Easily Spend Less Every Month
Five Tips on How to Save More than $50 a Month Painlessly
Jan 21, 2008
Can't afford to save money? You can put $50 into savings every month with a little budgeting. Tips on how to cut back on the little things to save big.
You don’t have to give up your lattes! Just changing a few habits will help pay off debt and put money in the bank.
Five easy ways to save at least $50 a month:
- Don’t give up your coffee habit; just change it. Instead of buying a grande latte for $3.75, why not make it a medium coffee for $1.85 instead? Add some half-and-half and you have yourself a coffee house drink without the big price tag. Right there you’re saving $1.90 a day. That’s $57 a month. You still get the Starbucks gourmet coffee, minus the steamed and frothed milk. Is frothy milk really worth $57 to you?
- Never buy clothes at full price. It takes a little planning but you can do it. Retailers often charge a 50 percent markup on merchandise. Take some of that profit for yourself by shopping off-season and waiting for sales. If you’ve had your eye on a $200 coat, wait until it goes on sale at the end of the season. You miss out on wearing it this winter, but you’ll have something to look forward to next year. And if the coat sells out before it goes on sale? You’ll find another one you like even better, and feel good that you didn’t pay full price.
- Buy groceries with double coupons. Again, planning makes all the difference. Go to the grocery store only on sale and double coupon days. Also plan your menu around discounted items.
- Take public transportation. Even if you live in the suburbs or a rural area where mass transit is non-existent, combine trips and carpool when you can. It's likely gas prices will only go up.
- Eat and exercise at home. You’ll not only save on gas, membership fees, and tips, you’ll probably eat healthier and exercise more. Find a sale on a piece of exercise equipment that offers weight bearing cardio, like a treadmill or an elliptical. Add some inexpensive free weights and you’ve got a home gym. And while you might be hungry after your work-out, resist the urge to head to a restaurant. Cooking at home with your significant other builds a bond and cuts calories. You know what’s in the food you prepare yourself. That’s not always the case at a restaurant.
If you follow these five tips, you’ll save a lot more than $50 a month…Money you can use to pay off debt and start saving for retirement.
The copyright of the article Easily Spend Less Every Month in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Easily Spend Less Every Month in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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