How to start saving money

In the past, I’ve written a lot of popular posts about budgeting and saving money. Most of these have been geared towards already budget conscious people. Some of the tips are more difficult than others, and some require sacrificing so much that you really need to be saving the money or have something you want far more than pretty much anything else (like the years I stopped cutting my hair so we could save for a house). 

Today, I decided I would share a little bit differently. Instead of the extreme type of savings post, I want to show you some practical ways to start saving money. Maybe money is tight right now, or you just want to save a bit for Christmas. Maybe you’ve decided you need to cut back a bit or finally knock out that debt. Whatever your reason, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to savings. I don’t want it to be overwhelming, just do-able tips to get you on the track to reaching your financial goals! This post has affiliate links. 

1. Mentality – Saving money starts in your head. We live in a culture that is constantly telling us we need more, we “deserve” to have nice things and the best of everything, at some point you just have to make it stop. Find a way to be content with “enough” and stop the unquenchable desire fore more. 
2. Know your why – Have a clear vision of why you want to save more money, or it won’t last. whether it’s the desire to make ends meet or the yearning to be able to help more people less fortunate than yourself, being able to picture your “why” in your mind will help keep you on track, even when you want to fall back into old spending habits.
3. One less thing – It’s not always realistic to stop all over spending in one day, so take baby steps! Start buying one less thing with every trip to the store. Instead of cookies AND ice cream AND candy, choose one of those and leave the rest behind. Instead of 5 different snack options, try going with 3 this week and two next week. Take realistic steps towards your goals or you will become burned out and not want to continue your journey to saving more money!
4. Cut back on fast food – Eating out will get you every time! Even if it is just fast food which can feel cheap, eating out is still much more expensive than preparing meals at home. Since busy days happen, I always try to have a backup plan! Pasta and spaghetti sauce is always in my pantry for a last minute meal and I try to keep frozen pizzas on hand for nights when I just don’t feel up to cooking dinner. Planning ahead a little, can save you a lot of money! More tips to help you eat out less here! 
5. Coffee cup – This was one of the first ways I started saving. Put an empty coffee cup in your bedroom and decide you will start resisting that early morning expensive coffee run and making some joe at home instead. Each time you resist, add $5 to the jar as your tangible ‘savings account’. Seeing the money pile up in the jar is super encouraging and it really makes you think about how much money you spend on coffee or similar things every week. I still do something similar with impulse purchases today. I’ll see a shirt on clearance or something for my kitchen that I’d love to have (but don’t need), instead of purchasing I go home and transfer the amount of money from my checking account to my savings. If I could have made my budget work by splurging on the item, I can make it work by putting it in savings as well!
6. Swagbucks – Sign up for sites like swagbucks which allow you to earn a little extra money without too much effort. They have your typical surveys and such, but the reason I really love this one is that you can get rewarded for searching on the internet AND get cashback on many of your online purchases. It comes in really handy when ordering Christmas gifts, but I use it year round! Sign up for swagbucks here (it’s free, so no risk!) You could start earning money for searching online, watching music videos and ordering online, today!

 

photo credit: ptnphotof / Dollarphotoclub.com

What is your best money saving tip for beginners? OR if you are new to savings what inspires you to save money and where are you starting first? Let’s help each other out!