Most people would spare no expense for comfort. But do you really have to dump out your purse just to live a reasonably good life? Here are some tips for keeping the overhead in your life at a minimum — no (or minimal) sacrifices required.
Fight Back on Your Financial Saboteur
Who’s your financial saboteur, you ask? Probably you, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Impulse purchases destroy any momentum you make toward your financial goals. They fly in the face of everything the avid budgeter believes. The next time you get an urge to buy something just by seeing it, pause, take a deep breath, and ask yourself if you really need it. Save yourself the inevitable guilt you’ll feel after buying it because the answer is usually no: you didn’t.
Improve Your Credit Score
Improving your credit score also translates to lower interest rates and payments. The less you have to worry about high monthly credit card payments, the more you can allocate your funds to comfort. This is an example where you might cut comfort initially for the long-term greater good. Shift some money around to see if you can pay off cards faster, especially those with higher rates. This also provides a unique type of comfort: peace of mind. The alternative is treading water in a never-ending sea of debt, and that’s the opposite of comfortable.
Check the “Price per Unit” When Grocery Shopping
Many shoppers will opt for the cheapest item. Does this save money? Sometimes, but not always. The secret is in the label — look for the price per unit to get the real cost of what you’re purchasing. A good example would be bulk items.
Let’s say you’re looking for batteries. The pack of four is the obvious choice at first because it’s $4.99, vs. the twelve-pack that’s $9.99. But when you consider what each individual battery costs, or the price per unit, you’ll notice that the twelve-pack is a much better deal. And batteries are one of the best examples since they last a while; this isn’t as successful if you’re buying a veritable ton of mixed greens you won’t eat before they go bad.
Use More Coupons
If there’s any money-saving tactic that lasts through the ages, it’s cutting coupons.
Even though many platforms now offer digital coupons, the act of hunting down deals will never go out of style. Couponing only requires as much or as little effort as you’d like; you can install an app on your web browser like Honey that automatically searches for coupons for you. Or you can go fully old-school and cut them out of the morning paper. Both are viable ways to buy things you’d already use at a fraction of the price.
Find Ways To Make Things Free (Or Cheap) Instead of Cutting Them Out
There’s no better way to cut costs than to eliminate them completely. Instead of planning an expensive dinner and drinks with two friends, invite them over and cook dinner. Tell one to bring a board game, the other a bottle of wine, put some music on, and you’re going to have an equally wonderful evening without the massive bill. And if we’re talking comfort, there’s nothing more comfortable than a night in with loved ones.
