Do you ever wish you could Spend Less Money? I get asked all the time “How do I spend Less Money?” or people tell me that they need to spend less but they just don’t know how or where to start! If that’s you then you’re in luck because today I want to share with you 12 Ways to Spend Less Money!
12 Ways to Spend Less Money
1.) Go on a Spending Freeze
Take a week or two, or even a month and just stop spending money! Only buy the necessities and eat from your pantry! This is much easier than it sounds, but it will really force you to think about where you are spending money and you’ll be able to pile up cash in the mean time. Set a rule that if you want to buy something you write it on paper and wait 48 hours. If you still need it after 48 hours then you can go back and buy the item. This is great for things like Groceries, Clothing or things that you might consider “Essentials” forcing yourself to write it down first makes you think through the purchase and gives you time to process if it’s something you really need, or something you wanted in the moment!
2.) Eat Out Less
If you don’t have a plan, you’re planning to fail! That’s always been my moto when it comes to Dinner time which is why Meal Planning is SO IMPORTANT to me! If I don’t have a plan for dinner it’s a sure fire run through the drive thru which means spending more $$$. Take 30 minutes each week to write down what your schedule is for the week and then plan your meals around your schedule.
TIP: If you are really busy you might try Freezer Cooking, I have some great Freezer Cooking Meal Plans that include full shopping list, assembly video instructions and recipes so you can assemble 10 slow cooker meals in just 30 minutes! Or stock your freezer with our 21 Family Favorites Classic Freezer Meal Plan!
3.) Shop For Groceries Online
Not only is this going to revolutionize your life, but shopping for groceries online forces you to shop from a list and only buy what you need. There’s less temptation to over-buy or impulse purchase those cookies when you’re not walking past them, you can also see your total add up as you go so that you can take items off if you need to before you check out. This is great for staying on budget with your groceries and there are a lot of places that offer Free Delivery or Free Pick Up so it won’t cost you any extra.
Tip: Try Amazon Prime Pantry and Amazon Fresh for online grocery delivery!
4.) Switch to Cash
It might sound crazy but using cash will help you spend less and be more intentional about what you are spending your money on. Even if you are using a debit card I encourage you to give it a try for one week and see if you don’t find yourself counting your cash and adding up your items before checking out. Using cash also lets you set a limit for yourself so that you are working within pre-determined boundaries, even though we always pay off our credit cards I love using cash because it keeps me accountable, I know I pay closer attention to what I have and how much I am going to be spending when I’m using cold hard cash and for that reason I always recommend it when trying to spend less.
5.) Try Meat-less meals
Meat can be one of the most expensive costs of your grocery budget each week, Try looking for a few new Meat-less meals on Pinterest and give them a try. Working in just 1 or 2 Meatless meals each week is a great way to reduce your grocery spending.
6.) Cut Your Cable TV
Cable TV and Satellite TV can eat up your surplus money fast. Try switching to a lower cost alternative like Netflix and Sling TV for a great selection of shows at a fraction of the price. Netflix starts at just $9.99 per month and Sling TV is as low as $20 per month and it includes live TV and Networks stations like ABC, CNN, ESPN and HGTV!
7.) Try Discount Grocery Stores
Have you tried Discount Stores like Aldi for groceries? I am always amazed at how little I spend at these stores and when I’m trying to be spend less I make it a priority to shop Discount Stores first! Stores like Aldi can save you 30-50% on groceries without cutting out anything off your menu. Even if you have tried stores like this in the past, I want to encourage you to try them again! Aldi has added a ton of organic and all natural options over the last few years that has really improved the quality of their food.
8.) Tell Your Friends
There’s nothing like a little peer-pressure to keep you on track. If your working on saving money let a few friends know! Apart from the pressure to not spend in front of them, you’ll also feel less pressure when you decline an even that costs money for your savings goals. You could even choose to have a “girls-night in” or Date Night with popcorn and Redbox movies rather than going out on the town.
9.) Set a Quick Savings Goal
Try setting a short term week long savings goal. See how much money you can save by keeping a Savings Log of each time you intentionally make a decision not to spend money and see if you can reach your goal. Start with $50 or $100, a simple decision not to eat out might save you $25 and you’ll start to realize how fast those small decisions add up.
10.) Try Some DIY
Instead of buying pre-packaged products or foods try making them yourself. You can make things like Taco Seasoning & Pasta Sauce for a fraction of the cost you can buy them for and you might even find a few new recipes that you love!
11.) Break Your Brand Loyalty
We all have brands we prefer but did you know that different items go on sale each week in the grocery store so by ditching your loyalty to specific brands and swapping to items on sale you can save instantly! Instead of reaching for your normal Tide Laundry Detergent take 30 seconds to scan the shelves and see if another brand is marked down currently, these simple swap could easily save you $2-3 per item which really adds up if you’re willing to swap on everything you purchase.
12.) Clean Out Your Closets
If your closets look anything like mine, not only will this keep you busy but it will also help you realize just how much stuff you have. Nothing makes me want to stop shopping more than dealing with all the stuff I already have! Taking stock of what you have makes you more aware of what you are bringing into your home which is not only a great way to reduce clutter but also to spend less.
Do you want to Take Control of Your Finances? Are you struggling to make a budget work, spending more than you’re making? This FREE 7 Day Financial Brilliance Challenge is for you! You’ll learn how to take control, get organized and make a budget work for you!