*Budget carefully
You can't really stop spending money without working out a budget. You need to sit down and make a list of everything that is a necessity - that includes utility bills, mortgage or rent payments, food bills and anything else you can't live without. Everything else is a luxury and can be cut. Look at your direct debits and work out which can be cancelled - you just don't need a subscription to a magazine you barely read and living without cable is perfectly possible.
*Online grocery shop
Doing your grocery shopping online can save you money because you are less likely to browse and buy things that you don't need. Any delivery charge will be easily covered by the savings you make. Once you've set up your favourites list, a weekly or monthly shop can be completed in minutes and there is always a sales section that you can check out for extra bargains. You can also avoid expenses incurred by children that would usually accompany you to the store.
*Move down a brand
Many people become unnecessarily snobby about brands, believing that paying extra means that they are paying for quality. That isn't always the case. Try your supermarket's value brands. Often you will find very little difference, especially in basic ingredients such as pasta, tinned tomatoes, salt, vinegar and flour. The same goes for clothes. There's no need to spend a fortune on a basic T-shirt when you can buy several for the same price from cheaper stores.
*Avoid wandering around the shops
If you enjoy wandering around the shops just because you've nothing better to do, then stop it. Working in town, it can be tempting to spend lunch-time looking at shoe shops and clothes shops and, even though you had no intention of buying anything, you end up returning to the office with bags. If you want to stick to a budget and only buy what you need, then you must restrict yourself to shopping only when absolutely necessary. It may not be much fun, but it works.
*Revise your entertainment plans
Entertainment can be very costly. A meal out with friends, or a trip to a club involves money, especially if you drink and end up staying out later than you planned. Then there is the cost of transport to factor in, as well as the temptation beforehand to buy something new to wear. You don't have to stop going out completely, but cutting down and staying in for drinks and a meal will work out much cheaper.
|