Yes, You Can Save Money
Many people spend their money and think they have nothing to save. Nothing could be further from the truth for most folks. We are a spending nation and all the hype about the stylish clothes, expensive homes,and cars drain us dry. We can break free and learn to save our hard earned money.
How much you earn isn’t as important as how much you save. Many people with low incomes save more than those with higher incomes. It’s all a matter of your priorities. There are many ways you can save money but the main answer is to start today. There are some painless ways to go and some more challenging. The most painless way is to empty your pockets of change every evening. Put it in a jar in the closet and when it’s full deposit it in a savings account. Next pay yourself first. You will never have any money to save unless you do. If it’s only ten dollars a week then do it and add more as soon as you get the hang of saving.
Don’t buy anything you can do without. If you must buy then buy used. Check out Craigslist.org or Freecycle.org. Thrift stores have almost everything you might need and check out the yard sales. You will find some real bargains there. Give up cigarettes, Starbucks, candy, bottled water,sodas, Take a sandwich and apple for lunch. Look carefully at what you waste your money on and save that money. Drive less and save gas and wear on your car. Combine several chores and do them all at once. Walk anywhere within walking distance. It’s good for your health as well as your wallet.
Check the grocery ads and go where the best prices are. Buy store brands and stock up on items that are on sale. Cut out coupons but you will usually find store brands are cheaper. Buy the lowest price.
When you pay off a bill (like a car) save half of what the payment was. If you can get rid of one car do it. You will save gas, car upkeep, and insurance
Put your credit card away. It’s too easy to spend money that you don’t see. When you really get into saving money you will be amazed at how much you have wasted and by this time you should have a good beginners savings account.
Why don’t we all have the good sense to save? Most of us are so used to wasting our money that we don’t think we have any to save. It is so easy to spend. There are malls and stores on every corner sending out ads to make us think we need their wares. Most of it we don’t need. We need clothing, but not in every color and style and we don’t need brand names. Sensible clothing does not have to be expensive. We need housing but any snug home to shelter us is fine. Healthy food is vegetables, fruits, and grain. It is not the expensive prepackaged foods that are full of salt, fat and chemicals.
Saving can be addictive. You will begin to feel better about yourself as a responsible human being. And the more you save the better you will feel. Try it and and see if I’m right.
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Published in: Personal Finance
Comments: 29 | Post a CommentPost a Comment
Unofre Pili | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Very useful advice maam. Thanks.
Christine Ramsay | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Such good advice. I have had to do most of the things you suggest since I retired and I haven’t found it too difficult.
Well done.
Christine
Juhls | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Insightful article, Ruby, on great ways to make simple changes to increase ones savings rate. : )
HatedNation | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Good thinking as always..
clay hurtubise | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
All good ‘tips’, and don’t forget to save your Triond $ !!
Thanks,
Clay
CutestPrincess | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
good advice and tips… im so responsible about many saving, but still, i wanna thank you for this reminder!
Morgana | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
I would like to save but I like spending money on myself, my family, and friends. Every time I go out and I see something that someone would like or needs, I buy it.
OhSugar | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Again, thank you for more good advice. I a truly trying to save and get out of debt.
PR Mace | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Excellent timely article. Good advice and tips. I already follow a lot of them. I had a friend many years ago tell me to aways pay myself first. So I followed her advice and started pulling a certain amount of money into saving before I paid any bills. It works and we have a nice little saving account now.
Betty Carew | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
As usual Ruby your spot on. Great article very informative
Fresh Writing | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Mrs. Hawk this is genuinely brilliant; I like how you have transformed the average statistics and stories of today into a relaxing play of words and altogether informative article that still gets the main points across.
Excellent article; I have forwarded this onto quite a few other friends.
See you around!
-Fresh Writing
Brenda Nelson | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
I am particularly proud of my money saving abilities, because while working a minimum wage job (part time too) at an animal shelter, I still managed to save enough money to take my daughter on a vacation from Canada to England to see where her father grew up. I was a single parent at the time, as her father had passed away.
People often think only of the NOW, and don’t save up for bigger goals. Good link!
Mark Gordon Brown | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
I have a hard time saving because everytime I do, it seems there is some emergency that needs cash. Good article and important because if you dont have anything saved, when you do have an emergency it can be a huge problem.
Mary Patricia Bird | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
I had no problem saving money when I was a teenager up until, well, I got married. After that it was all downhill. Then I was unable to work because of disability and add kids into the equation and it is hard to scrape two pennies together. Is it any wonder I walk around with my head down looking for spare change on the ground? LOL!
Great article!
Ruby Hawk | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Thank you my friends for your comments. It isn’t easy to save money when you have kids to raise and emergencies at every corner and for some it is impossible but for most of us it is a matter of priorities and getting rid of bad spending habits.I wish you all a life of thriftiness and a sizable bank account.
Shirley Shuler | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Ruby, I couldn’t agree more, well said!!
CHAN LEE PENG | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for your advice on saving money.
Eunice Tan | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
I fully agree with you Ruby. I have almost a same content:
http://www.gomestic.com/Personal-Finance/When-is-the-Right-Time-to-Save-Periodically.286857
rutherfranc | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
very encouraging.. and you are right, saving can be addictive just like spending..
complexbanana | Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
Nice advice
Yovita Siswati | Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
I agree! I use to have many creditcards, but only have one now. You are absolutely right about buying brands. Great advise Ruby. THanks.
Dee Gold | Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
saving is something we need to do not only for ourselves but for our family as well.God bless!
Alicia Wind | Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
I really avoided the credit cards…. —not my cup of debt—(lol)
Maria Blazz | Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
Very wise tips as usual, Ruby.
Fornis | Feb 20, 2009 | Reply
I agree saving is an addiction. These tips are very useful when we are on a mission to achieving financial independence.
Lex92 | Feb 21, 2009 | Reply
I guess we can all try to save more! Great article
Very practical
Lisa Clayton Williams | Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
Ruby…I love this. Such down to earth, practical advice! Thanks for sharing this….it is something that a lot of people (including myself!) need to hear!!
T B Forshaw | Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
Very helpful advice, when the economy is in the situation that it is currently.
denus | Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
very helpful!