5 Save More Money by Being Frugal
According to a recent survey on Indeed, only 19% of Americans find that they earn enough money, and more than half of the people surveyed said they would need to make at least $6,000 more per year. Is this the case for you?
Actually, many of us fall into this category. It seems that there isn’t ever enough money. The problem is that since we are often overworked, putting in additional hours to earn those few extra dollars is out of the question. However, there are other ways to save more money, without lifting a finger, so to speak.
We all know the saying ‘a penny saved is a penny earned’. This means that whenever you manage to save money, it amounts to the same as earning that money. Would you like to make hundreds, possibly thousands more annually, and do so without increasing your workload?
The following are a few tips to help you make significant savings in different areas.
#1 Shop Around for Insurance
The cost of life, home, car and health insurance can vary from one provider to another. Get various quotes. Make sure you have the right coverage for your circumstances, not too much, not too little. Also, if possible, raise your deductibles as this will lower the cost of your insurance payments.
#2 Savvy Grocery Shopping
Thousands of dollars can be saved yearly just by modifying the way you shop for groceries.
First, make a grocery budget and stick to it. Then plan your meals according to weekly specials. Make a list of the items you will need and don’t stray.
Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. When hungry, not only do we tend to buy more, but we buy things that we don’t need.
Look for rebates, buy items in bulk, and use coupons whenever possible. A word about buying in bulk; keep in mind that it is not always less expensive. The same goes for larger jars, containers or packages. They are not necessarily cheaper. Be sure to calculate.
#3 Shop Wisely
Shop using cash only. This habit may seem tedious at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will notice that by the end of the month you will have spent far less than you usually would on groceries or clothing for example.
The reason is simple; when you hold the money in your hands and see yourself giving it away to pay for something, you think twice before spending.
#4 Save on Utility Bills
When it comes to saving on utility bills, small changes can go a long way. You can effortlessly save a couple of hundred dollars per year by doing the following:
- Turning off lights when you don’t need them.
- Making your home airtight.
- Using alternate sources to heat your home (such as wood).
- Lowering the thermostat on your hot water tank.
- Air-drying your clothes whenever possible.
- Loading your dishwasher to full capacity before running it.
#5 Important Savings at Work
Getting to work and the workplace itself can be big money traps if we are not careful.
Getting that store-bought cup of coffee every morning can easily cost you $40 a month which amounts to almost $500 a year. Why not buy yourself a good travel mug and brew your own coffee? If you add to this brown bagging versus buying your lunch, you will save at least twice that amount.
Carpooling, taking public transport and walking to work whenever possible will also help you save substantial amounts of money.
When it comes to saving money, the possibilities are endless. The truth is we’ve only barely grazed the surface in this article. But there is no doubt that if you apply these few simple tips as of today, by this time next year, you will have a few hundred dollars more, maybe even a couple of thousand more in your bank account.
Now wouldn’t that be nice?