This is a collaborative post by Ellie Jo.
They say that money makes the world go around, and they’re right – it does. The fact is that without money, life can’t really go on because nothing in life is free. You have to pay for your home, your food, your bills, your car, and anything else that you and your family need to get by. Sure, there is some help available from the government, but the fact is that you need to be able to support yourself and your family if you are going to get by in life.
Living on a low income and small amount of money can be a total nightmare, it can make daily life a struggle. So it’s important to try and ensure that you have plenty of money to keep you and your family going, even if you only earn a small amount of money each month. Wondering if this is possible? Of course, it is, it’s just a case of knowing how to go about it, that’s all.
Want to make your money go further and ensure that you have plenty to get by on? Then keep reading, as all is about to be revealed.
Put aside a small amount each month
As and when you can, put aside a small amount of money each month. It doesn’t matter whether it’s $5 or $50 that you are able to put by, just make sure that any spare money goes into a savings account, so that should you need it in the future, it’s there. Don’t be tempted to dip into it and take bits out, leave whatever is in there, in there, so that when something happens, like the car breaks down and you can’t afford to fix it, you’ve got money to fall back on. Having a money buffer in place can be lifesaving, which is why it’s worth putting a small amount aside each month so that you’ve always got something for a rainy day.
Learn to be a savvier shopper
When it comes to cutting costs each month, one of the most important things that you can do is learn to be a savvier shopper. The savvier you are with your shopping, the more likely you are to be able to cut costs and save more money. The key to being a smarter shopper is making sure that when you shop you only buy what you need, and also, that you are always looking for the best prices. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean buying budget items, such as the supermarket’s own brand of food, it just means comparing brand prices and finding the lowest option. Say one supermarket is offering really low meat and another is offering incredibly cheap vegetables, it would make sense to shop at both so that you are able to make the best savings possible.
Take advantage of coupons
To make it even easier to cut costs, something that you must do is ensure that you are taking advantage of all the coupons and discount codes that are available to you. Far too many of us throw vouchers and coupons away, without taking advantage of them. However, if you are keen to save money and cut costs, then it’s worth using any coupons that you can do, as the more money you can save on shopping, the more you can save or put towards other costs. The best places to collect coupons from are websites like https://www.couponsherpa.com/, from magazines, and from your local supermarket. The next time you go shopping, ask the person serving you whether they have any coupons that you can have for your next shop – you never know, they might be able to offer you some amazing savings, so it’s always worth asking.
Shop on sales day and stock up
To take full advantage of any sales that are on at stores you shop at, or on online stores that you order from; it’s a good idea to buy items in bulk. By bulk buying when items are on sale, you can ensure that you are getting them for the lowest price, saving yourself a ton of money. For example, because nappies are so expensive for babies, a lot of parents choose to buy them in bulk when they are on sale, saving themselves money. Just make sure that if you are going to buy in bulk, that you have plenty of space to store the items that you are buying. The fact is, if you can afford to bulk buy and have enough room to store the items that you are buying, it makes sense to stock up when there are sales on. Need ideas for what to buy in bulk? Then visit http://www.womansday.com and have a browse.
Learn what to save on and what to splurge on
Want to ensure that you always have plenty of money to live off? Well then, you need to learn what to save on and what to splurge on. If there is one habit that can save you from wasting money, it is this. One common habit that a lot of people who are always short of money have is that they splurge on things that are not necessary, wasting their money. So if you want to ensure that you always have plenty to live off of, it’s a good idea to learn what to save on and what to splurge on. Let’s take takeaway as an example, instead of splurging on takeaway pizza every Friday night as an end of the week treat, buy frozen pizzas instead. This will cost you a quarter of the price, allowing you to save money and put it to good use. Save on weekly takeaways and splurge on monthly ones instead – by cutting down on the amount of takeaways that you order, you will not only be healthier but will also save yourself a lot of money.
Ensuring that you have plenty of money to live off isn’t just about making sure that you earn a good income because that isn’t always possible. It’s about making sure that you are smart about how you spend your money and know all the best methods of making savings.
