15 Tips to Save Money

Over the past few weeks I’ve found myself giving advice about how to save money and get ahead financially. I’m married to a penny-wise, serious saver who does a wonderful job managing our finances and investments.

While I think this stuff is incredibly basic and I assume everyone knows it … apparently they don’t, as I’ve repetitively been giving money saving tips to my younger brother and friends.

With that said, I figured I’d pass along some get ahead tips — ’cause frugal is on trend you know and tre’ chic.

1. Saving money is simple math. Spend less than you make.
2. Start with a quick list — on one side list what you earn and on the other list your expenses.
3. Next make a budget and figure out how much money you are wasting away every month that can go toward savings or paying off dept.
4. Track what you spend. Get a little calendar book and jot down your daily expenditures.
5. Spend money on appreciating assets (house, investments, etc.) not depreciating items (stuff). I can’t stress this one enough!!!
6. Don’t buy something if you can’t afford to pay for it — either with cash or if you charge it pay your credit card off every month.
7. Pay your credit card off every month. If you carry balances, try and get a zero interest card and transfer balances and pay off chunks that go right to the principal and not the interest. you’ll pay it down faster.
8. If you get paid cash and it burns a whole in your pocket take the cash and buy a money order that you can send to your credit card company to pay down your dept versus spending it on eating out, etc. Or, take the cash and go to the grocery store and buy a grocery card with your months worth of grocery money on it. Then food is covered and again, your not wasting your money away.
9. Bring your lunch to work. I’ve always done this regardless of how much money I was making.
10. Make your own coffee versus spending $4.00 a cup. Sorry Starbucks.
11. Invest money in a good hair cut, but color your own hair. I was paying $160.00 every 6 weeks and now I go for a good cut and do my own color. Saving: $105.00 every 6 weeks. I can make some hair color product recommendations if you need them.
12. Paint you own nails. Make Sunday night at-home spa night — soak, scrub and steal away some quite time while you pamper yourself.
13. Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater.
14. Unplug things from the wall when not in use. Your phone charger still uses power even if your phone is not plugged in.
15. Reuse plastic baggies. A simple rinse does the trick.

That’s a start. I’ll share more later. I’d love to hear what other money-saving tips you have. Please register on my site and leave comments on any of your helpful money-saving tips.

We’ll save together!