6 Lifestyle Changes to Save Money
Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
Do you find yourself living a life that is paycheck to paycheck? Sometimes, the mounting finances of life can be difficult to keep up with, especially if your income isn’t exactly padded.
However, there are actually many ways to can find yourself with more money in your pocket just by making some simple adjustments to your lifestyle.
There are little things all over that we do to spend more money, and just cutting back on them will supplement your income simply in savings. Many of these changes also lead to healthier living.
Here are some ways to adjust your lifestyle…
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Be a smart grocery shopper
It is very easy to get careless when you go to the grocery store, but being careless can be a surefire way to spend much more money than you need to. Being a smarter shopper can cut food costs dramatically, leaving more money in your wallet.
One of the most important things you should do is never buy more than you need, as the average American wastes $529 of food every single year.
Also, buy in bulk or look for sales, as each of these things will reduce the cost of your groceries little by little, but add up to quite a sum. For more information on how to be a smart shopper, check out this article here (it’s not here yet, ANCORA NEEDS A WEBSITE).
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Pack a lunch
Eating out everyday can add up quickly, especially if you’re out eating with coworkers. The average American spends close to $3,000 eating out. Instead, try packing a lunch every day. It only takes a bit of planning and preparation to make sure you’re eating tasty fulfilling food everyday.
Packing a lunch also means that you have better control over what is going into your body, so that you can make healthier choices for your lifestyle.
These added health benefits, as well as the time you are saving from going out every day at work, will also make you a more efficient worker.
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Use transit
If your situation allows it, it could be very beneficial for you to drop the car and start using transit everyday to get to work.
This will save you money not only on the gas you are using everyday, but also may give you the opportunity to sell your vehicle, so that you don’t have to make payments for the insurance (and you get a nice little bonus from the money your car brings in).
If your work is a little bit away from a transit stop, look into getting a bike, which will also be a healthier way to get to work.
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Cheaper, better hobbies
Sure, you may love flying custom built airplanes, but maybe that hobby isn’t necessarily the right one for where you are currently at in life. Looking for low-cost hobbies is a way to get yourself out there and find new things that you love.
Look in a city directory for cheap classes that are being held in your area, or for new startup clubs and activities. Your local recreation center will also have information on low-cost sports that you can take up there, such as boxing or swimming. If nothing else, a local library might also be a great place to start looking.
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Drink or smoke less
The amount of money that Americans spend on alcohol is surprising, with 1% of all income going towards alcohol. However, that average includes people who don’t drink, and the average is obviously much, much higher for those who do.
The statistics on tobacco are even more shocking, with low-income smokers spending 25% of their income on cigarettes! Even if you’d still like to enjoy a drink every now and then, cutting back on consumption of tobacco and alcohol can save you thousands of dollars in just a year.
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Don’t use credit cards
Although alcohol and tobacco statistics are scary, they are not nearly as frightening as credit card debt. Currently, Americans owe nearly $860 billion in credit card debt, which amounts to an average of $15,270 per U.S. household.
If you already have a credit card, try to never leave home with it, so that you won’t be tempted to make unnecessary purchases. Also, never have an unpaid balance longer than a month to avoid interest.
Throw us a like at Facebook.com/doable.financeThis article is written By: Alek Sabin
