Figuring out how to save money the right way doesn’t have to involve losing your mind or sanity.
Saving money isn’t easy, but if you figure out how to save money the right way, the process can be a little easier and less painful. One of the most significant challenges in any money-saving strategy is keeping sane. This is because you will most likely have to make notable changes in your lifestyle. But not all of these changes have to be significant. Below is a list of some of the ways you can save money without going crazy.
Use Coupons
Coupons are a simple way to save money on items you would buy anyway. It’s also an excellent way to treat yourself on occasion without overspending.
There are many ways you can go about using coupons to save money. Many coupons are available online for free, whether they’re on a specialty coupon site, a manufacturer’s site or the website of a retailer. You can also get coupons by merely asking. A simple email or phone call to the manufacturer or seller of an item asking for a coupon will usually result in them sending you a code to use online or mailing you manufacturer’s coupons to use for an in-store purchase.
You can also find coupons in magazines and newspapers or even in the store. In-store coupons are sometimes attached to the item itself (called a “peelie”) or in a little dispenser on the shelf next to the item.
Finally, you can buy coupons online. This doesn’t make sense for most shoppers, but for extreme couponers, it can save a few extra cents on each item.
Buy Generic
Generics are available everywhere, from the grocery store to the pharmacy. Depending on what you need, generics can be just as good. In the vast majority of situations, you will not be able to tell the difference between generic and name brand beyond the lower price. Despite the advantages of generics, there are a few instances when you may want to stay with name brand items.
First, with medications, your doctor may only want you to take the name brand prescription. While the active ingredients in a generic and name brand medication will be the same, sometimes the inactive ingredients can make a difference in how effectively the medicine works. Therefore, your doctor may not want you to take generic versions.
Second, with food, the generic versions sometimes taste different. For some people, the difference is not good, although others actually prefer the generic version more. For the foodies out there that only want a particular tasting food, sticking with name brand might be necessary.
Set Up Automatic Savings
A great way to save without noticing it is to set up an automatic savings plan with your bank or financial broker. After you get your paycheck every week or two, you can set up an automatic transfer of money to a particular financial account. This will happen without any input from you. When you set this up, keep the amount saved to a reasonable amount so the shock of “losing” the spending money will be easier to handle. After a few months, you’ll soon forget about the money automatically going into savings. Before you know it, you will have a sizeable amount of saved cash without feeling the pain.
Save With Someone Else
Saving money with a friend or family member can p encourage you and give extra motivation for saving. You can even have a little competition to see who can save the most money or find the best deals.
Another advantage of saving with another person is the sharing of ideas. An extra set of eyes looking for coupons, sales or promotions can really help save money. And depending on your relationship with the person, this provides an opportunity for additional bonding and time to spend together.
Visit your nearest Title Tree store for more tips on spending less – or if you need a little help making ends meet right about now.