away that you can use? Can you reuse wrapping or decorate a gift bag? Do you need a cake tin in a certain size? Jump online and check to see what size in a different shape can be substituted before you rush to buy. Think you need new clothes? Do wardrobe overhaul - get everything out, put things together to make up outfits and see what you have before you go and buy something new. Need a vase? Do you have a jug or a jar that will do - they can look just as pretty as a vase and you're using what you have instead of spending money.
There you have it. Ten ways you can save money every single day, without feeling deprived or even having to put a lot of effort into it, a great way to start a new year.
You may not do those things every day, but when you do spend that money, it's eating into your saving ability.
It's the start of a new year. January 1st, 2022. Make it your goal to switch up your spending habits so that you keep more of your hard earned. Yes, you'll need to sacrifice some things and change the way you look at your spending, but really do you want to be spending $1,500 a year on pizza? Or $300 on craft magazines that you'll look at then stack on the bookshelf (especially when you can get so many wonderful ideas online for free).
Living the Cheapskates way gives you control of your money, and that includes controlling how it is spent.
So here are some simple ways you can save money every single day.
1. Takeaway coffee. I love a good coffee as much (probably more) than the next person but really, at $5.40 a cup it adds up quickly. I'm not saying don't have it at all, I'm saying put the brakes on. One takeaway coffee a day adds up to $1,971 a year. What could you do with an extra $1,971?
2. Takeaway meals. I understand the "lets just get takeaway" feeling after a long, busy day, but wouldn't you rather keep the $1,500 in your bank account? Create some favourite fake-away meals and keep them in the freezer. They'll be just as quick, but nowhere near as expensive.
3. Soft drinks and snacks. So far this list is very food oriented, but these two can really hurt your hip pocket. There are recipes in the Drinks recipe file for MOO soft drinks and snacks that you can make for just a few cents, and they rival anything you can pay $2 or more for. Pita chips are cheap, quick and easy to make. Overnight Ginger Beer or Lemonade with Bubbles are easy to make and really refreshing especially in this hot weather. Give them a miss at the supermarket and keep around $1,000 in your purse.
4. Meal planning. Having a meal plan that uses what you have saves you so much money, and time, and energy. By using what you have, you're not wasting anything - waste, even if it is fed to the chooks or composted, is money in the bin. Before you go shopping, check what you have in the pantry, fridge and freezer and plan your meals around those ingredients, and only buy what you need. No waste, and no need to resort to takeaway.
5. Power costs. We are all aware of the ever increasing cost of electricity and gas. And we all shop around for the best rates. And we all continue to moan about how much those power bills are. Stop whining, and start looking for ways to cut those costs. Make sure appliances are turned off completely; if necessary unplug them from the power point. Run dishwashers and washing machines efficiently - when full and if possible during off-peak times. Only heat or cool the rooms you use. Ditch the clothes dryer - yes, it can be done. Turn thermostats up in summer and down in winter and dress appropriately.
6. Subscriptions. It could be Amazon Prime or Netflix or an app that you pay to subscribe to. If you're not using it, and getting the full value from it, then it is time to cancel it. Don't get conned into paying to have ads removed from You Tube, or on online games. Yes, they can be annoying but at least they don't cost you anything, unlike not watching them and having to pay for the privilege. Seriously - stop paying to not watch ads!
7. Direct debits. Check to see what direct debits you have coming from your bank account each month. Make sure you are still using what you are paying for. Be vigilant for a couple of months to make sure you get them all.
8. Disposables. Paper towel, straws, baby wipes, cleaning wipes, make-up wipes, clingwrap, ziplock bags, baking paper, serviettes and the list goes on. These can all be ditched for reusable versions and you'll be saving some money and helping by not sending so much to landfill.
9. Bottled water. Don't buy it. We are blessed with very clean and safe tap water in Australia, and it's cheap - under 1 cent per litre. Compare that to the bottled water you're buying and it just doesn't make sense to pay $3.40 for a bottle of water. Splurge on a good drink bottle or two, and fill them from your kitchen tap. The water is just as good and you'll be saving around $1,200 a year.
10. Shop at home first. Need a present? What do you already have that you can use? Do you have something in the present box that will do or perhaps an unwanted gift you can re-gift? Can you make a card or do you have some hidden away that you can use? Can you reuse wrapping or decorate a gift bag? Do you need a cake tin in a certain size? Jump online and check to see what size in a different shape can be substituted before you rush to buy. Think you need new clothes? Do wardrobe overhaul - get everything out, put things together to make up outfits and see what you have before you go and buy something new. Need a vase? Do you have a jug or a jar that will do - they can look just as pretty as a vase and you're using what you have instead of spending money.
There you have it. Ten ways you can save money every single day, without feeling deprived or even having to put a lot of effort into it, a great way to start a new year.