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Do you struggle with saving money on everyday purchases? As you seek to get your finances under control, it is quite possible you are running into trouble with a few categories on your budget.
As I recall our own journey towards financial wellness my wife and I ran into that problem.
For us there were 3 categories where the spending fluctuated greatly: groceries, restaurants, and recreation/entertainment.
I know these areas could be a challenge for you as well and I wanted to help.
The Bible says that in the abundance of counselors there is victory (Proverbs 11:14), so over the last week I have been asking the fans/followers of Figueroa Financial on Social Media to share how they save money in these categories.
So with their help I give you the 15 Tips for Saving Money:
Groceries
- Use coupons.
- Shop with a list and only get those items on the list.
- It’s ok to get the store brand. In many cases, the items are as good as the name brand.
- Don’t go shopping when you are hungry. You will want to buy anything and everything!
- Use cash (envelope system). When the money runs out, you stop shopping. 🙂
Restaurants
Yes, it is ok to eat out even when you are on a budget. Just make sure your spending is consistent with your take home pay and that you plan for it in your budget. In addition:
- Look for special offers like “2 for the price of 1”.
- Couples: Order an appetizer and share a meal.
- Drink water. This is cheaper than drinks, tea, or soft drinks and water is better for you anyway. 🙂
- Use cash (envelope system). When the money runs out, it’s time for leftovers. 🙂
Recreation/Entertainment
- Movies
- Go to the first show of the day, or a matinee and save on the full ticket price. One of my readers say that he and his wife do this on Sunday mornings on a weekly basis as their “date day”. It is cheaper and it helps your relationship!
- Looking for a rental for a home movie night? Redbox offers rentals for about $1 (if you register with Redbox, you get coupons via e-mail). You could even do an internet search for “coupons” and find some coupons for free movies (it might apply to other items as well).
- Watch out for special deals at parks/museums. One of my readers indicated that she watches for the “Dollar Days” at the local Zoo.
- Books
- Don’t buy the hard cover edition of a book. Wait for the paperback edition.
- Shop at a store that resells book at discounted prices (like Half Price Books). You can find a great selection of used books at great prices.
- Get a library card from your local library and take advantage of the opportunity of borrowing a book.
What other saving money tips could you share with us?
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This post is also available in: Spanish
