[USER]

I’m need of some advice on how I can save, I just re-evaluated my budget since setting it in the beginning of the year. I just realized my rent/bills and utilities averages about 43% of my monthly income. I cannot switch where I live at the moment but will be looking into buying a home early next yr. How can I save more the rest of the year? I buy groceries at 99 cent plus and Trader Joe’s. I live alone and will not get any roommates. I have been spending freely the past couple months and telling myself “treat yourself”.

I plan not to go out and use my amenities at my resort style apartment . I’ve already hid my credit cards and started carrying cash and not too much of it to restrict my self and make better decisions. I’m deleting shopping apps.

What else can I do which will be helpful? I want to save or see if I can make some extra cash in any way I can. I am hoping I can do this for the next couple months and see how it goes.

Any tips will be helpful!

[Ghyontonda]

There are 2 ideas at work: when we “treat” ourselves, the thought of doing so and the actual doing so releases endorphins in our brain. These are the feel good chemicals. The effect is temporary so we have to keep buying. Marketing and advertising know this about us so have contributed to creating addictive consumerism.

The 2nd idea is focus. Whatever you focus your attention on enlarges so if you discipline yourself to focus on the “fun” of being frugal (and it is fun, almost like a game) and a part of it requires creativity – What can I do to enrich my life for free? What’s free?

Your resort style amenities. Books and films at the library, nature, tons of free classes online even from universities like Harvard. You buy groceries anyway, exploring how to treat yourself by what you cook.

There are websites for eating well cheaply that are fun. Being mindful of your intention to “treat” yourself by setting aside time to read, garden, do a hobby whatever makes you happy. Your focus and intention will create the reality you want.

[Linda]

Ask yourself ” Is this a need or a want?”

[Debbie]

Do not buy food at 99 cent store unless it’s a name brand product. It may not be healthy. Try shopping at aldis and Walmart if they are close by. That’s the cheapest for food where I live. I also food shop at one of my local food stores but I buy what’s on sale there

You can check also: I’m being frugal now to try to save up for my retirement later

[April]

Shop in your cupboards before going to the store. Most people have plenty of food already in the house to use up…so go through and see what meals you already have ingredients for (or most of the ingredients) and then make your list of fresh foods and things that need to be restocked after. Same goes for pet supplies, cleaning products, personal/hygiene products, office supplies, ect. Your shopping list will get a lot shorter real fast, and you’ll use up stuff that’s been just been sitting in a cupboard or closet. Also, don’t buy more fresh foods than you can reasonably eat up within a few days or a week. If you live alone, for example, do you really need a huge bag of apples just because it’s on sale? You’ll probably throw half of them away, so just buying a couple of them at a time will end up being cheaper in the long run and you won’t fill your garbage up every week with rotten uneaten food.

Also, fans are way cheaper to run than air conditioning. Unless you live in a place that is stupid hot or humid all summer you can probably get away with running fans, and maybe a dehumidifier on the random humid days, and save the ac for just the really gross days. You shouldn’t need to wear a sweatshirt in your house in the summer, and if you keep the air moving then low 80’s in your house isn’t as uncomfortable as everyone thinks it would be. And it will cut your electric bill down a bunch.

Don’t miss: Who’s cringing their electric bill coming up with all this heat?

[Darla]

If you haven’t tried to control your utilities, increase temp by 1 degree per week to adjust. Don’t leave fans or lights on unless you’re in the room.

Limit showers to 10 minutes or less.

Small adjustments go a long way.

[Lisa]

Sounds like you are just getting started on this journey. Have you looked at your spending and evaluated what you buy? And how much?

Hard to fix when you don’t know your triggers. Check out some decluttering groups or blogs and start really critically looking at your stuff. Maybe you can sell or donate and start figuring out where you stand. Plus if you have some emotional stuff going on under the whole splurge of the least few months, get that taken care of.

Explore these too: I need all the advice to be frugal and save money

[Beth]

The biggest non fixed recurring expense most people have is food. Plan meals, make a menu and shop from that. Homemade is ALWAYS less expensive than semi convenience. Come up with 5-6 simple cheap, things you can make. Invest in an old fashioned crockpot and learn to use it,because its so nice to come home to dinner. (Pasta Alfredo, hamburger stew, spaghetti with meat sauce, chili, chicken and rice, etc are a few ideas)Freeze unused portions for the next week.

Make what you drink,( tea, lemonade, etc) its pennies on the dollar to buying pre made. Switch from Trader Joes to Aldi if you can, except for their bargains. We regularly buy their 6 pack of tamales and veggie fried rice but their fresh foods and meats are twice to three times the prices at our Aldi. Save eating out for a treat. If you smoke or vape, quit. Ditto alcohol. Cut back or quit. Both are expensive habits. If you need to buy something like furniture,check facebook marketplace before buying new. My kid got a barely sat on Lazy Boy Couch for $100- a beautiful Bassett coffee table for $40 and an old Henredon dresser for $60 for his apartment.

$200 instead of over $1000 new, not to mention the quality is better than anything new he could afford. Finally make a budget -it sounds like you are well on your way, and pay yourself first. Decide how much you have left after fixed expenses, how much you need for groceries, gas, food,misclleaneous expenses and some entertainment and how much you can save. Then have the savings auto transfered from checking to savings.

After a few weeks you wont miss it and if you need money, you can always transfer some back,but Ive found having to transfer out of savings makes me more mindfull about what Im buying. Good luck, its a process, but you are on the right path.

[Debra]

Track your spending by saving all of your receipts….. then go thru them at the end of the month, see where you can cut back.

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