The skill of saving money is something everyone should acquire no matter whether you are currently in dire straits, you need to collect money for purchasing something rather expensive or you have just realised that you are constantly buying too many unnecessary things for which you actually have to work hard. Being able to manage your finances in a sensible way is a highly useful ability. Let’s look at some recommendations which will help you to look at saving money in a new way making it not only less painful but even enjoyable.
Set a real goal
Providing you have a stable income, no matter how large it is, you should set some real goal which will be actually a logical reason to cut your expenses down. Even though, you actually do not have any real aim right now and just want to spend less money in general, it is still crucial to make up such a goal.
This is crucial, since it is rather difficult to set any limits on the sum of money you are allowed to spend regularly if there is no real goal. Note that this target can be absolutely different. Think about anything you might actually need to buy but still haven’t done it since you are sure you have no money for it. May be it is exactly the right time to start saving exactly for this purpose?
Your target can be anything else, even something really expensive like purchasing a car or a flat. The main thing is that you can estimate its value and how much money you are going to save each month in order to achieve your aim even though it might not be in the foreseeable future.
Learn to get positive emotions from experiences rather than from possessions
You will hardly meet any person who has never felt a boost of positive energy purchasing something new. If only your new purchase is not something that makes you suffer from the separation with your money, in all likelihood, this can bring you some happiness. Unfortunately, in the age of overconsumption, shopping became a real antidepressant for many people which doesn’t mean it is a healthy copying mechanism with stress or an appropriate substitute to spending your free time.
Make a list of things you really need to buy in the near future and stick to it. Any time you wish to go shopping just in order to buy something new and feel this short increase of dopamine in your blood, think about non-material things can actually bring you joy. Spend the hours you could have lost in a shopping mall on something really productive and enjoyable, for example, your hobby. Of course, regular checking the offers of countless online shops should be limited as well. If you get rid of the habit of making unnecessary purchases, you will save both time and money.
Purchase less goods, however, choose the ones of a better quality
We have already told you about the importance of purchasing less items, yet, so far, it was about the unnecessary things that we are prone to buy only in order to make ourselves feel better. Still, sometimes we really need to buy a new thing but we don’t want to pay too much for it and, as a result, ending with something of a bad quality which makes this item useful only for a short period of time.
Needless to say, such an approach leads to excessive expenses in the long run, however, these goods still won’t bring us any real satisfaction. That is why, if you want to save some money, start choosing the goods more carefully. If only your budget allows you to purchase something of a better quality, always make this choice. Right now, the difference between this item and a cheaper one might seem great, but you won’t need to buy the same thing again soon and thus, will save more money.
Resign from small expenses
Small things like lunch outside, an energetic drink or an additional bottle of beer in the bar are the things we buy every day and they can actually sum up into a rather large total. Small things are usually spontaneous and so small that we don’t pay any attention to them. Undeniably, it doesn’t mean you should completely resign from buying anything such, but if you really want to reduce your expenses, these small things are the right place to start.
Just think about the items you don’t really need and resign only from these ones in order not to suffer too much from your decision.
Create some challenges for yourself
Financial challenges are a great way to learn how to manage your expenses. A type of a challenge can be absolutely different. Your aim can be resigning from expenses for a day in general or not buying goods from a particular category during a particular period of time, for instance, not purchasing any cosmetics for a month.
Undeniably, you will be even more motivated while participating in such a challenge with your friend.
Use these recommendations gradually and develop the skill of saving money with time. Remember that you are going to do it in order to feel pride for yourself for managing your finances so efficiently. This shouldn’t be made in dramatic way, resigning from everything you like and are used to. Only in such a case you will be able to enjoy the process.