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Start These Five Habits to Save Money
Is one of your new year’s resolutions to save money? Then start these five habits right now to start saving money in! Saving money is similar to losing weight, you can’t chase the next fad diet, you have to change your long-term behaviors and ways of thinking in order to see lasting changes. With the five habits I am about to share, it is about changing both your mindset and your behaviors to make saving money become a habit that will be hard to break.
1. Finish What You Have Before Buying a New One
This habit can apply to anything you own. Finish your _ before buying a new one. Try it by filling in the blank with shampoo, lipstick, foundation, moisturizer, serum, etc. You get the point. How many half-empty bottles of shampoo are sitting in your shower? How many lipsticks do you own? How many bottles of lotions do you have open? Exactly. Try finishing a product before buying a replacement or trying a new one.
Before you buy that moisturizer you have been wanting to try, ask yourself if you can keep using the one you have? The answer is probably yes! By finishing what you have before you purchase a new one, you will not only cut down on the clutter in your life, but you will start to save money.
2. Plan Ahead For Meals
Start planning your meals ahead of time can save you money in various ways.
First, by planning ahead for meals, you can start using the weekly ad from your local grocery store. As a result, you can plan meals for the entire week with what is on sale.
Second, creating a calendar of your meals will ensure you use up everything you bought. For example, buy a green pepper, onion, and mushrooms to make tacos, then spaghetti, then pizza. It will also save you time when all the veggies are already washed and cut at the beginning of the week.
Third, by planning ahead for meals, you won’t be caught on a weeknight or weekend not knowing what to make or not having any meat thawed out. So you can cut down on those last-minute take-out orders which will save you a ton of money in the long-run.
3. Do It Yourself
Get in the mindset of doing it yourself. Once again, this habit applies to most things, from minor to major. Of course, you have to balance this with other priorities in your life, but it’s a great way to save money.
Have you ever been out with your kids and they are begging for an ice cream cone? If they can wait an hour, head to the grocery store on your way home and pick up a container of Breyers and a pack of sugar cones. For the cost of one ice cream cone, you can now make 12 in the comfort of your home.
Do you pay for a weekly cleaning service? Cancel the service or reduce it to once a month and do your dishes and laundry yourself. It may take a couple of hours but once you make it a habit you will see it’s so easy to throw on a load of laundry before you go run some errands, and it will become a natural part of your Sunday schedule.
Have you been wanting to paint your living room? Repair the front steps? With so many do-it-yourself videos on YouTube these “major” projects are a lot easier than you think. By doing them yourself you are going to save so much money!
4. Wait to Shop
Let’s face it, you aren’t going to stop shopping. But before you one-click buy anything, remember that there are certain times of the year that are ideal for shopping. Whether it’s a major annual sale or a time of the year to get rid of excess or obsolete inventory, find the best times to shop and wait for them to get the best deals on what you’re looking to buy!
If you are looking to prepare your closet for fall, you need to check out Nordstrom’s Yearly Anniversary Sale which usually occurs in July where you can get new fall styles at discounted prices.
If you are a beauty enthusiast, most beauty brands have Black Friday sales that discount their products more than any other time of the year. Not to mention Sephora holds a Friends & Family sale twice a year, usually around April and November. These are the perfect times to restock on your beauty necessities.
If you are in the market for a new TV, prepare to do your shopping in January when most TVs are marked down for the Super Bowl.
Pay attention to the major sales at the places you shop! Now all you have to do is wait patiently for the time of the year to come around! (Easier said than done, but I know you can do it!)
5. Pay Attention to Return Policies
How many times have you bought something, didn’t like it, and it sat in the corner of your bedroom for the next 30, 60, 90 days until you realized you missed the return period? You can either keep it or settle for store credit for whatever it is now worth. Keep on top of the return policy whenever you buy something, and make sure to mark it on your calendar.
It also helps to keep the receipt until the return policy has ended. You might end up changing your mind and the receipt will be where you put it!
Don’t forget most online purchases provide free returns, as well. It’s as easy as packing it up and sticking it in your closest mailbox.
Save Money in the New Year!
Try at least a couple of the habits above and start saving money today. You will find that by changing your mindset and behaviors, saving money will become effortless!
Please let me know in the comments what your best money-saving habit is.
