Saving, rational consumption and financial planning are part of a comfortable position and confidence in the future. You can learn to save quickly, but it is better to change the approach to your expenses gradually.
How to learn to save money?
1. Take income and expenses under strict control
For this plan weekly or monthly budget and regularly check how well you follow it. Divide it into required and optional expenses. Try to reduce the latter. Do it manually on paper, computer or in mobile apps. Home-based online bookkeeping optimizes personal finances and shows problems.
Calculate how much you earn per month. Any of your income should be included here: salary, bonuses, cash gifts, part-time job. This will give an idea of how much you have..
2. Save some of the money
To make it easier to save, use clear and working strategies, for example, five envelope technique. The “pay yourself first” method is also suitable when you regularly save 10% from any income.
So you gradually form a “airbag”. It will help to cope with unforeseen expenses: equipment breakdown, medical needs and other difficult life situations.
Determine in advance and prepare for irregular expenses (insurance, taxes or changing tires on a car).
3. Designate the goal
It is difficult to save up without a concrete dream: you succumb to momentary desires. When there is a goal and a deadline (for a trip for six months or for a car for a year), it is psychologically easier to save. 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 way is to open a deposit in the bank. To choose the best conditions, look at the service Sravni.ru.
How to save money with a small salary
5. Do not go shopping on payday
When you receive a salary, there is a risk of spending it immediately to reward yourself. However, you need to spend only after the distribution of money.
Set aside 10% of the income (if it is a lot, then at least 5% or even 1%). Pay the required monthly expenses (utilities, phone bills, Internet, products), and then try to spend on useful things that will last you a long time. Give up everything cheap and one-time.
6. Close credit cards
High interest on debts prevents you from saving, and there will also be a temptation to spend more than you earned. Find out how much each month should give to the bank and set up a budget so that debt repayment 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 squanders not only health, but also the budget. Go to bars less often. Relax actively, spend time in parks and sports fields.
8. Trust less sales
All kinds of “Black Fridays” and “cyber mondays” are more often marketing tricks than real benefits. In addition, people are led to daily offers in the spirit of “1 + 1” and take goods they do not need from greed.
Do not buy everything and do not pay attention to advertising hype. Take what is really necessary.
9. Plan large purchases
This will help you ask the price of a product (find out its price in different stores) and accumulate the right amount on time. Set a purchase date and determine how much you need to save per month.
The same approach can be applied to gifts for the New Year close or to the preparation of the child on September 1. If 6 months are left before the New Year, and you plan to spend 10,000 rubles on gifts to your relatives, it will be easier to save one and a half thousand a month than to pay the entire amount once on the eve of the holiday.
10. Refuse fast food and business lunches in a cafe
Instead, look for canteens next to work — it’s cheaper and healthier. To make it more convenient to look, look at Yandex.Map. A budget option is to cook at home and carry it with you.
11. Issue transport passes
If you buy a ticket for the subway or train every time, it will be much more expensive than monthly passes in terms of a month. Just compare the price of a subscription and a one-time trip in your city.
How to save by spending money
12. Use cashback
Cashback is a refund 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 you use. Therefore, before buying any product or going to a restaurant, check if there is a 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 ones settled:
- Biglion
- Kupikupon
- Frendi (former Groupon)
These services sell discount coupons for restaurants, fitness clubs, bowling, go-karts, concerts, relaxation in country hotels, medical examinations and much more. Discounts reach up to 90%.
14. Track cheap flights
In the high season, catch last minute charter flights. They are cheaper because they could not be completely sold by travel agencies. You can find such tickets on the sites:
- Sabooka.ru
- Co.clickavia.ru
- Tourdom.ru
- 100500miles.ru
How to save money on food
15. Do not go to the store hungry
On an empty stomach, any food seems more attractive, so the basket will be filled with unnecessary products.
16. Schedule supermarket trips
Make before this an approximate menu for the week and a list of products. So it will be easier to follow your plan and not deviate from the budget.
17. Download discounted apps
Many mobile services help monitor stocks at 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 goods you can’t do without in the kitchen (cereals, flour, sugar). Go to the market for meat, vegetables, fruits – there you can bargain and bring down the price.
19. Buy Products 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 stocks..
20. Buy analogues
Well-known brands make you pay more. Cheaper are the products that the store makes itself (“Red price” for “Pyaterochka”, “D” for “Dixy”, “365 days” for “Ribbon”).
How to save on clothes
21. Plan your wardrobe correctly
When you go to the mall for clothes, also write a list. 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 spools.
Try on even if you are sure that your size. If you think to take or not to take, do not buy.
Consider a 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 second-hand
Fashion is cyclical, so do not disdain second-hand, there are really interesting things. There are still swaps, free markets and dress-crossings, where you can exchange clothes for free. Bring yours and take what you like.
23. Register on the sites of stores and subscribe to their news.
Brands and online clothing stores often give promotional codes for their first purchase (for example, Befree, Lamoda, Wildberries). This way you can save 5-15%, which is especially beneficial when you buy an expensive thing (winter jacket, suit, shoes). Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with sales or promotions.
24. Buy travel clothing
This applies to designer things that cost less in our homeland than ours. 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 for purchases (return VAT).
In order not to travel abroad yourself, use the service Grabr.io: it unites buyers and travelers and helps to get goods that are more expensive in Russia. There you can order clothes, gadgets, food additives and other things.
25. Become a member of the bonus programs
Do not be lazy to draw up cards of stores that offer at the checkout. They will give benefits the next time you come to the store..
26. Learn to care for things
If you take good care of the clothes, it will last longer. Sew holes, remove stains, periodically dry your outer clothing, and clean shoes every day.
When a thing is tired, do customization – remaking and updating. You can make a T-shirt from a sweater, a topic from a T-shirt, a hat from a sweater, and shorts from jeans.
How to save on a car
27. Watch her condition
By performing maintenance on time, you save on major repairs. Read the manual for a car or service book to plan to change parts, for example, a timing belt.
28. Do some of the work yourself
You can check the fluid level in the car, change the engine oil or wheels yourself.
29. Reduce fuel consumption
Frequent checking of the air filter and tire pressure will help. Avoid idling and use cruise control to avoid sudden acceleration and braking..
30. Get discounts at gas stations
Gas stations encourage their customers. Lukoil, Tatneft, Gazpromneft, Rosneft, Shell and others have bonus, discount, fuel cards. Check if there is 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
Combining several tasks in one trip, you will reduce fuel consumption, wear less car and save time.
Assess the situation on the roads through the navigator. Sometimes it is better to go by public transport, take car sharing or a taxi, so as not to burn gas in traffic jams. If you have a summer cottage, then leave there before everyone else does..
How to save money on repairs
32. Make the correct sequence of work
Make a repair plan. You can not put finishing floors if you are not ready to finish the walls. Take measurements of rooms to accurately calculate the area and material that you need to buy.
When you need a lot of building material, it is best to take everything at a time to save on shipping.
33. Choose simple building materials
Do not chase brands to make exterior or interior finishes. Instead of tiles in the kitchen or in the toilet, lay linoleum, and replace stretch ceilings with foam plates.
34. Choose the style of the interior wisely
The minimalistic design of a house or apartment is a guarantee of the absence of excess furniture or finishing frills. Choose styles where floor, ceiling or wall decoration is not required at all, for example, loft or industrial.
35. Do it yourself repair part
This applies to redecorating when you have a little skill in painter or plasterer. And sticking a wallpaper, folding a laminate or assembling furniture is not difficult, if you look at a few lessons on Youtube.
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