Small Ways To Save
I’m always looking for extra ways to save money. My husband and I have been married for just over a year and during most of that time I have not been working. Because of that, I try to do everything I can to save a little extra cash here and there. The following list explains different ways to save, curve spending, and earn extra income.
1. Money-savers:
-Pack a lunch: Packing a lunch for work is a really great, easy way to save a sometimes significant amount of money. Going out to eat on a regular basis really does drain the bank account quite quickly and without you even taking notice to it. It’s so easy to spend the $10 here and there without thinking much about it but that $10 adds up by the end of the week. Try to pack a lunch for work instead. If you like going out with your coworkers for lunch then limit your outings to once a week or less.
-Eat In: I love watching shows on tv where they follow a couple who’s spending is out of control and they take a look at where all their money is going to. Time and time again, one of the major things that people are spending a considerable amount of money on is eating out. It’s crazy what eating out every night adds up to at the end of the month. This is one area that I strongly encourage you to change if this is a problem for you. (especially if you are in debt) You can save so much money by cooking for yourself. If you don’t know how to cook then teach yourself. I wasn’t exactly good at cooking when I first got married but you do what you have to do. I tried different things, sometimes failing miserably, but I’ve learned a lot and have improved. If your married and your schedules permit, learn cooking together. Look at it as a way for you to tackle something as a team.
-Have your own garden: Even if you’re not that interested in having a garden just try it out for a season. No one says you have to plant 10 different things for it to be worth it. Think of the vegetables that you eat on a regular basis and research when and how to plant them. See how it goes and track your savings. If you liked it, great! If not, it’s no big deal either. My husbands side of the family is really big on vegetable gardens. Thanks to them I really don’t have to buy any veggies during the summer which obviously helps us save!
-Limit Shopping: This one is especially important for those who are part-time or not working. You have a lot more free time to shop and spend money. Be mindful of how much you are spending and what you are buying. Do you really NEED it? It is something that you must buy now? Can it wait? If you have the extra time when it comes to shopping for things that you need, then take the time to shop around for the best deals. There are so many different discount stores that have great, designer items but are dramatically reduced in price.
-Use Cash: This is something that my husband and I are getting in the habit of doing and it really is making a difference. I was amazed at how much more money I was spending because of swiping my card then when I would use cash. Cash is a total bother to me and I really don’t like having to use it, which works out great. When I’m debating whether or not to buy something I normally only have a limited amount of money on me. If I don’t have enough cash, I obviously can’t buy it. And If i do have enough on me, I always think twice about having to hand over my money.
Activities:
-Library: The library is a wonderful place to go for free entertainment. It won’t cost you thing but you can relax and have fun. If you are looking for ways to spend your time check out your local library and see if there are any book clubs or volunteering that you can do. (which leads perfectly to my next point…)
-Volunteering: This is a great way to meet local people, have fun, and do something meaningful with your time. There are SO many places and organizations to get involved in and they are easy to find. Just look on the web for opportunities in your area, or go directly to a place that you’re interested in and see if they are looking for any volunteer work.
Extra Income:
-Babysitting: This is something that I still do. I have been babysitting for well over 5 years and I still love it. I love getting to know the families of the children and have fun with the kids while the parents have time to themselves. It doesn’t take much time or work and it’s extra money that we weren’t planning on to use how we see fit.
-Cleaning: This is something that I think women are getting more and more into. Especially stay-at-home moms who are looking to make a little extra money without having to spend hours away from their kids. Even if you just clean one house a week it’ll probably only take around 2 hours and the pay is really good.
-eBay: My husband is the pro with listing items on eBay. He used to work for a small business where all they did was sell things on eBay. This has come in handy several times for him since leaving because he can list things for other people and keep some the profit. Again, it’s not much money but it’s money that you weren’t planning on and it can be used to save up for something or an extra night out. If you know how to use eBay, consider doing the same thing. It doesn’t have to be something totally time consuming; just items here and there for a couple extra bucks.