There’s no questioning it—money is a difficult subject. Almost everyone is looking for that one quick fix to leading the high life. But, unfortunately there just isn’t one single trick that can thrust someone into the world of wealth and luxury. In today’s financial climate, mastering personal finance means educating yourself on different money saving tips and techniques, disciplining yourself to actually following those techniques, and waiting. Following these three very simple and somewhat strange tips can really help jump start you on the road to financial comfort and stability.
Save Money by Drinking More Water
First, drink more water. Not only does drinking plenty of water have significant health benefits, it can have financial benefits too. We’ve all read in health magazines or on weight loss threads that drinking water before eating a meal helps us eat less. But, what many don’t realize is that this can also help us save money. By eating less at every meal, you will be buying less as well. While it will obviously take some time for the financial benefits to add up, cutting back on your food bill can make a significant difference in the amount of money you spend. Furthermore, drinking water is free (or nearly free). Rather than spending money on soda, juice, or tea, try drinking tap water. If you can’t stand the taste of tap water, don’t waste your money on bottled water. Buy a small water filter that purifies the tap water from your sink. These filters can cost anywhere from 10 to 30 dollars and are a great way to cut back on spending and material waste.
Save Money by Creating a Grocery Shopping List
Next, write a list before you go groceries shopping and actually stick to it. This is another great way to consistently save money. Never go to the store without first having a strong idea of what it is you need to buy. Before you head out, look through the fridge and pantry and make a careful plan of what it is you will be buying at the store. This will help you to cut back on overstocking your kitchen and letting things go to waste. Once you have made your list and are at the store, do not put anything in the cart that is not on the list. No matter how tempting the holiday cookies or the flavored chips look, stick to the plan. Often times we budget only for the things we need to buy at the store without taking into consideration the little extras we pile into our carts. By only buying the things you really need, you will save a bundle with each trip.
Make Enough Dinner for Leftovers to Save Money
Make a double or triple batch of dinner one night. While this may sound a little wacky as a money saving technique, it can really work. With eight plus hour work days, carpools, kids, school, assignments, meetings, and so much more, making dinner can be the last thing any busy person wants to do at the end of the day. All too often, we come home from work and order expensive takeout because we’re just too tired to cook. Instead of breaking into your wallet, try doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling a batch of one simple meal (like a casserole or pasta dish) one night. Take the extra portions and freeze them for later. This way, on those days that you are just too wiped out to want to cook you can pop those leftovers in the microwave or oven and have a free meal in no time. Eating out is astronomically more expensive then eating in, but sometimes the convenience is worth the price. This way you can save the money and the time.
In a world obsessed with money, it’s safe to say that we all have the same long-term goal in life: to have enough money to live comfortably and happily. Another thing we can hopefully agree on is that this level of financial comfort does not come quickly. While none of these money saving tips are going to instantly sky rocket us into mansions and sports cars, they can help us obtain the financial well-being we long for.
Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com or in the comments section below.
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