Posted on Wednesday, 18th November 2009 by admin
Tough economic times have heralded a new frugal age for many people, and many more are looking for ways to save money and make their existing finances stretch further than ever before. Fortunately, when it comes to things like spending, a lot of what we do is habit, and habits can be broken, changed, modified or improved, depending on the harmfulness of the habit.Of course, there are some expenses that are unavoidable, but a closer examination of your monthly finances may show you some surprising-and deceptively expensive-spending habits.
There is, however, a lot you can do in order to cut back and watch your money go further. The first (and often most overlooked) thing to do is to make a monthly goal. After all, how can you work towards something if you have no idea what you are working towards? Writing down exactly what you are looking to achieve will invest your actions with more meaning and will motivate you to stick to the plan.
As mentioned, some expenses are essential and cannot be avoided, but you do have complete control over how you spend your money. For example, you are walking to work on a hot, sunny day and are in need of a refreshing drink. What does habit tell you to do? Make a beeline for that vending machine for a cold, glistening can. Stop! On a sweltering day, you may make two or more visits per day, each one costing you perhaps $2 or more per day. That’s $10 per working week for an item you could purchase for a fraction of the price at a neighbourhood grocery store. Always think about where you are spending your money-it can make a big difference to your expenditure.
The second habit-related tip regards your cable subscription. Sure, in bumper economic times you may have gone all-out for the bonanza, supra-mega-channel subscription, without even realising that you never watch the Grass and Gardens channel, but are strangely comforted to know that you can afford to subscribe to it. Now is not the time for such profligacy, so re-examining your subscription and cutting back on the channels you never, or hardly ever watch can go some way towards redressing excessive expenditure. Remember, it’s all about habits and patterns of behaviour. You can always add the channels again at a later date if you really miss them.
Further along the habits trail, quit smoking and cut down on your drinking. That’s not to say that you should deny yourself all treats, but save it for the end of the week or special occasions. Also, quitting smoking could save you in the region of $2000 per year-irrefutable maths in any economic conditions. Try using these tips regularly to help you save and see money come back to you bank account for a change.
If you’re stuck and need some help finding good information online try using SaveItMonthly.com for useful information that can help you keep ahead of your bills each month and set aside money for later.
Similar Posts:
- Why It’s A Good Idea Not To Complicate The Budget
- Eliminate Credit Card Debt Now
- A Rewards Credit Card Can Increase Your Buying Power
- Why Co-Working Communities are Good for Small Businesses
- Penny Pinching or Big Ticket Savings: Which Is For You?
Tags: Money, Money Saving
Posted in Financing FAQ | No Comments »