If you are on the lookout for practical ways to make your monthly income stretch a bit further, it’s worth exploring how much basic daily habits are setting you back. Are you dropping dollars on impulse purchases? Maybe you’re spending a bit more than you think on Starbucks.
Here are some simple changes you could make that will help you save.
#1 Stop Wasting Water
Having a lovely long shower is a great stress reliever at the end of a long and busy day. But, do you need one every single day? It’s crazy how much water we allow to go down the drain just because we are in the habit of standing in the shower for too long.
We can save a lot of money by saving water. Instead, save it for a special occasion so you’ll have something to look forward to enjoying! An excellent way of de-stressing is to meditate during the time you’d ordinarily use to shower.
#2 Save Your Coins
If you mainly use cash, a simple change is to begin only paying with bills. Make a habit of emptying your wallet into a coin bank every time you get home. Once it’s full, take it to the bank and deposit it into a savings account. You eventually use it to pay off debt, save for retirement, or even for a vacation!
#3 Make Great Coffee at Home
Instead of getting take-out coffee every day, invest in a quality pour-over coffee maker, and make your very own barista-style coffee at home. You may even begin to prefer it this way because you can adjust it to your taste!
#4 Adjust Your Thermostat
Whether you are using heating, cooling, or both, adjust your thermostat when you go to bed or leave the house. Or, better yet, install a timer, or a programmable thermostat so you can set it to adjust automatically.
If you keep your temperature a bit cooler in the winter months, you can still be comfy with cozy sweaters and socks. During summer months, cool down with a glass of ice-cold lemonade, or stay cool with light cotton clothing.
#5 Buy Just One Less Cleaning Product
Did you know that a mix of white vinegar and baking soda is as effective, if not more so than most cleaning products? It makes light work of degreasing stovetops and can quickly loosen food stubbornly stuck on the bottom of pots and pans.
#6 Cancel That Membership You’re Not Using
Did you take out a gym contract you’re not using as part of your new year’s resolutions? Maybe you’re too busy to read the magazines you subscribed to, or you have a whole bunch of streaming subscriptions you don’t use. Nobody really needs Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, AND Sling TV, do they?
#7 Shop in Bulk
Instead of buying small quantities of pantry staples, head to a food co-op that offers grocery items in bulk. It will help you save money and help save the environment because you’ll be using less packaging.
#8 Eat Those Leftovers
Instead of ordering take-out, dive into your fridge or freezer to see what’s there. Even if you don’t feel like eating the same meal again, you could transform it into something new. You can quickly convert some leftover rice from a curry you had into yummy egg-fried rice. You could blend yesterday’s veggies into a soup or make sandwiches with leftover meat. All it takes is some creativity!
#9 Unplug Appliances
Take a few minutes to look around your house. Is your laptop plugged in? What about your TV? Maybe your phone chargers are just sitting there drawing power without being used. You’ll be amazed at how much energy appliances use when they are plugged in but not used.
It doesn’t take much time to unplug these devices, and if you get into the habit of doing it as you finish using something, you’ll have cultivated an excellent money-saving habit.
#10 Change Your Lightbulbs
If you’re still using incandescent bulbs, switch them out once they’ve burned out. Instead, use CFL bulbs that work at partial capacity. These bulbs use as much as 75% less energy and last significantly longer than standard lightbulbs.
Even though CFL bulbs are more expensive, they work out cheaper in the long-run because of their longer lifespan and the savings on energy consumption.
Make it a Lifelong Habit
You’ll soon begin to see the enormous impact these tiny changes can have on your budget. Once you notice how much extra money you have, it could inspire you to make it a lifelong habit, instead of just a quick way to save some dollars.
