It’s going to seem like we’re pulling your leg with this list. But the only thing you’ll be pulling is more cash out of your wallet when you follow these five surprisingly effective ways to save money.
Get Fancy With Snack Service
We all like to indulge in our favorite chips and cookies once in a while. But what if you gave your Oreos the Michelin-star treatment? You don’t have to do much; just place a few on the nicest plate you have and serve it to yourself like it’s the most special thing you’ll eat all day.
This helps with portion control, which can lower your weekly grocery costs if you’re the kind of person to black out while eating a sleeve of your favorite snack (guilty!).
Cancel One Plan a Month
If you find yourself over-exerting your budget and social battery, here’s a tip you’ll love: cancel your plans. We don’t want to encourage flakiness, so you might want to do this sparingly, and the ideal way to handle this is learning to say no to things that are outside your budget.
Yet we’re all guilty of saying yes to something, only to realize we really shouldn’t spend money on going out. And when that happens, that’s the time to say, “I can’t tonight.” Just don’t forget to reschedule!
Give In To a (Cheaper) Impulse Buy
Yes, it’s best to avoid impulse buys altogether. But let’s face it: if you were initially going to buy a $40 shirt and can haggle yourself down to a $3 candy bar as a truce between the angel and devil on your shoulder, we’d say that’s a win.
This doesn’t work nearly as well with things that are similar prices; just because it’s slightly cheaper doesn’t mean you’re winning at this, so make sure it’s a substantial difference and shake hands with yourself.
Hide Money on Yourself
You can’t spend your money if you don’t know where it is. Put your savings in an envelope and ask a trusted friend or family member to hide it somewhere in your home. Sure, there’s a chance you’ll go looking for it if you’re desperate.
But there’s an equally good chance that you’ll forget about it. It’s an incredibly simple and silly way to hold yourself to your savings goals, and it’ll be a lot of fun for the person who gets to hide it, too.
Go Look at a Tree
We mean this both literally and figuratively. Instead of online shopping or going out for drinks when you’re bored, spend more time in the great outdoors!
Who knows what exciting things await you in said tree? Birds? Probably. Bugs? All signs point to yes.
But the only thing you’ll guarantee: nature is 100% free. It sounds silly to just go outside instead of spending, yet those who remember what it’s like being a kid get it.
Remember just how much fun you can have at no extra cost, just from exploring your neighborhood? Try it again.
