Money Saving Tips: : Have a No-Spend Day in 10 Steps
We’ve all been there – standing in a store with a handful of things that you don’t really need. Or you could be the type of person who spends money just to have something to do. Or maybe you shop because you’re hoping to feel better about something. Anyway you cut it – it is impulse spending. Here are a few questions that you can think about and answer.
The following money savers’ tips are to have a no-spend day:
1. Leave debit/credit cards at home. Only take the cash you absolutely
need with you and don’t have a cash card with you to take extra out of the hole in the wall. That way, however tempted you are, you have to walk away in the end.
2. Avoid temptation! Don’t go shopping. If you don’t go to the shops, you can’t be lured by nice things. Stay at home – simple as that! If you like to while away your leisure time by going shopping, do something else instead! Keep busy and you won’t be tempted to get out your wallet.
3. No eating lunch out! Eating out can be costly, and for many busy professionals it is almost a necessity. Did you know that spending only $6 a day on lunch while at work can cost nearly $800 per year? If your spouse spends the same amount on lunch, you are spending almost $1,600 per year just on lunch!
4. For every new thing you buy, try to get rid of an old thing. If you really want to buy something new, see if you can sell something you don’t use any more to cover the cost.
5. Recycle What’s a better time to go green than during an economic downturn? You can curb spending by searching places such as freecycle.org or craigslist.org for items you’re seeking. Plus, instead of discarding your old items in the trash chances are someone else will have a use for them, too.
7. Make your own at home. Whatever your vice is, whether it’s pizza, beer or frothy cappuccinos, try making it at home for a fraction of the cost.
8. Go food shopping just once a month & plan, plan, plan! Set a
budget, write a food plan and take a calculator with you when you go food shopping. And never go when hungry, it’s too tempting to overbuy. By going just once a month you’ll be less likely to buy on impulse and for convenience.
9. Start a new hobby. Spend time on a new (free) activity like running or do some volunteer work. This leaves less time for spending.
10. Stay married. Yes, I know that some marriages end because of abuse and other extreme circumstances. “Isn’t marriage about love”, you ask. Sometimes. “You don’t know my situation”, you say. True. But I lived through the emotional and financial pain of two divorces as a child, and I’ve been married to the same women for more than 19 years, so I know plenty. Am I telling you not to get a divorce? Of course not. I am telling you that divorce will wreck your finances and your spouse’s finances.
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