Budget Your Way To The Top

Let’s face it, life can be hard sometimes, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can enjoy more. One thing that always tends to hold people back from doing what they want to do, is money. Saving money is tough, let alone the cost of living in general, without any luxuries and treats. You will find yourself having to stretch every penny you have in order to survive – but what kind of life is this? You should be living, not just scraping by, day by day.

There are many different ways that you can save some finances, you just need to look in the right places and adopt a slightly new way of thinking. This doesn’t mean you need to go to the extreme and change your whole life – it’s more so the little things that count.

Here’s how to save up and do the things you want to do, without being a victim of financial circumstances.

Shop smart. Changing some of your shopping habits can drastically save you money. Have a previous receipt of yours and circle anything that you bought that you really didn’t need, be it because you didn’t use it in the end, or it just wasn’t a necessity. Shopping with a ready written list can keep you on track and avoid that wandering eye that likes to buy impulsively. Another thing that you can do is change what supermarket you shop at. For example, discount stores like Lidl and Aldi can be just as good as anywhere else, while being half the price.

Couponing. A lot of people will think that couponing only saves a mere pound, if that. But coupons can actually save you more than you may think, you just need to be consistent and have a good eye. Cut them out wherever you find them, be it magazines and leaflets that are posted through your door, or receipts from a previous purchase. There are tons online too, so as long as you have a printer, you can print out as many as you can find and use them every time you go shopping.

Get it for free. Before you set out on a mission to buy something, be it a tv, a sofa, a wardrobe, a lawnmower, or a pair of size 7 stilettos – ask around to see if anyone you know is having a clear out and wants to get rid of their things quickly, either entirely for free, or for a tiny cost. There are even sites out there that allow you to swap items of your own, with other peoples, as one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Also, don’t forget the likes of eBay and even Facebook for people that are selling second-hand items. You may not get it for free, but you will most likely find it at an extremely reduced price.

Switch suppliers. When paying for things like your mobile phone and the internet at home, make sure you shop around before you become a full-time customer of theirs. If your current contract is coming to an end, this is the perfect opportunity to look for a new provider. Or better yet (if you’re happy with who you’re with now), you can try and haggle the price down for a better deal. Companies value their long-term clientele, so they will most likely do all they can to keep you so don’t go off and team up with their competitors, as that’s every business’s worst nightmare that they try and avoid at all costs.

Online vouchers. When shopping online, never go and purchase something before you have had a browse online to see if there are any offers or deals that result in money off. You can save money with some online vouchers just like this video exhibits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyq48TpuPPA. Essentially, if there are deals on certain products, they will all be gathered together on the site, and then you can apply the appropriate voucher code before paying.

Cut out delivery charges. If you shop a lot online, then you will be used to paying money for delivery services so your parcel arrives at your doorstep. But most sites now give you the opportunity to click and collect, which means you can pick up your item in the nearest store that accepts the delivery of your order and will hold on to it until it’s convenient for you to pick up during opening hours. Choosing this option is completely free so as long as you don’t mind taking a trip to a local retailer, this is a great option to cut down the costs, especially if you tend to be out of the house during the day anyway.

Make your own lunch. Rather than stepping out of the office for break and eating at a cafe, or even just buying a ready-made sandwich from the store around the corner – make it yourself. You wouldn’t believe how much money it will save you, and not only that, but you have a whole selection of what you want – you can make it as exciting as you wish to tantalize those taste buds of yours. Sure, it means a bit of effort needs to go in, but you can do this in the evening, put it in the fridge overnight, and it’ll be all ready to take to work the next morning. Sandwiches are ridiculously overpriced – for the cost of one sandwich, you could buy all the ingredients to make them for a whole week – if not more.

Now you have some of the best, most effective ways to save you as much money as possible without having to change your whole entire lifestyle, implement as many things as you can, as the more you do, the more you will save. Just think, you may now finally be able to afford that luxury holiday away in the Caribbean now. Just make sure you don’t spend what you’ve saved on something silly. As tempting as it may be, think about the long run.

Photo by LDprod | Shutterstock