Budgeting is important, but who said finding room in your budget has to be boring? Cutting costs and saving money might seem yawn-inducing, but that is only because you are not doing it right!
Here are fifteen creative tips to help you maintain and build a better budget.
1. Save Loose Change
Cash is still very much around and might be lying around your house! Save your loose change in a jar or piggy bank and see how much you can save.
2. Use More Coupons
Check to see if there are coupons before you make a purchase, especially for anything you need or buy regularly.
3. Compare Credit Card Fees
If you still have credit cards with high annual fees and APR, see if you can switch to something more reasonable.
4. Cut Back on Eating Out
This doesn’t mean you have to never eat out. Perhaps it means limiting your wine drinking to happy hour or opting for the lunch special. Every dollar counts!
5. Reevaluate Your Savings and Checking Accounts
Could you be saving or earning more interest elsewhere? There’s a good chance the answer’s yes.
6. Try a No Spend Challenge
Take one day out of the week or month when you don’t spend any money at all.
7. Buy Used
Many used items like furniture and clothing are still in excellent shape. Remember, one person’s trash is another’s treasure!
8. Buy In Bulk
You’ll always save at least a little if you buy in bulk. Much like with the coupons, if you’re already going to make the purchase anyway, you may as well find a way to make it cheaper.
9. Vision Board
They sound cheesy, but you’d be surprised how much just a little bit of light manifestation can work. Creating a vision board for your financial goals could open up some opportunities for you and some holes in your budget.
10. Pay More
It sounds counterintuitive, but if you’re spending money on cheap things because you think you’ll save a buck, you’re probably already used to replacing them just as quickly. Spend the extra money on something that will last, and you’ll save in the long run.
11. Cut Back on Subscriptions
How much are you watching your streaming services? The price keeps increasing, but if you aren’t using them frequently enough, this is a fast, easy thing to cut out of your budget today.
12. Cook More
Teaching yourself how to cook is both creative and money-saving. Going out to eat is nice occasionally, but the joy of cooking your meals is budget-friendly and fulfilling.
13. Walk or Use Public Transit
For those who have astronomical car payments or find themselves calling a rideshare service more often than they’d like, walk or take the bus whenever you can to cut back on transportation expenses.
14. Try Some DIY
Not everything is DIY-friendly to the novice, but there are so many things you can teach yourself with a quick YouTube tutorial that will save you a lot of money without having to call a professional.
15. Workout at Home
Gym memberships and classes can add up. Provided you think you can maintain your workout routine when the couch is sitting right over there, tempting you to skip the gym membership to save on monthly expenses.
