This is a guest post from Maya Edberg…
With the economy performing at its worst and with many families across the country tightening their belts in readiness for tough times ahead, I thought I should share some of the tricks I use to save money on a daily basis. You’ll find them pretty useful in your quest to build a safety net of cash for better times in the future.
Eight Ways to Save a Pretty Penny:
Tip One: Shop on the net
Online products are availed directly to you without the involvement of middlemen meaning that you can save quite a good amount by buying goods at un-inflated prices. In addition, online shopping exposes you to a myriad of coupons, rebate and cheap deals that can help you save a great deal of your income.
Tip two: Stick to a budget
Most of us tend to make the mistake of indulging in impulse buying once in shopping malls only to end up depleting our savings and weakening our financial muscle. After I got trapped into such a situation once, I resolved to start making a list which to my surprise helped cut my expenditure by almost a half.
Tip three: Start cooking at home
Eating out seven days a week might gradually rip your pockets making you to have a worried look when the last week of the month comes around. To avoid this unfortunate state of affairs, start eating most of your meals at home. If possible start taking lunch with you to work.
Tip four: Shopping mall coupons never disappoint
Grab useful shopping coupons and take advantage of double coupon window days to do your shopping. But do not buy things simply because you have a coupon. Be reasonable in what you buy.
Tip five: Show me your friends…
Friends are nice people but if their habits oppose your saving goals, stay away from them. Surround yourself with people who think positively about tomorrow and who are ready to inspire a saving culture in you.
Tip six: Increase your income
This is actually the most straightforward way to save more. If you earn little, it’s obviously impossible for you to save a lot. Spend the bulk of your time investing in your career and/or business to maximize on your available income channels. Successful people attract handsome perks.
Tip seven: Save on electricity bills
Huge electricity bills can heavily dent your fiscal fortunes. You don’t want to spend 20% of your income on unreasonable electricity bills by not following basic energy efficiency tips like.
Teach your family members how to minimize on energy wastage by researching on top ways to save power. In particular, emphasize on the importance of switching off electrical appliances when not in use.
Tip eight: Your credit card could be your worst enemy
Credit cards are useful especially for online shopping. However, if you’re anything like me, I’m the frugal type; you’ll want to restrict their usage. Resist the temptation of swiping your card in paying for things you do not really need.
That’s it, the eight simple ways to beat the current hard times. Hope you enjoyed reading!
Author bio:
Maya is a 27 year old stay at home mum who is always looking to save money. Maya is also a blogger for www.realsmart.com.au, one of the biggest online department stores. Enjoy her contribution and if you like her article, follow her on twitter at @MayaEdberg