16 Tips To Help You Spend Less Than You Earn

Everyone understands the goal of living together with their means, spending less than they earn and saving for a rainy day. Most people don’t do it. Here are some simple tips to help you break the pattern:

1.  Live in a neighborhood where most people make a little less than you do so you won’t feel so much pressure to be devoted.

2.  Contribute to your 401k at work so you don’t have a chance to spend the money you’re saving.

3.  Use Mint.com, free on-line budgeting system, to track your spending and allow you to manage your financial goals. (Don’t like Mint.com? Try another system.)

4.  Find yourself an allowance for discretionary spending—in cash. When the cash is a state party, stop spending—no credit cards!

5.  Don’t shop when you don’t have money left in your budget; build your willpower by staying away

6.  Proudly drives the old car you’ve got and play it so it will last a long time. It may be that nothing hurts a budget more than buying a new car.

7.  Walk to perform errands that can be made by foot—stop laughing at yourself for driving two blocks for this or three blocks for that.

8. Eat out less; eat more.

8.  Eat lunch preparation marathon once or twice a month, preparing meals in bulk that can be frozen and reheated later, saving money and time.

9.  Look for cheaper hobbies or cheaper ways to enjoy the hobbies you have. Running is cheaper than booking (no bike, less gear). Golfing at the municipal course is cheaper than at the club.

10.Use coupons, watch sales, and shop smart to purchase the things you need.

11.Don’t buy things you don’t need that doesn’t fit in your budget no matter how good the sale, no matter how big the discount! Set for yourself the difference between a “needs” and a “wants.”

12.Engage the entire family. Let everyone be a part of the plan to save money; everyone will benefit so let everyone share the sacrifice.

13.Don’t utilize credit cards, pay-day loans or other borrowed money to close the gaps in each paycheck. Borrowing will only make the next paycheck cycle harder.

14.Just look for substitutes in the grocery store that save considerable dollars each month, but won’t impact your pleasure much. Think two-liter bottles of soda instead of cans, store brand products instead of the name brands. You get rid of the same food and the same pleasure, but at a lower cost.

Applying even a handful of these ideas consistently, over time will make a massive impact on your budget.