Stretching Your Money While Under Quarantine – 8 Simple Tips
When you are making a budget, at first it can be very difficult to figure out how to save money. There are a lot of different pieces of a budget. They have to fit together just right in order for it to work.
When working your budget, you need to consider ways to save money everyday day. We’ve compiled this list of everyday ways that you can really stretch your dollar to maximum efficiency.
- Stop eating out. Cut back on convenience foods. This includes fast food and sit-down restaurants. The average American eats about 4-5 meals per week outside the home. At approximately $12.75 per person for a meal outside the home, a family of four would be spending $51 per meal, $255 per week. If they switched to home cooked meals for 4 out of those 5 meals, at approximately $4 per person, that’s $16 per meal, only $64 per paycheck. That’s a total savings of $140 per week, $7,280 over the course of the year. If you’re looking to cut costs, this is a simple one. Plan in advance, grocery shop accordingly, and save a ton of money!
- Grocery shop with a list. Plan ahead for your meal planning, and limit your trips to the grocery store to less frequently. You’ll be less likely to impulse by, and you will be more likely to stick to your list and your meal plan this way. With less frequent trips to the grocery store, you’ll save money as well. You’ll be able to purchase all of your groceries for the week in one trip, rather than multiple trips throughout the week that just add up.
- Shop smarter, not harder. Look for the sales of items that you need, and make your meal plan around items that you know are on sale. Also, when you are planning to purchase something, buy it with intention. Check out this post about purchasing for some great information about gaining control over your spending. This simple change can save you from purchasing things impulsively, which will save you money over the long term.
- Watch less tv. There are a lot of potential benefits to this. You could reduce your electric bill, and spend more time doing other things, like work on a side business, or reduce your cable bill subscription. The average cable bill in the US is $100 a month and rising every year. Considering the costs, you might consider cutting the cord altogether. $100 a month can go a long way towards paying off debt and achieving other financial goals.
- Quit using credit cards. Especially if they are continually getting you into financial trouble. That is called insanity, making the same mistakes over and over again, expecting a different result. So stop using them! Take them out of your wallet, save an emergency fund, and quit the insanity cycle. Don’t make excuses as to why you need to keep it, like for emergencies, or for the rewards, or whatever else.
- Pack your lunch to work. Bringing a sack lunch to work instead of eating out can save you quite a chunk of cash during the week. You can easily create tasty meals for yourself, even if it’s not every day. Your coworkers may not understand your desire to save money, but that is their problem. It will be worth it in your marathon towards financial freedom.
- Cancel unused subscriptions. Analyze your budget for any monthly subscriptions you have that are currently unused. Magazines, gym memberships, online services, all fall under this category. If you don’t use it, you don’t need it. Really consider where else in your budget that money can be used.
Make your own cleaning supplies. DIY cleaners are cheaper per ounce than commercial cleaners and are fairly simple to make. I make my own laundry detergent, counter cleaner, “Windex”, air freshener, and soap. We also use vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap as substitutes for commercial cleaners, and they are all cheaper than their store-bought counterparts. Search online for recipes, and see what works for you. You might be surprised by what you find!
Want more tips on how to save money? Check out these tips from Dave Ramsey, The Secret to Saving Money. He has 15 tips you can implement today to save money on your budget.
Remember, financial freedom is a marathon, not a sprint. These changes are part of a lifestyle change, and you have to be committed making the changes. Don’t beat yourself up when you make a mistake. Admit it, move past it, and commit to being better tomorrow than you were today.