We’re all trying to save money for something – some people harder than others. Whether it’s a dream vacation, a deposit for a home, or just the latest iPhone, there’s always something we know we could have if we just had a little more money.
While you can, of course, try to take on a side hustle or head to the casino in the hope of winning the windfall you need, it’s easier to make small adjustments that could save you surprisingly huge amounts of money.
Even if you think you live a frugal lifestyle, there’s definitely something you can cut out or switch up in order to save up some much-needed dollar. Here are five easier and achievable lifestyle adjustments that can save you thousands.
1. Bring Coffee and Food from Home
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Did you know the average millennial spends over $2,000 a year on coffee? Imagine what you could do with an extra two grand sitting in your bank account. I bet that $5 latte from your favorite overpriced hipster roastery doesn’t seem so necessary anymore. The same goes for eating out. If you enjoy going out for dinner, that’s totally fine – but you definitely don’t need to spend 10 bucks a day on lunch near your office. Just pack a lunch every day and watch the savings pile up.
2. Ditch One Bad Habit
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We’re not asking you to go the full whack here. You don’t need to live the austere and teetotal life of a monk in order to save big – just cut out one of your more expensive habits. Did you know that someone who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day spends over $2,000 a year? Similarly, if you’re a heavy drinker, that will be costing you dearly. Think of your health and your bank balance and see what you can afford to lose.
3. Have Fun for Free
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We’re all entitled to our guilty pleasures, be it Netflix marathons, a weekly Chinese takeout, or a fondness for online casino gaming. That’s all well and good but remember that you should never, ever pay for something you enjoy when you can get it for free. Take online gaming, for instance; a look at all offers at CasinoWings.com flags up casino bonuses for new players, ranging from hundreds of free slot spins to matched deposit bonuses of up to 200%. This means you can literally enjoy some gaming free of charge.
4. Get Thrifty
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Modern society has us wired as consumers. We love to shop and we attach our identity to the things we own. While deconstructing this mindset can be a challenge, one thing you can do is swap your usual consumption habits for a passion for thrifting. You can buy your clothes, electronics, media, furniture and literally anything else second-hand for a fraction of the cost, without having to sacrifice quality. No-one needs to know where you got it from.
5. Track Every Purchase
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As humans, we have a strong tendency to lie to ourselves. Living in denial is easier than facing the truth, a reality that defines our spending habits. Rather than spending first and checking your account balance later, install an app like Mint that will tell you every penny that you’re spending and even compile helpful reports at the end of each week detailing things like how much you spend on coffee, in order to shame you into saving. If that doesn’t save you big money, nothing will.
Even if your income is limited, there are options for how to make the most of it and save what you can. Follow these very small steps to be pleasantly surprised at what you can achieve.
Image Credits: Lifestyle from jesterpop /Shutterstock