How To Save Money Without Compromising Your Lifestyle

Photo by Alexas_Fotos, CC0 1.0

Everyone wants to save money wherever they can. However, you might think that you have to compromise on your lifestyle or make sacrifices in order to make money. However, that’s not completely true. Keep reading down below to learn about the ways that you can save money without completely compromising your existing lifestyle.

“Figuring out a budget or a disciplined financial plan can be hard, but never impossible. Understanding what is going in and what is coming out of your account each month can help you figure out how much money you should be budgeting. It can be hard to understand how much you can spend in one category without seeing how much you already are spending there on average. Here at Ascend Finance, we not only help people get out of debt but also make sure they are on the right track to stay out of debt”. Stated by Ben Tejes, CEO and Co-Founder of Ascend Finance. Ascend Finance specializes in Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

1. Lose That Stuff That You Never Use and Never Will Again

If you have tons of stuff laying around or you’re paying for a storage space somewhere, then get rid of all of that stuff. If you don’t feel like throwing it away, organize a yard sale, that way the stuff will be used by someone else and you can make some extra-cash out of it too. This is going to save you both space and money!

2. Switch to A Less Expensive Cell Phone Plan

If you’re not someone who uses their phone all of the time, then why would you be paying for an expensive phone plan? Switch to a less expensive one and you’ll save a ton of money.

3. Go Exercise Outside of The Gym

Who says that you have to go to the gym to get exercise? It’s super easy to exercise outside without an expensive gym plan to pay for.

4. Unplug Any Devices Around Your Home That Are Plugged in Without Being Used

If you have devices around your home plugged in all of the time, then this is causing an unnecessary drain on your power bill. Unplug them when you’re not using them!

5. Go Do Something in The Community to Help Someone

Rather than spending an afternoon spending money on something, why not go out into the community and help someone? Do something good and you’ll get paid back ten-fold.

6. Go for The Customer Reward Programs at Stores

If you shop at a lot of stores all of the time, then make use of that money. Sign up for customer reward programs that reward you for shopping.

7. Check What Coupons Are Available Before You Head to The Store

When you go out shopping, be sure to do a quick Google search to see what coupons are available before you go.

8. Freeze Extra Portions of Your Meals

When you make your meals, think about making extra portions that you can store in the freezer or fridge to eat later.

9. Go for A Maintenance Run Every Once in A While

To save on everyday costs you can buy products and devices to perform a task for which you have to pay outside. For instance, a washing machine or an espresso maker. A maintenance run is when you take some time to go around the house and do basic maintenance on these devices and appliances. This will ensure that they keep running for a long time.

10. Ask Your Employer About Extra Benefits You Could Be Taking Advantage Of

Check with your employer to see what kind of benefits you have not been taking advantage of at work or which could be added on.

11. Go to The Library Instead of Buying Your Books

Instead of buying expensive books, just go to the public library and rent them out! This is going to save you a ton of money in the long-run. This will help you save up money to pay back that loan you took out.

12. Make Shopping Lists Whenever You Go Out

When you go out shopping, always make lists. This will keep you in line with whatever you really need to buy, rather than what looks good in the moment.

13. Build Up an Emergency Fund

Always be building your emergency fund for those times when you might need it. You’re going to be much better off when you have this fund.

14. Never Shop for Groceries When You’re Hungry

If you’re going grocery shopping, make sure to eat before. Shopping when you’re hungry is just going to make you go for those unhealthy foods.

15. Shop for Your Insurance Options

Paying for insurance can be super expensive, so it’s much better to shop around and see what deals you can get before choosing.

16. Stop Hitting the Theatres and Go for A Netflix Subscription

Never go to the theatre again when you have a Netflix subscription on your side!

17. Pay All of Your Bills on Time

If you pay all of your bills on time, then you’re not going to have to worry about late penalties that cause your bill to be higher than it needs to be.

18. Buy Things in Bulk Whenever You Can

Buying your items in bulk is a fantastic way to save money in the long-run.

19. Chat Via WhatsApp Instead of Texting

Instead of paying for texting that you’ll never use, go for Whatsapp. You can use this service over WiFi or with your data to message your loved ones and friends.

20. Take Care of Your Body

Taking care of your body is going to save you serious money in the long-run when you don’t have to take as many trips to the hospital.

Each of these points is going to help you save some serious money. Which are you going to implement in your life?

5 Ways to Save Money Without Really Trying

Saving money doesn’t come naturally for some, and there are certainly people who are much better at it than others. While some of us our frugal/thrifty types always in search of a bargain, others spend money like water and burn through it quickly like a bad drug habit.

Living comfortably is always nice, and drowning in debt or the feeling of being constantly broke is not good for one’s mental wellbeing. And if you’re a college-aged kid, then you already know the feeling of being broke all too well.

1. Establish the big difference between your wants and your needs

This step is a major. Establishing the difference between things you really want and things you actually need is huge. Yes, Starbucks is amazing. But at $4 a pop that adds up quick if you’re making daily coffee runs to fulfill your caffeine urge to splurge. Including the gas it takes to get you there if it’s not within walking distance. Although the old-fashioned 99 cent coffee might not be your favorite it’s still coffee and can satisfy your need for it. $4 a day adds up quick, and in a matter of 30 days that’s roughly $120 a month spent on luxury coffee that you don’t actually need.

2. Online shopping can be your worst enemy

The convenience of online shopping is almost too easy. With the superbly simple one-click techniques à la Amazon, online shopping can open a world of pleasure and excite us with the packages we receive at our door as a result. But with ultimate convenience comes a price. Online shopping is particularly sneaky by how it draws us in and zaps our bank account/credit card with the click of a button. And why we are thrilled with our new items, we aren’t too thrilled when that credit card statement comes in the mail soon after… or your parents who handle the bill for you while “your off applying yourself at school”. Do yourself a favor and stay far, far away.

3. Don’t try and live beyond your means

If you don’t have a ton of extra money there’s nothing wrong with that. By being realistic about your financial situation, whether your employed or not, this will help for your idea of proper budgeting. Buying something on credit that you really can’t afford isn’t the best idea. And it’s really going to suck when you realize living like a 20k millionare is going to come back and bite you in the ass once you’ve maxed out your available funds and credit cards to pretend to be something that you’re not.

4. Remember, you have legs

Okay, while taking a cab to get to and fro is nice, if something is within walking distance then remember those two things that hold you upright and get you from Point A to Point B just fine. As a result you’ll burn some extra calories and save yourself some change in the meantime.

5. Ramen Noodles really aren’t that bad

Going out to eat on a regular basis is a huge spending habit for most people. If you’re not crazy about the idea of cooking that’s fine, but be smart about where it is that you go out to eat. Think ahead by hitting up the grocery store at the beginning of the week so you’re not stuck in a crunch with no food options to whip up. And those 20 cent Ramen Noodles aren’t going to wreck your stomach the way that Taco Bell value menu food will.

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