Ways To Save

Despite having a tight budget, it is possible to find ways to save. Most of us are struggling to manage on our current family incomes. Once all the bills are paid not much is left, so the idea of saving can seem almost impossible. Nevertheless, it is important for all of us to save money even if we’re on a tight budget. Below are tips on ways to save your money on a tight budget.

Keep a record of all your expenditures

It’s vital to track your expenditures for each month so you can account for the money you have spent. Keep a record of all your expenses for that month. By doing this you will be able to see where you are using your money. You will also be able to see the areas where you can cut your spending down. By cutting down on these areas you will be amazed by how much money you have saved by simply reducing some of your areas of expenditures.

Don’t carry your credit cards

Carrying your credit cards with you can lead to spending extra money, even if you never intended to. It’s easy to end up buying items that you didn’t budget for. So if you’re not going to buy something that’s on your budget today, leave your credit cards at home. It’s a simple trick to help you stay on budget.

Put your loose change in savings

Putting your loose change in a jar is a good way to save without even noticing. Take your change to your bank regularly and deposit it into your saving account . Keep the jar small so that you will take it to your bank often, or you may be tempted to raid it for something you probably don’t really need. Small amounts taken to the bank regularly soon add up and you will be surprised by how much you have saved even after a short while.

Saving money is not impossible

Saving money can be a daunting task, especially if you’re on a tight budget, but it’s not impossible. If you take at look at your expenditures you will see where you can save money. The trick is to stick at your new spending plan. Don’t overspend. Then you can watch your savings grow. Even if there is only one single expenditure that you can do without, you can save that money.

Groceries contribute to a sizeable percentage of domestic expenses. One of the simplest ways to save money spent on food in your house is to reduce your spending on groceries. You can make spending on groceries more affordable by observing the following simple tips:

Shop Online

Shop for groceries online to help you compare prices among suppliers and save time spent during shopping. Since most groceries are not perishable, most online stores can also deliver the produce to your doorsteps so you can be able to attend to other things. Some online stores obtain their supplies direct from farms making their deliveries cheaper compared to buying from local grocers.

Plan Your Menus

Plan weekly or monthly menus in advance to take advantage of bulk buying. Meal planning will also help you avoid eating from eateries and hotels. You can cook some main dishes and freeze the extras for use when you are not in a mood to cook. Whenever you have food that is about to expire, come up with a recipe that will allow you to use the available ingredients. Reducing wastage reduces your visits to the grocery store, thus saves you money. Additionally, you can plan your menus to match with your favorite store’s weekly circular, to help you take advantage of their sales prices.

Prepare a Budget

Prepare a grocery budget to guide you during meal planning to avoid overspending. A budget helps you avoid impulse buying. You can use the traditional pen and paper or modern apps on your smartphone. A shopping list is vital to have when you head out to buy groceries. You must exercise personal discipline during shopping. Avoid buying anything out of your list that is being offered at discounted prices since this will make you leave out items you required to purchase. Further, those discounts should be evaluated regarding unit price and not the total cost, since most are meant to lure you into buying but do not give a saving.

Consider Buying Groceries Directly From Farmers

You will get fresher supplies at a lower price when you shop for groceries at your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) association during some seasons of the year compared to buying at grocery shops. You are only required to pay a small amount of money to the CSA upfront, and then you will be picking fresh produce directly from farmers throughout the season. Additionally, you can form alliances with close neighbors and friends to enable you to buy in bulk and later on share the grocery purchase. In such arrangements, you bear the cost of transport which make the purchase cheaper.

Switch Brands

Save money by buying cheap groceries from store brands or brands that are currently on sale. Most people are sceptical of store brands since they are little known compared to other brands. Store brands offer similar quality to other better-known brands and are only lacking in the promotion. Store brand goods are processed and packed by the same companies trading in name brands. Store brand is cheaper since no money is spent on promoting the brand. Thus, the saving is passed on to the consumer.

Coupons

There are lots of coupons readily available in magazines on food packets and online. Coupon clipping can be quite addictive once you start. Some extreme couponers manage to save a huge amount on their shopping.

Always check any coupons you have against your shopping list to make sure you take full advantage of the discounts available.