Good Ways to Save Money

Everyone is looking for ways to save money. Maybe you dream of owning something wonderful, say a boat or a new kitchen. Or do you need to save so you can catch up on some bills? Regardless of what you want the money for, it’s hard to save money.

Here are some ways to save money that are easy to incorporate into your life. They don’t take much work, and are well worth the effort. Apply one, or all three, and you could save thousands of dollars over the course of one year.

1. Sweat the Small Stuff

You know the saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff”, well that phrase does not apply when it comes to saving money, in fact, just the opposite is true. Saving up for something means sweating the small stuff. Pay attention to all the little ways your spend you money. Do you want to spend money to eat lunch out 5 days a week? Will you invest the time and energy into finding some “new” school uniforms at garage sales? Opportunities to reduce spending are all around us, if we choose to look.

One easy way to save money is to start with your utility bills. Pick out just one - say the electric. Learn everything you can about how to reduce your electric consumption. Focus everyday, for an entire 30 days on reducing your electric bill. Will you wash more loads in cold water, or turn off the lights when you leave the room? I bet you will if it means you can vacation in Hawaii next year. Next month, when you get your new lower bill, put the money you’ve saved away for your dream vacation.

2. Stretch it out

Next, stretch what you already have. If you can squeeze some more life from your beater car, or get one more use from that toothpaste tube, you can postpone having to spend your hard earned dollars. Instead of making car payments or buying toothpaste, you could be saving that money for something else. Could you wear your coat one more winter, or make do with your faded comforter a little longer? Think about how much you could save if you applied this strategy to extending the life out of everything you own.

3. Get Creative

Last, apply creativity to your spending. It’s easy to go and buy something new, but it’s also the most expensive way to go. It takes thinking outside the box to come up with inspired solutions that don’t require money. Ask yourself, “Do I have to buy something new, or could I get creative with what I already have?” You could get together with your friends and start a babysitting co-op, or make “new” curtains from your favorite tablecloth. You will be amazed by how many resourceful solutions there are to everyday problems, once you start looking closely for ways to save money.

We make choices daily about how we spend our money. Tune in and pay attention to the choices you are making. If you don’t like what you see, change it. The power to control your spending, and your savings, is in your hands.

Here are more ways to save money!