There is a good chance that as you try to save big amounts this year, you are looking to make drastic measures to meet your goals. To a certain extent, there might be a need for that type of approach but you can also look at other ways to reach your target. This is because you might tire out easily as you make big changes which can make you fall short of your target.
You might be surprised that there are small initiatives which can greatly complement the drastic measures you are taking to save money. They can help you save big money over time as long as you keep at it. It may not produce big results quickly but the idea is that it will help you save over a long period of time.
Also, choosing to undertake more than one at a time will exponentially increase the amount you save. This means the more options you consider and the longer you keep at it, the more it can help you in saving money. You would be able to reach your savings target much faster and reduce your financial stress along the way. Here are a few of the tips you can look into to help you save money.
Save small change at home consistently
There will be times when you get home, you empty your pockets on to a counter without really thinking about it. You put down your keys, phone, and some small bills and loose change you acquired throughout the day. It could be loose change for that coffee you bought in the morning and several payments you made throughout the day.
One of the small steps you can make to save big amounts of money is to gather these loose change and small bills and save them. Remember that time when you were still a child and you had a piggy bank to put money in? You are just going to do it again with a goal in mind. Get a small box where you can just drop all your loose change and small bills every day.
You will not notice it but that will add up to a nice amount at the end of the month. You can get that money and put it into an account you are trying to save on. It is also imporatant to note that you need to transfer that money into an account because you might be tempted to spend it on unnecessary items. Do this consistently and it will help you save money.
Commute or bike to work
There are a number of small things you can do to help you save big and one of them is changing the way you go to and from work. If you know how to ride a bike, this can be a great skill you can put to use today. Buy a decent bike and start using it to get to work. You can also take that bike going back home after work.
Of course, this would be challenging when you live too far from the office. You also need to consider where you will be biking. Are the roads safe for you with designated bike lanes to keep you away from the cars? If it is not safe, you can try using public transportation as a means to get to work. This will only save you gas money but even with your car maintenance expenses.
Carpool to save on transportation
One other small change you can make to help you save big is to look for carpool opportunities to get to work. You might even start one with your officemates who either live near you or are located along the way. Form a group who would be willing to take turns bringing a car to the office. This way, you get to save money and maybe even drive to the office for only a few days in a week.
There are also apps which can help you find alternative transportation solutions which can help you save money. Your company might even offer service for its employees and all you have to do is ask. Talk to your colleagues about it or look for an app that can help you book your transportation going home. You might even have new friends along the way.
Explore cutting the cable to stream movies
One of the small things you can do at home to save big at the end of the month is to look at your entertainment expenses. Primarily, you need to study how much you pay for cable as against paying for streaming services. If paying for the latter is less expensive, it might be high time to cut your cord and just stream the movies you want to watch. Techcrunch shares that cord cutting is increasing faster than expected.
If you look back, you might not even have the time to watch your cable when you get home from work. When you choose to stream movies and shows, you get to watch what you want at a time you are available. You are not confined to what the program is at a certain time. You have the ability to choose what you want to watch anytime you want.
Cook food (brew your own coffee too)
When you want to save big at the end of the month, you can look at simple hacks at home such as cooking your own food. Learning how to cook might be challenging at first especially when you really have no background with it. However, you can learn basic cooking skills really fast which is usually enough to get you started with cooking your own food at home.
You just need to upgrade your cooking skills every now and then to try new recipes. What you need to remember though is that when you start cooking your own food at home, you need to pay closer attention to your groceries. This is also an area where you can save some money. For one, buy ingredients you will need a lot of in bulk. This can help you save some money in your grocery budget.
You can also choose to brew your own coffee at home if you are the type to buy one every single morning on your way to work. This is just one of the small things you can do to help you save big money every month. You might be surprised if you try and add up the amount you spend on coffee every month. Why not spend a few minutes every morning putting together your coffee? It can save you money and even time from lining up at your favorite coffee shop.
Exercise a little more
When you start to look at small things you can do to save big amounts of money, exercise might be off your radar. One reason is that it might not immediately yield what you are looking for. In fact, you might have to spend a little when you decide to enroll in your local gym or even buy pieces of equipment so you can exercise at home.
However, you need to look past that initial cost. The healthier you are, the more energy you have to accomplish your tasks. This means you can be more productive at work and finish your work earlier. You might even have the time and energy to take up a side gig. This will help you earn more and increase your take-home pay every month.
As you get healthier, you also lower the chances of getting sick. This can translate to fewer doctor visits and even less over-the-counter medicine. If you are healthier as you get old, you get to enjoy life more because you get to go out and have fun.
There are a number of small adjustments you can look into to help you save big amounts of money at the end of the month. Of course, the more options you look into and the longer you do them, the better the results. The idea is to get started and commit to your plan to see it through until you see the results you are looking for.