Linda @ The Cents of Money
We all want our wallets fat with dollar notes. We don’t want to look into the change pocket anymore. But with ever-rising living expenses, this has become a notion that most of us only dream about. However, all hope is not lost. Popular online opinion says these money-saving tips will see you through the years:
1. Forget About Your Credit Card
Credit cards accumulate interest quickly. If you can persevere with only the money in your wallet, you’ll save so much more in the long run as you do not have to pay for your credit card, let alone hefty fees. Doing away with your credit card means you’ll retain money in your pocket, keeping you on a tight budget.
2. Don’t Eat Out
I’m one of the biggest culprits to eating out. While we love cooking at home, we also relish nights when we can go out for dinner and enjoy distinct cuisines. But it doesn’t do my pockets any favor. These days, I’ve learned to splurge on dinner only when I can comfortably afford it. Do the same, and you’ll notice a difference in your wallet.
3. Stay Disciplined
“Financial discipline is significant. If you aren’t strict about your saving strategies, you’ll not have any savings, to begin with,” advised a financial guru. Realistically, it would be best to use your savings only if there is an unbearable emergency. Always keep away money for a rainy day.
4. Leave Your Card at Home
“Sounds simple. Well, for many people, their bank card is the beginning of overspending. With your card in hand, it’s easy to buy everything that catches your eye. Without it, you have no option but to go home,” said a site member. Leaving your card at home will keep money in your wallet, which you want to do when creating savings. Another user said, “I’ve also cut down on impulse spending by having a list of things I need that I write up immediately as they come to mind.”
5. Make More Money
This is a simple math! When you’re making more money, you can save much more. Even if you don’t get a high-paying job, you can still subsidize your income by picking up side hustles that will help you channel more income. You’ll have to be hardworking to maintain several income streams simultaneously.
6. Learn How to Budget
“The easiest thing you can do is teach yourself how to budget. I get paid biweekly and set aside money for my important expenses: gas, food, internet, transport, etc. Once I have appropriate discussions, my bank gives me automatic options to save the rest of my money. I take it all the time,” added another user.
7. Lower Your Expenses
Don’t be too extravagant! You don’t want to live above your means. Someone once said, cut down according to your clothes. When you have too many expenses and need a way to keep up, you’ll most likely end up in debt, which you want to avoid.
8. Set Savings Goal
The most important lessons I learned about savings are long-term and short-term goals. The best way to save money is to have a plan in mind; are you saving towards an emergency fund, or are you thinking of moving to a new apartment? No matter what your saving goals are, keep short-term and long-term goals, and you’ll see yourself achieving them slowly but surely.
9. Choose a Staycation
“You don’t want to work and work the fee like you need to do something excellent for yourself. Instead of dropping thousands of dollars on an airline, choose a memorable staycation within a city and still create memories with your loved ones. You’ll end up spending so much less and saving a good chunk of money.
10. Pack Your Lunch
Yes, carrying your lunch daily doesn’t seem exciting. The hotel downtown offers food that’s so much better, right? Wrong! The hotel downtown is fine, taking all the money you’re willing to spend. In the interest of looking after your wallet, make delicious meals and carry them to work. They don’t have to be complicated recipes; check out a few YouTube videos for inspiration, and you’ll have perfectly delicious meals you could take to work and enjoy.
Source: Reddit.
17 of the Best Crazy Ideas to Make Money Legitimately
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
If you are always looking for ways to make money, I can assure you there are countless ways. It helps if you are creative and open to crazy ideas to make money legally, whether as a side gig or a full-time job. On a recent online forum, one user asked members, “What are the craziest ways you’ve heard of people making money?” The thread exploded with all sorts of suggestions that we share.
22 Dead Giveaways That Someone Grew Up Poor Long After Escaping Poverty
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Being poor is not a choice but often a reflection of society and should never be a mark of shame. Those who grew up poor have a mindset that is not easy to shake long after escaping poverty. The residual effects of feeling hunger and cold bring back memories that spurred gratitude, resourcefulness, and nostalgia by some who shared their experiences on a popular online community, answering, What are dead giveaways that someone grew up poor?” I recognized similar incidents familiar to me, bringing back memories from my upbringing.
11 Tiny Luxuries We’d Savor if We Struck It Rich 
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
What small item of luxury would you buy if you won a multimillion-dollar jackpot tonight? What minor yet profound indulgence would you spend your newfound wealth on? Most people would want to jump out of debt and buy a posh house by the sea where the wind gently pushes off the window panes in summertime reverie, but if you were confined to only the little luxurious things, what tiny special treats would you savor if money stopped being an issue? Someone on a money forum wanted to know what small luxury people would cash in on if they suddenly hit gold, and we consider these the funniest and most thoughtful responses on the thread.
Baby On A Budget – How to Dodge 10 Costly Pitfalls
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Let’s be honest: Having a kid is becoming more expensive as the years go by! Recently, men and women met online to reveal how to dodge costly parenthood pitfalls. Whether it’s genius money-saving strategies, avoiding costly baby purchases, or simply purchasing sensible things for your child, here is how to be a parent and not go broke.
10 Things To Always Buy On the Cheap Because It’s Not Worth Spending More
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Every time you decide to leave your house to make a trip to the grocery store or eat out, you’re making a conscious decision: to save money or not. Thanks to inflation, a trip to the grocery store will cost you more than ever before, and that’s why it’s so essential to make money-savvy decisions every chance you get.
Hi There!
With a passion for investing and personal finance, I began The Cents of Money to help and teach others. My experience as an equity analyst, professor, and mom provide me with unique insights about money and wealth creation and a desire to share with you.