(Akiit.com) When it comes to saving money, there are few people out there who would say that they don’t want to reduce their spending. Whether you want to do so because you want to save up some money for that thing that you’ve always wanted to do (hello, travelling the world) or simply because you don’t want to cringe every time you look at how much you’ve spent during the month, there are some simple ways to save yourself some money, that won’t make you compromise on the things that you enjoy.
We’ve put together 17 money saving tips, for those looking to reduce their spending, and up their savings!
- Only buy the essentials
It is tempting to splash the cash on things that you don’t really need (even though you may want them) but if you’re going to save yourself some dough, you need to stick to only buying the essentials for a while. Sure, you can treat yourself sometimes, but don’t fall into the habit of always buying things as if you have an unlimited disposable income, as this won’t help!
- Shop on eBay
eBay is great if you want to save the cash, as you can find some real bargains, both second-hand and new. Whatever it is that you’re looking for, from clothes to new gadgets, you’ll probably find them on here, so have a look at what is on offer and get bidding. You could save yourself a whole lot of money that you would have spent on buying the product brand new from a store.
- Cut your phone bill
If you’re somebody who always spends a lot of time browsing the internet (and all of your social media accounts) when you’re out, try your best to cut this down. Paying for data is an expensive task, so keep it to a minimal and find a contract that won’t cost you the earth. Your phone can be your biggest expense sometimes, so be smart about what you are spending here.
- Don’t always go for branded
When you’re buying food in the store, you can be under the impression that branded is best. Sometimes, the only difference between this and the store brand is the packaging, so don’t pay out just to have a fancy box with your food. Try out some lower priced items, and see whether they a) taste the same, and b) will save you a lot of cash on your grocery bill.
- Look for smart companies
There are a lot of companies out there who offer some really good deals, and they may be hiding underneath those big brands on the surface. Whatever it is that your main outgoings are, from your car insurance, and even to inmate calling, you could find that there are companies providing these services at a lower cost. Research, and you could find some great things!
- Haggle
If you want to save yourself some money, you need to learn the art of haggling pretty quickly. You can argue the price of something with builders, cell phone providers, and a lot of other services, so don’t just accept the price as they offer it to you. Don’t be embarrassed about asking for a cut to the cost, as it could land you with some big savings on what you need.
- Compare the prices
Before you splash out for something, you should have checked almost every other company that provides it, especially if the item is a pretty big investment. Your outgoings could be higher because you haven’t quite grasped the art of shopping around, so spend a while looking into all of the options available, and you’ll be glad that you did when you’re not paying over the odds.
- Switch your home products
If you want to ensure that you have enough money for a financial safety net, you should switch over a few things in your home. Whether you change all of your lighting to energy (and money) saving light bulbs, or you get a more energy efficient boiler, it could help you to cut back on the costs, especially if you’re using these things every single day. Look into the switches that you can make!
- Use coupons
There is nothing more useful to a money-saver than coupons, and you will soon realize that they will cut the prices of your shopping dramatically. From discount codes for online stores, to coupons for your grocery shopping, always be on the lookout for ways that you can cut your bill. You can also use these things in restaurants, so do a quick Google search before you eat out.
- Shop in thrift stores
As vintage clothing and furniture is making a come back, thrift stores have become a wealth of great items, without the expensive price tags. Sure, you have to look through a lot of stuff before you can find some bargains, but give this a try if you’re looking for clothing or furniture without paying over the odds. You’ll be glad that you had a rummage through when you see the bill!
- Change your car
We know what you’re thinking, ‘how is changing my car going to save me money?’ However, if you have an old car, or one that doesn’t do many kilometers without having to stop again for gas, you should look into changing it for something that won’t cost you the earth. Look into how economical a car is before you splash out, and you’ll be glad that you did so in the future.
- Stop eating out as much
If you’re somebody who is always eating out in restaurants, this could be a major problem for your outgoings. You should be treating meals out as an occasional treat, not as a daily routine. Especially when you include all of the drinks, you’ll see how much you’re spending when you could have cooked something for a fraction at the cost at home, so get cooking instead.
- Take your own coffee to work
Whilst you may not think that coffee is that expensive at $2 or $3 a cup, think about how much this adds up to over the year. Get a thermal flask (which is good for the environment, too) and fill it up each day before you head to work. Over the year, you’ll really see the difference in your outgoings, just from doing something simple like avoiding those Starbucks coffees.
- Don’t leave the TV on standby
If you’re not using your TV during the day (or overnight) you should ensure that you turn it off at the plug, rather than turning it on standby. This will still be using up a lot of electricity, so don’t make the mistake of leaving all of your appliances on all of the time. It only takes a second, but the cash that you’ll save will make it worthwhile, so turn everything off properly where you can.
- Look at interest rates
If you have a credit card, you should always be looking out for those with rates that are lower than the ones that you currently have. You could end up spending a lot of money just to borrow this cash, so don’t stick with what you have without looking at what other companies can offer you first. This is a major cost, and you need to ensure that you’ve chosen the right services.
- Go on free days out
Instead of splashing the cash at bowling alleys or at the movies, why not look into the free days out that you could have instead? There are plenty of options out there, from a picnic in the forest (or a winter walk if it is colder) to a trip to an art gallery or a museum, so always be on the lookout for free – or cheap – events. This could decrease your weekend outgoings dramatically!
- Sell things that you don’t need
Not only is eBay great for buying new things, but it is also a good platform to sell your unwanted goods. You can also use apps such as Depop to get rid of the things that you don’t want, so have a clear out, and see what could earn you a bit of money. Your home will be a lot more spacious as a result, and your wallet will also look a lot healthier, so list those items that you no longer want on these sites.
So, if you want to save yourself some money, why not try out these simple tips? From shopping in thrift stores to going on free days out rather than splashing all of your hard-earned cash, there are plenty of ways to say goodbye to excessive spending, and hello to having enough money to do the things that you’ve always wanted to do. With perseverance, and a little know-how, you can transform your spendings, and change the way that you use your income for the rest of your life.
Good luck, and happy saving!
Staff Writer; Larry Hall