35 Ways to Teach You How to Save Money
Saving, rational consumption and financial planning are part of a comfortable position and confidence in the future. You can learn to save money quickly, but it is better to change the approach to your expenses gradually.
How to learn to save money
1. Take control of your income and expenses
To do this, plan your weekly or monthly budget and regularly check how well you are following it. Divide it into mandatory and optional costs. Try to shorten the latter. Do it manually on paper, computer, or mobile apps. Online home bookkeeping will optimize personal finances and show problems.
Calculate how much you earn in a month. This should include any of your income: salary, bonuses, cash gifts, part-time work. This will give you an understanding of how much you have at your disposal.
2. Save some money
To make saving easier, use strategies that are clear and workable, such as the five-envelope technique . Another option is pay yourself first, where you regularly save 10% on any income.
This will gradually build up a "safety cushion". It will help to cope with unforeseen expenses: breakdown of equipment, medical needs and other difficult life situations.
Identify and prepare in advance for irregular expenses (insurance, taxes, or changing tires on the car).
3. Set a goal
It is difficult to save without a specific dream: you succumb to momentary desires. When there is a goal and terms (for a trip in six months or for a car in a year), it is psychologically easier to save money. You know why you give up some things.
4. Open a bank deposit
Do not put money under the mattress, inflation will "eat" it there. Finance should work. There are many ways to do this, but the safest is to open a deposit in a bank. To choose the best conditions, check out the Sravni.ru service.
How to save money with a small salary
5. Don't go shopping on payday
When you receive your salary, there is a risk of spending it right away to reward yourself. However, you have to spend only after the money has been allocated.
Set aside 10% of your income (if that's a lot, then at least 5% or even 1%). Pay your mandatory monthly expenses (utilities, phone bills, internet, groceries), and then try to spend on useful things that will last you a long time. Give up everything that is cheap and disposable.
6. Close credit cards
High interest rates on debt prevent you from saving, and you will be tempted to spend more than you earned. Find out how much you owe the bank each month and budget so that paying off the debt is a priority. When you close the loan, send even more money to the "piggy bank".
7. Give up bad habits
The regular purchase of alcohol and cigarettes wastes not only health, but also the budget. Go to bars less often. Relax actively, spend time in parks and sports grounds.
8. Trust sales less
All kinds of "Black Fridays" and "Cyber Mondays" are more often marketing gimmicks than real benefits. In addition, people are led by daily offers in the spirit of "1 + 1" and take unnecessary goods out of greed.
Don't buy everything and ignore the advertising hype. Take what you really need.
9. Plan big purchases
This will help you to ask the price of the product (find out its price in different stores) and accumulate the required amount on time. Set a purchase date and determine how much you should save per month.
The same approach can be applied to gifts for the New Year to loved ones or to prepare a child for September 1st. If there are 6 months left before the New Year, and you plan to spend 10,000 rubles on gifts for your family, it will be easier to save 1,500 a month than to pay the entire amount at once on the eve of the holiday.
10. Skip fast food and business lunches in a cafe
Instead, look for canteens near work - it's cheaper and healthier. To make it easier to search, look at Yandex.Map. A more budget-friendly option is to cook at home and carry it with you.
11. Issue transport passes
If you buy a ticket for the metro or train every time, it will be much more expensive per month. Just compare the price of a season ticket and a one-time trip in your city.
How to save money by spending money
12. Use cashback
Cashback is a return of a percentage (usually from 1 to 10%) of the money spent on purchases. It can be obtained through cash-back services, for example, Letyshops or the banking application that you use. Therefore, before buying any product or going to a restaurant, check if there is any cashback on it.
13. Go to coupon sites
Coupon sites were popular in Russia in the early 2000s. But over time, the "big three" of the largest and most reliable were established.
14. Track cheap flights
In the high season, catch "last minute" tickets for charter flights. They are cheaper because travel agencies could not completely sell them.
How to save money on food
15. Don't go shopping hungry
On an empty stomach, any food seems more attractive, so the basket will be filled with unnecessary items.
16. Arrange scheduled trips to the supermarket
Before this, make up an approximate menu for the week and a list of products. This will make it easier to follow the plan and not deviate from the budget.
17. Download discounted apps
Many mobile services help monitor promotions in grocery stores. Popular applications - "Edadil", "Promotions of all stores in Russia".
18. Find out the addresses of wholesale stores
For example, METRO Cash and Carry. Go there for the goods you can't do without in the kitchen (cereals, flour, sugar). For meat, vegetables, fruits, go to the market - there you can bargain and bring down the price.
19. Buy groceries online
In order not to go to several points comparing the prices of products, use the online stores of these retail chains. It's easier to find out about promotions there.
20. Buy analogues
Famous brands make you pay more. Products that the store makes itself will be cheaper (Red Price at Pyaterochka, D at Dixie, 365 days at Lenta).
How to save on clothes
21. Plan your wardrobe correctly
When you go to the mall for clothes, write a list too. It will help you not to be distracted by cute sneakers if you only need jeans and a T-shirt. Basic things must be of high quality and durable. Check clothes for defects, look at seams and pills.
Try it on, even if you are sure that the size is yours. If you are thinking of taking or not taking, do not buy.
Consider your lifestyle: when you work in a bank, you can't do without a pair of business shirts, and one sports kit is enough for fitness.
22. Dress in stocks, thrift stores and thrift stores
Fashion is cyclical, so do not shy away from second-hand, there are really interesting things there. There are also swaps, freemarkets and dress crossings where you can exchange clothes for free. Bring your own, and take what you like.
23. Register on store sites and subscribe to their news
Brands and online clothing sites often give promotional codes for the first purchase (for example, Befree, Lamoda, Wildberries). This way you can save 5-15%, which is especially beneficial when you buy an expensive item (winter jacket, suit, shoes). Subscribe to our newsletter to keep abreast of sales or promotions.
24. Buy clothes when traveling
This applies to designer items that cost less in their homeland than in our country. Also, do not bypass Duty Free at airports if you want to take original jewelry, accessories or perfumes. In some countries, you can do Tax Free (VAT refund) for purchases.
In order not to travel abroad yourself, use the Grabr.io service : it brings together buyers and travelers and helps to get goods that are more expensive in Russia. There you can order clothes, gadgets, nutritional supplements and other things.
25. Become a member of bonus programs
Do not be lazy to draw up the cards of the stores that are offered at the checkout. They will give you an advantage the next time you come to the store.
26. Learn to take care of things
If you take good care of your clothes, they will last longer. Sew up holes, remove stains, periodically dry-clean your outerwear, clean your shoes every day.
When you are tired of the thing, go in for customizing - reworking and updating. You can make a T-shirt from a jacket, a topic from a T-shirt, a hat from a sweater, and shorts from jeans.
How to save money on a car
27. Monitor her condition
By performing maintenance on time, you save on major repairs. Study the car manual or service book to change parts according to the plan, for example, the timing belt.
28. Do some of the work yourself
You can check the level of fluids in the car, change engine oil or wheels yourself.
29. Reduce fuel consumption
This can be done by checking the air filter and tire pressure frequently. Avoid idling and use cruise control to avoid harsh acceleration and braking.
30. Get discounts at gas stations
Gas stations reward their customers. Lukoil, Tatneft, Gazpromneft, Rosneft, Shell and others have bonus, discount, fuel cards. Check if there is a cashback at the gas station where you refuel in your banking application.
Do not buy food or coffee at gas stations yet: prices there are much higher than store prices.
31. Plan a route
By combining several activities in one trip, you will reduce fuel consumption, wear less your car and save time.
Assess the traffic situation through the navigator. Sometimes it is better to go by public transport, take a car sharing or taxi, so as not to burn gasoline in traffic jams. If you have a dacha, then leave there before everyone else does.
How to save money when renovating
32. Make the correct sequence of work
Make a repair plan. You cannot lay clean floors if your wall decoration is not ready. Take measurements of the rooms in order to accurately calculate the area and material you need to buy.
When you need a lot of building material, it is better to take everything in one go to save on shipping.
33. Choose simple building materials
Don't chase brands for exterior or interior decoration. Instead of tiles in the kitchen or in the toilet, lay linoleum, and replace stretch ceilings with foam plates.
34. Choose your interior style wisely
The minimalistic design of a house or apartment is a guarantee of the absence of unnecessary furniture or finishing touches. Choose styles where floor, ceiling or wall finishing is not required at all, such as loft or industrial.
35. Do part of the repair yourself
This applies to redecoration when you have a little painter or plasterer skill. And it is not difficult to glue wallpaper, fold laminate or assemble furniture if you watch a few lessons on Youtube.
