This post will be sharing useful money saving ideas that you can use to save some cash.
A lot of us struggle to save money but can’t for the life of us figure out where or how to make changes. When it comes to money, I’ve realized that it boils down to self-discipline. If you’re not disciplined enough, there are nearly not enough hacks that will help you. You just have to develop a habit of sticking to your budget and following through with your choices. Of course, it is easier said than done. I also struggle to stick to my weekly budget but if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, as long as you’re determined, you can achiveve anything.
I mean how else was I able to start a business, save up and move to a whole new country to start my life over in less than 3 years? If you have some major goals you want to achieve that requires money, then this post is for you. I’ll be sharing some cheaper alternatives you can explore to save some cash here and there. Don’t look down on these lifestyle changes. You have no idea how much spare cash adds up over time.
9 Money Saving Ideas You Didn’t Know You Needed.
Saving large chunks of money at a time can be really daunting to say the least. The trick is to start small and slowly until you’re able to build enough discipline to save up a large sum without blinking. At least, that’s what helped me.
Buying stuff directly on Amazon
Everyone and their mother is OBSESSED with buying stuff from Amazon. The other day, I discovered that you can find out how much exactly you have spent on Amazon since the day your account was created. A lot of people were sharing their results and it was mind-blowing how much they have spent over the years.
Personally, I hardly ever buy from Amazon because I believe it is mostly overpriced. Instead, I buy from AliExpress and save so much money in the long. AliExpress is based in China where most of the items on Amazon are manufactured. So, I get most things at a fraction of a cost. I particularly love it when I see a brand selling an overpriced product. More often than not, it is from AliExpress. Yeah, you might be concerned about the packaging which brands use to markup the prices, But I really don’t care because they are all gonna be recycled anyway.
You might also be concerned about the long delivery. Thankfully, as a result of the pandemic, they have worked on their shipping times. At the moment, they currently have a 10-Day Shipping Program to the UK. Try shopping from AliExpress for about a month, compare it with your Amazon purchases and see how much money you are able to save.
Here are more tips to save money on everyday items.
The latest brand new gadgets
I’ve never been a Apple, Google or Samsung fangirl. I just like my gadgets to work and not give me problems. I also know that these companies thrive in a capatalist society wich makes you continually spend money for no reason at all. Except you’re on a phone contract or you’re gifted, I see no reason to upgrade everytime there is a new release. Even if you’re on a phone contract, if you can get a cheaper deal by buying the phone at once, go for it.
Personally, I buy second-hand gadgets on eBay. More often than not, there’s always a ton of people who want to upgrade their gadgets and sell them off. I particularly prefer people who use their gadgets for work and want to upgrade like graphic designers or software engineers. They have great specs and the gadgets are usually in excellent condition. So, far, I’ve gotten my iPhone, Macbook Air, IPad and Canon DSLR all from eBay. In the next couple of months, I plan to upgrade my iPhone but I won’t be getting the latest model. Instead, I’ll trade in my current phone, add some extra cash and get a second phone with a slightly higher model. This way, I’m saving a lot of cash compared to buying a completely new phone.
Learn how to trick yourself into saving money.
Going to the hair salon
I’m happy to say that I haven’t visited the hair salon in almost three years and my hair is thriving. Every time any of my friends find out that I style my hair myself, they never fail to remind me how much money I’m saving by not visiting the hair salon. Obviously, the occasional visit is great for self-care. But weekly visits? Nah. It adds up QUICKLY! Instead, I buy all my hair tools and extensions from AliExpress and consult YouTube for tutorials. Over time, I’ve honed my skills and mastered the art of making hair look presentable.
Manicures & Pedicures
Just like going to the hair salon, I also believe having manis and pedis every two weeks is a waste of money. One of my favourite ways to combat this which also happens to be one of my favourite money-saving ideas is to get press-on nails. During the last first lockdown in April, I ordered a bunch of press-on nails from AliExpress and they were so gorgeous. You never would have believed they are press-ons. Alternatively, you can get a complete DIY nail kit and learn how to do your manis and pedis at home and save some cash.
Again, this doesn’t negate the role of self-care. You can absolutely have your nails done occasionally. But when it becomes incredibly regular and you’re struggling to save money, it is worth considering reducing the frequency.
If you’re struggling with bad money habits and you want to work on your Personal Finance this year, check out the Clever Girl Finance book. It has helped me tremendously to build self-discipline and improve my finances.
Buying High-end/Designer brands
The other day, I saw on TikTok that it is a waste of money to buy the full price for any clothing item including designer brands. I wasn’t even thinking about it but it made so much sense how much money people waste when they buy in-season clothing when those same clothes will be on sale in the next few months.
If you’re looking to save money and you have a high taste, you’ll find great deals in thrift/charity stores and also TKMaxx. To curb over-spending, I usually have a set monthly budget for charity stores. This way, I can treat myself and not feel like I’m missing out by being too strict with my budget.
Check out 9 Ways To Save Money When Buying Clothes For Your Family.
Eating at restaurants
Yes, eating out is nice but when you’re on a budget and looking to save some extra cash, you might have to cut down on frequent fine dining. Again, check your bank statements and you’ll how much money you spend and could have saved by not eating out.
If you are a foodie and think that it will be hard to stop eating out weekly, create a budget and reduce it to bi-weekly. After about 3 – 6 months, depending on how difficult it is to adjust, reduce it to monthly. When it comes to lifestyle changes, it is more sustainable to start slowly.
Check out these Frugal living tips if you decide to choose that lifestyle.
Buying Daily Starbucks
The same applies to Starbucks. Get yourself an espresso machine and make your coffee at home instead of wasting money on overpriced coffee. While spending, these things might not seem much until they add up. If you don’t use any app to track your expenses, check your bank statements, it never lies.
Again, this advice is for those that want to get serious with their money. If you are in a financial position where you can afford to create a budget for Starbucks, go right ahead.
Here’s how to Save Money when Shopping.
Jumping on Beauty/Skincare/Lifestyle Trends
As a Skincare & Lifestyle blogger, this is quite a struggle for me because I always like to be at the top of my game. This means I have to stay ahead of the trends that apply to me so I don’t come across as being outdated. But sometimes, jumping on these trends cost money. While they can come in handy and I can write them off as expenses, it honestly feels like a rat race for attention.
Sometimes if my budget allows, I indulge in them, othertimes, i just ignore them outrightly. The point is, I try to avoid jumping on trends as much as I can to save money and it has worked so far.
Stacking Subscriptions
Another of my favourite money-saving ideas is cutting out subscriptions that are costing me. The other day, I paused my Audible subscription because I had a few books that I hadn’t listened to and I just kept paying for it. So I paused it and cleared my library before resuming my membership. I also did the same with my Scribd membership as well.
Every quarter, I go through my subscriptions and fish out any one that I’m paying for but I’m not actively using. If I haven’t used it in four week or I don’t use it daily, it’s going! These companies are making a killing from our forgetfulness and lack of discipline. Don’t add to it.
In Conclusion,
I hope you found this list of money saving ideas useful as much as I enjoyed compiling it. I’m not that strict, I promise. I give myself some leeway most times. But when I have a goal that involves money, I go hard!
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