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Discounts, coupons, rebates, cash back rewards – there are countless methods to save money that you should be utilizing all of the time. But during the times in between your weekly shopping, what else are you doing to save money?
It’s estimated that 69% of Americans are not saving enough money for their retirement or emergency funds. And that’s no surprise. Saving money can be difficult, especially when there are monthly bills to pay and expenses to cover. But the good news is that saving does not need to be an active task that you are constantly pursuing. In fact, there are many ways you can save without much effort at all.
In addition to creating a personal budget to keep track of your spending habits, there are small changes you can implement that will have a large impact on your finances. It’s more than the occasional sale, these are things you can be doing all of the time to really increase your personal wealth. And fortunately for all of us, they require very little effort.
10 Ways to Save More Money Now
It would be nice if saving money was ingrained within us, however it is a skill we need to learn and continuously practice. With a few minimal adjustments, you can pocket a little more dough every month without even thinking about it. Here are ten ways to do just that:
1. Automate your savings
Instead of manually depositing money into your savings account every month, set up automated transfers so that your bank can take care of it instead. This way, you don’t even need to see the money going from one account into the other.
To maximize your benefit each month, you can also talk to your bank about the various types of savings accounts to find ones with higher interests and less fees.
2. Gradually increase the money you put away over time
Many people choose to allocate a portion of their paychecks to savings every month. Sometimes it’s a percentage, sometimes it’s a dollar amount. Whatever the case, you’ll save even more money if you gradually increase the amount you’re withholding from spending every so often. For example, you can boost it by 1% every few months, or add $10 extra to your savings account every week.
3. Pay yourself
Treat your personal spending like a bill and it will be easier to stay within your spending limits. This means coming up with an amount you can spend on extras during the month. Setting boundaries will make it easier to hold yourself accountable and not overspend.
4. Stop saving your credit card numbers
Sometimes the ease of spending money can be dangerous. Many websites prompt us to save our credit card numbers to our accounts to easily buy from them again. Resist the urge to save your credit card number to accounts to give yourself an extra minute to decide before purchasing.
5. Don’t spend your bonuses and raises
The word “bonus” makes it feel like it’s extra money as opposed to money we earned. Instead of immediately spending bonuses, raises and tax refunds on unnecessary items, treat yourself to a small reward and save the rest of that money for future purchases.
6. Utilize couponing and discounts
If you’re an avid couponer or you participate in super saving holidays like Black Friday, try calculating your discounts and transferring the savings into your account. For example, at the end of a grocery store visit, look at the bottom of your receipt and find the “amount you saved.” Transfer that same amount into a savings account for a specific purpose, like a future vacation, and watch it grow.
You can do the same with rebates you receive from companies like RebateKey, by depositing the money from the rebate you earned into your account as you purchase more products.
7. Take time before your spend
With larger purchases, set rules for yourself like a waiting period or find an accountability buddy. Giving yourself some extra time will ensure that you think through the cost and weigh out your options. For an added layer of protection, you can even ask a friend to approve of your purchases before you make them.
8. Try an app
Of course, there are apps that will help you automate savings or in other words, do the work for you. Some of the most popular include Acorn, Varo and Digit. These apps promise to help you gain control over your spending and offer suggestions on investing and saving for retirement.
9. Separate your savings account
Try opening up a savings account at another bank to keep your checking and savings separate. The less you see the money in your account, the less tempted you will be to spend it.
10. Get cash back from credit cards
Explore your options when it comes to credit cards. Many credit card companies offer cash back rewards that you can accumulate by spending, then transfer to a larger savings fund. Some even offer up to 5% cash back on purchases!
A Little Saving Goes a Long Way
Sometimes to save money, you don’t need to make major upheavals to your lifestyle. These money saving techniques will help you save without much effort. These minimal adjustments are meant to help you acquire savings over time, as opposed to all at once.
Adopting methods like pocketing your discounts and switching your normal shopping routines to spend money with places that will help you earn, are sustainable ways to save money. These tips will help you form habits and take control of your savings so that you can invest in and meet your long term financial goals.
Want to start saving while you shop? Purchase products from trusted retailers on RebateKey and earn your money back. It’s simple. After you make your purchase, just claim your rebate and receive a check in the mail! Don’t wait to save, sign up and earn rebates on RebateKey today.
