Every person wants to know how to learn to save money and save, reasonably and correctly distribute them so that they are enough for everything you need and still remain, for example, for a vacation. However, this problem appears to many people to be associated with certain prohibitions and deprivations. In fact, this is far from the case. Systemic financial control of everyday expenses streamlines the organization of life and does not require any special education or abilities.
First steps to learn how to save money
There are things on which it is impossible to save, but, on the contrary, it is necessary to find additional opportunities for their maintenance. This is prevention and health promotion, daily self-care and self-development. Other issues require not only rational, but also economical use of available funds. To learn this, it is recommended to do the following:
If there are debts, pay them off. Debt relief is a mandatory measure that needs to be done if you are serious about saving money. Thus, they are freed from the previous debt functions in favor of the savings regime. One half of the money that can be saved will go to debt, the other is set aside. This will allow:
- immediately start building your own welfare;
- at the same time working towards the achievement of a two-fold goal - to strengthen their well-being and gradually get rid of existing debts
- create a financial reserve;
- have some means of mitigating possible sudden adverse situations.
Clearly formulate for yourself the specific goals of saving money, for what it will be done. If you plan to buy, for example, at home, car, computer, expensive phone or fur coat, you need to find out the price of what you intend to purchase and write it down somewhere. Now this is a benchmark that encourages saving.
Outline a really achievable time savings, for example, new home in four years. If this is not done, it will be difficult to achieve the goal. Because new circumstances may seem more important for spending money. And self-explanations like “I will save more next time,” as a rule, remain moving from one month to another. At the same time, the price point of reference will increase, constantly lengthening the planned terms of saving.
To decide what the optimal amount of money will need to save per month to achieve the goal.
Make accurate accounting of expenses, even the smallest, to distribute them into categories. For example, at home (rent or mortgage, taxes) and car (maintenance, gasoline, insurance). Take into account all utilities (water, electricity, gas, Internet, TV, telephone). Provide for food and other expenses. If possible, keep records on the computer for special programs. Be sure to keep all checks and receipts.
Optimize your expenses.
After a couple of months, analyze the accounts made and draw conclusions on what you can save in the next month. Maybe give up bad habits or some entertainment. Compare all this with the goal set to save money and make appropriate decisions.
Open your own account in one of the banks and transfer approximately 10% of salary to it every month. This is also saved money.
Some ways - how to save money
The use of certain methods of saving money depends, first of all, on the discipline, responsibility and capabilities of those who have decided to seriously engage in this business.
One of the most simple, but practical and effective ways is the so-called method of four envelopes. He helps to learn the proper planning and management of the family budget, to avoid overspending. Conventionally, its essence can be illustrated by such an example. There is a family, provided with an apartment, there is a car, taken on credit. How to ensure normal costs, taking into account the available income? This can be done like this:
- Calculate the amount of income for a particular month. It may vary due to possible additional income.
- Approximately 10% to be deposited in a deposit account, which was specifically opened in a particular bank.
- Count down the required monthly payments for utilities, loans, car maintenance, including the cost of gasoline.
- Allocate certain funds for the upcoming vacation.
- Spread the rest of the funds into four envelopes, each for one week. Now it will be necessary to conduct weekly expenses and expenses within the allocated funds, without forgetting about their savings.
Other ways to save money in the family include the following:
- It is mandatory to install in the apartment metering devices for all consumed resources - water, gas, electricity, in order to pay only expenses clearly.
- Train yourself to turn off all electrical appliances at night, and when you leave home. This is useful not only to save money, but also for the purpose of fire safety.
- Buy products mainly for the season and wholesale. This refers to sugar, flour, cereals, vegetables.
- Deal with mobile phones from all family members, to choose more profitable options.
Do the same with the Internet and cable TV. - Always plan the volume of upcoming purchases, do not go to the store without an appropriate list.
- Try to cook and eat more at home and not in restaurants and cafes. This is also useful for the quality of nutrition.
- Do not get carried away excessively car. In good weather, not be superfluous and walk.
- You should always bargain at the price. Teach yourself to keep all contracts, checks and warranty cards.
- Strive to do any purchases and acquisitions correctly:
- Compare prices with additional charges from different manufacturers so that you can make a profitable choice.
- Never consult with those who work on interest. For expensive purchases, consult only with experts.
- Refuse to purchase any product on credit.
- Buy items on sale at a discount.
- Using the services of online stores, in many cases it is profitable.
Recommendations on how to save money with a small salary
If the salary is relatively small, the economy mode and the rational spending of money become of fundamental importance. And this applies to literally all kinds of costs:
- For example, how to save money on food. Shopping in supermarkets should be done according to a previously prepared, thoughtful list, it should never allow anything extra. When choosing products on the shelves, it is not necessary to pay attention to those that are specially displayed directly in front of the buyer, but also on the other shelves. Often there are products less advertised brands, but cheaper and quality. Buying products is much more economical and convenient for a week.
- Instead of ready-made cutting products, it is more profitable to buy them from the seller.
- Not to acquire anything on the day when the salary was paid, because it wants a lot and there will be no money at once.
- To save on transport, it is more profitable to purchase tickets.
- If you have your own car, try to use less the services of a car wash.
- To establish rigid self-control of water, gas and electricity consumption where you live, which will significantly reduce the actual payment of utilities.
- When choosing clothes or shoes, preference is given to quality and reliability, and not to the company tag.
- It is much more profitable to do timely preventive maintenance to the body than to treat it later.
Options for saving money in all walks of life are many. The main task is to optimize or streamline expenses, but not to exclude them, as, unfortunately, this often happens. Saving money, which will be more like stinginess, will aggravate existing problems and create new problems, but the real additional funds will not increase. On the other hand, it is probably not worth overly limiting yourself in the whole frugal person.
It is important to consider suitable options. If it concerns recreation, then go to the park, play some games in nature. Or watch a movie with your family at home, instead of going to the cinema. It is necessary to work out practical advice, choosing those that are right for you. Of course, it is difficult to follow all the recommendations in a row, but it’s worth a try. If it was possible to save money, it means that everything was done correctly, and as a result, additional income was obtained.
