Know how to cut spending and save money?
It’s difficult to cut spending and save money when you’ve been used to living at a different income level, but there are things you can do to make the transition easier. Most of them require a mental adjustment to handle without major stress. Instead of seeing spending less as a sacrifice, for instance, you can foster pride in yourself and the other members of your family as your bills shrink each month and your savings grow. Adopting a positive mindset is the hardest step in taking control of your finances, but it’s also the most important.
The following are much easier ways to cut spending and save for the future:
Cut out reoccurring expenses.
Instead of just cutting down on random expenses that bleed your budget dry, Lifehacker provides readers with excellent advice on cutting bills down significantly in just a few simple steps. If you know you’ll be living on less income, it’s important to attack the big-budget items right along with the tiny ones you know add up over time.
Start by going over your monthly expenses looking for big bills you have every month – student loans, car payments, cell phone bills and similar expenses. Each of these charges will have its own way out, but you’ll have to speak to your creditors directly to find out the best options. For instance, you may be able to apply for a deferment on your student loan, allowing you to put off payments for a year.
Put rebate sites to work for your wallet.
Did you know most of the purchases you already make can kick some cash back your way? Rebate sites flood the Internet, with more cropping up every day. Just registering for them all can be overwhelming though, so it may be best to set up a separate email account to keep track of them all. Then, check them before you go shopping for absolutely anything. Ebates.com focuses more on cashback deals offered by particular retailers while ibotta and Checkout51 offer rebates based on particular items.
You can also look at online price books at sites like CouponMom.com. These resources show you the prices for goods at particular stores throughout the year, helping you determine when certain items will go on sale. Planned carefully, there’s no reason for you not to splurge. You just have to time your purchases.
Create a reasonable budget.
Sometimes, just tracking how you spend your money will be enough of an eye-opener to lead to immediate change. When you see $1000 or more in a month going toward frivolous expenses–coffee, candy, magazines you wind up tossing out before they’re read–you’ll discover instant ways to save. This information helps you avoid wasting money on items that add nothing to your life except stress and debt.
This kind of heads up also gives you the chance to create a budget supportive of the kind of life you want. Instead of spending ridiculous amounts on quickly consumable goods, you can set aside funds for one special dinner a week or reroute money spent on fast food to healthier, tastier ingredients you’ll have ready in your kitchen to help fight off temptation. Just don’t try to clean up your expenses all at once. The more restricted you feel, the bigger your likely relapse will be, and you could wind up in serious financial trouble.
Financial changes mean big adjustments. We’re always here for support. If you’re working on learning how to cut spending and save money, an auto pawn could help. Call your nearest Title Tree location for extra cash now while you trim your budget and begin to save for the future.