Money-saving Tips for Certified Thrift Spenders

When it comes to money, I’m an extremist. Either I save too much that I give a closed mind at eating lunch. Or I spend my hardly-earned salary with no sweat. And its not good for me.

I hope these experience-based tips would help you have a balanced shopping life. 

Tip # 1

I know this sounds too elementary, but this really works! Recently, I took a tall empty varnish can from the office. The design was quite nice, old school type. I wanna keep it, but for what??? So I decided to make a coin bank out of it. Way back then, I already tried something like this. I bought a big red piggy bank that has a weak hole at the bottom where I can anytime withdraw all my deposits…I bet you know what happened next. So If you’re going to save in a coin bank, make sure that the only way to get your precious coins out— is to use a chainsaw.

I think this is the simplest yet most effective way to save. Because its non-practical to make trips to the bank everyday just to save small amounts (and of course you would feel shy to lay your 1$ bill on the bank counter).  Don’t look at how much you could save in a small piggy bank, what matters is you have started to save. Get the biggest piggy bank in Walmart! Remember, a hundred dollars begins in a single cent.

Tip #2

Pay day? Give yourself a treat! Yes, spend! A week before the pay day, think of a thing that you would like to buy. Or better if you get a manicure or a massage or a new hair color perhaps. But remember to consider your budget parallel to your income. Save money for spending. Save money for saving. Sometimes the more we save and deprive ourselves from buying what we like, the more we splurge on unecessary buying. Same principle with dieting!

Tip#3

Make a shopping list 2 weeks ahead of time. This will give you time to think of what you really want to buy. Yes, there is a tendency that you will add and add items. So what? You haven’t spent a dime yet. In the 2-week span, take time to cross-out items on the list. From time to time consider every item on it. Little by little, exclude what you don’t like to buy anymore.  The shackle for an impulsive buyer is a piece of paper.

Tip# 4

Use secret pockets. Any pocket can do. We are tempted to spend money when it looks so plenty and fresh. Try to slip a 1$ bill on your favorite book and put it back to shelves. How about roll a hundred bucks on an old socks and dump it on the deepest corner of your closet. Won’t you like the surprise of finding a forgotten treasure that is yours? Same excitement when you find a penny in the washing machine.