Saving money, no matter how hard it may seem, is quite easy and begins at home. With all the family expenses, including bills, rent, taxes, and with that pressure of maintaining a great lifestyle for your family, it might seem impossible to save a lot. But here is a solution to it. You don’t need to save big. Instead, you just need to save smart. For instance, I started to give my children home-made lunch instead of giving them money to eat out. I was surprised to see how this tiny change helped me achieve my monthly savings goal.
The first thing you need to do is have a savings plan to manage where your money is going and stick to your goal. You need to have a clear picture of where you are spending the most and what needs to be cut down from your expenses list. If you or your partner have an unused gym membership that you both don’t seem to be using in the months to come, why pay monthly charges? You will be surprised to see how little things add up.
The next step is to start a budget plan. At the start of each month, make a list of your expenses and the tasks you need to do this month. Whether you need to start on a new home renovation project or have to buy your kid’s birthday present, you can still act wisely to save money. For instance, if you need to buy your child a gift such as an iPad, instead of going for a brand new one, purchase a cheap refurbished iPad. It will cost you less, will serve the same purpose, and will help you save a fortune.
My personal favorite way of saving money is to shop around the best deals. Why chose a credit card with a higher interest rate when you can always go for the one with lesser fees and a lower interest rate? Similarly, you can always find the best electricity and gas deals on the Australian Government’s website specifically designed to help families save money.
Changing one regular spending habit is yet another way. I saved almost $500 by switching from a large latte to a smaller one. Similarly, I noticed that making lunch at home was healthier and cheaper than eating outside and helped me save over $1200 a year. Small spending changes help my family and me to save big in the long run. We could save enough for a family vacation by cutting down our unnecessary and unneeded expenses in a single year.
An online savings account will also help you achieve your savings goal more efficiently. Look for an account that has no fees and has high-interest rates for growing your savings faster. The next thing you can do is to transfer part of your pay into your account each month by setting up a direct debit so that you are always saving without even thinking about it.