Have been planning to save money but don't know where to start?
We all have been there at some point or the other. Saving money does not come easy. After all, almost all of us have dreams more significant than our paychecks. The good news is that saving money is not that difficult.
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Let's look at 51 simple tips and tricks that can help us get into saving money.
1. Pay Yourself First - First things first, it is super important to take some portion of our income as soon as it arrives into a savings/investment account. Ideally, it should be 20% of our income, at least.
2. Pay Off Your Debt - Debt traps are the worst to get into. If you owe money to someone, make it a point to pay it as soon as possible. It is okay to start with small monthly targets, but it is highly recommended to avoid paying interests as much as possible.
3. DIY Everything - Do it yourselves can be a fun way to spend our weekends while saving us huge bucks on little things. A DIY table could cost you less than half of what a readymade one might require.
4. Avoid Subscriptions - It is best to avoid committing to any unnecessary monthly expense. Only buy online subscriptions if you need and use them. Try finding better and cheaper alternatives for those subscriptions.
5. Keep Track of Your Spending - You can't manage what you can't measure. It is of utmost importance to understand where you are spending your money to begin saving it. Using a neat and easy-to-use expense tracking app like 'Wizely' could be an excellent way to go about it.
6. Use Wizely - It is super important to keep track of your expenses and that too regularly. Now, this could feel like an unnecessary chore, but the effects of this can be magical. Using a cool app like 'Wizely' can help you do this easily. It is a tool that delivers not only personalised guidance but empowers users to make their goals a reality with spending controls, smart saving, and a confident path into borrowing and investments. Begin now. Check out ‘https://wizely.in/'
7. Buy Unbranded - While we don't recommend staying away from your favorite brands completely. It is advisable to understand what kind of premiums you are paying for a brand and its quality in return.
8. Buy Second-hand - This reuse concept will save not only your wallet but also the planet. Getting second-hand dumbbells or stuff like that can save you a lot of money while reducing our waste pile.
9. Avoid Addictions - Addictions like drinking and smoking can hurt our wallets just as they destroy our bodies. It is highly recommended for both health and financial reasons to stay away from any sort of addiction.
10. Don't Use a Credit Card - Talking on similar lines, the idea here is to avoid paying interest. If you cannot pay your credit card bills by the end of the month, don't use a credit card.
11. Cook Your Food - While eating at home is also one of the kindest things you can do for your body; it is also an excellent practice when you look at it from a financial perspective.
12. Keep a Water Bottle - Whether you're going to the gym, shopping, etc. always carry a water bottle. Spending money on bottled water can be a colossal waste.
13. Buy in Bulk - Buying bigger packs of whatever food you know you regularly need can be a huge money saver. Also buying in quantity might get you better discounts.
14. Find the Dest Deal - A penny saved is a penny earned. While spending time finding the best deal can save you a lot of money, it is also always recommended to spend time and thoughts on your buying decisions to decide the best product better.
15. Buy in Offseason - Planning to get a new air conditioner? You might want to buy it in the winter to get a better deal. Most companies offer end of season sales. It is always good to plan.
16. Vacation in the Offseason - Doing this as much as possible can save you big bucks. While not every holiday can be planned in the offseason, it is worth giving some thought since the savings could be upwards of 25%.
17. Avoid Late Fees - Just like interest payments, late fees are something to stay away from. Opt for something that reminds you of your monthly dues.
18. Regular Maintenance - Regularly maintaining your car and equipment can increase their lives and efficiency, saving you money in the longer run.
19. Buy Quality - While it might seem attractive to save money by buying a cheaper product, it might not always be the case. Long-lasting deals mostly end up being better financial decisions.
20. Be Aware of Transaction Fees - It is essential to understand all kinds of banking and transaction fees to avoid them as much as possible. The same applies to ATM withdrawals.
21. Avoid Impulse Buying - Stay away from the display counter near the check out section. It is built to push you into impulsive buying.
22. Get a Library Subscription - If you love reading books, do get a library subscription. Always good to have a shared culture. But only get it if the cost of books you read in a month is more than the subscription price.
23. Go Energy-Efficient - Getting an electric vehicle, buying energy-efficient appliances, etc. can save you a lot of money in the long run.
24. Use the 24-Hour Rule - If you ever think of buying something, spend 24hrs thinking if you need it—an excellent way to be safe from impulsive buying.
25. Create a Budget - Having a monthly budget and a plan about how much to spend on food, transport, etc. can be an excellent way to keep your expenses in check.
26. Use Public Transport - Use public transport as much as possible. It might also motivate you to realize that most of the money-saving tips are also good for your health or the environment.
27. Sell your Old Stuff - We all have old stuff that we don't use anymore. It will surprise you to find out how much cash you can make by just selling it off. It also helps keep your space clutter-free and might add a lot more value to the person's life buying it—win-win for everyone.
28. Tax Saving - Government schemes, subsidies should always be used well. Talk to your lawyer or financial advisor to best understand how to save money on taxes or other purchases.
29. Workout at Home - While this tip might go against the idea of a shared culture, but it is easy to find exercises for home workouts.
30. Make a Shopping List - A great trick to avoid impulsive buying is to carry a shopping list and stick to it while at the store.
31. Plan Your Vacation - Planning your holiday and booking for travel and staying in advance can also help you get better deals and extra discounts.
32. DIY Body Care - There are plenty of home remedies for many skin and body care needs. While they might also be healthier and more natural than the chemical versions of it available in the market, they will also save you money
33. Plan House Parties - Planning weekends at someone's house can be just as good as going out while keeping lots of money on food and drinks.
34. Go for Happy Hours - Going for that dinner date a little early can save you a lot of money with the happy hours discount.
35. Be Cautious of the Mileage - Understand the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Avoid longer routes and understand their costs. Turn off the car at red lights if it's going to be a long wait.
36. Keep Fixed Overheads as Low as Possible - It is easy to set recurring expenses, but they add up too much in the long run. Stay away from them as much as possible.
37. Take Good Care of Your Stuff - Taking proper care of your things increases their life. Keep your clothes and shoes well. Don't drop your phone etc.
38. Go Paperless - Avoid newspapers or printing documents. It is again good for the environment as well as your wallet. Go digital.
39. Use Coupons - Keep your tickets from local stores carefully and be mindful of using them the next time. There are lots of websites that help you find the best discount codes for various sites. Always good to spend time on these tricks.
40. Get a Piggy Bank - Keep a piggy bank. It is the best way to save money and not want to use it. It is ideal for getting a clay piggy bank that can only be broken. You will never know how much you have collected, so there will be no urge to spend it. Keep a far of occasion for cutting it open.
41. Plan Gifts - As we have understood, it is always better to plan. Crafty gift ideas will make your loved ones feel special because of the time and effort you put into the gifts, and it is also a possible way to save a lot of money. Think of stuff that adds value as well as costs less.
42. Free Entertainment - Find free entertainment tricks at home or nearby. It doesn't cost much to go on a track or cycling or for a game of volleyball. Choose these healthy and cost-effective plans over going ours for a movie or brunches.
43. Avoid Any Traffic Tickets - Just like interests and late fees, traffic tickets are something to avoid. While it is also suitable for your government record, it is also not worth driving at that extra 10 mph and pay a fine for it. Parking in the wrong spot is also never cold.
44. Get Solar Panels - If possible, try to get solar panels installed on your rooftops. Depending on the place you live in, the company will tell you the number of years after which they will become free. Free electricity forever after that. And Kudos for taking care of the environment too.
45. Pack Your Lunch - Whether it is a picnic or your daily commute to the office. It is always healthier and cheaper to carry your lunch. Plan your meals. Have the necessary ingredients, and make it easy to cook. Once it becomes a habit, it becomes a part of our lifestyle.
46. Think Cost in Terms of Hours - Before you buy anything, take a moment to think about how many hours you had to work to earn that money. Then consider if you need it and if it is worth it.
47. Save Change - We are often careless with the spare change we get. The piggy bank can help with this problem too. Instead of losing all the spare change, just keep putting it into the piggy bank. You will be surprised to see how much it adds up to.
48. Unplug Your Gadgets - Electronic gadgets, even when not in use, consume electricity when plugged in. It is essential to understand these little things and make conscious decisions regarding them.
49. Be Cautious of Your Electricity Use - Understand what appliance uses how much energy and cut it short. Switch to LED bulbs. Never leave lights turned on unused. It will surprise you when it adds up.
50. Be Careful with the Stationary - While bulk buying is a good idea for food, it might not be such a good idea when it comes to stationary. We have all wasted paints because we couldn't use them all and they dried before we wanted to use them the next time. It is better to make financially wiser decisions while buying stationery, whether buying refills instead of pens or choosing the quantity.
51. Stay Healthy - Last but not the least, stay healthy. It is also essential to any savings plan. It can be thought of as an investment to avoid spending on healthcare and medicines in the future. Focusing on our health also helps us better focus on other necessary things like keeping things organized and consistent with all the money saving techniques.
(Check out 'Learn & Grow with Wizely' to read and learn more about how to save more money.)
