Are you a student aiming to save for your MBA or a small business aspiring to grow and save money at the same time? Whether you’re a parent, a professional or a business owner all of us, in some way or the other, are in search of effective money-saving ideas. It might seem an uphill task but if you consider the tips I’ve compiled below, saving up on precious bucks will become less daunting.
Create An Expense List
The hardest part about saving finances is the starting point. The key to effectively achieving your target is to manage your expenses and practice frugality. Start by jotting down your personal expenses and all related costs to create your expense list. It will help you set realistic goals for yourself. Moreover, it will assist you to keep track of your spending, thus allowing you to avoid overspending and cut down on expenses to meet your target. You can also use a good money-saving app to help you create your financial plan.
Practice Frugality
Penny pinchers might come off as misers but it’s wise to spend with caution rather than waste your savings. Factor in expenses like household items, bills, taxes, food and personal spending during the budget planning and stick to it. Focus on your needs rather than your wish-list, prioritize your expenses, and steer clear of impulse buying or spending. Find out where you can slash your expenses or cut back on costs. If you’re a businessman looking for money savings, find out the activities that you can cut to reduce unnecessary overhead. For example, if you want to organize a trade show for your firm, go for inexpensive custom display rentals from reputable firms like Expomarketing.
Set A Budget For Yourself
You’ll be best able to track your spending with a defined budget. With an expense list in hand and an insight into cost cutbacks, you’re on your way toward meeting your saving’s goal. Once you set a budget for yourself considering the expense list and your income, make an effort to stick to it. Set a target that reflects the amount you want to save every month, say 10-12% of your earnings and ensure your spending doesn’t exceed the budget limit, else, consider your savings blown away. You can also use a tool like ‘Better Money Habits Spending Analysis Tool’ to analyze your spending pattern and make the necessary adjustments.
Define A Goal
A great way to save money is to define a goal like savings for a wedding, an MBA program, down payment of a car or funding for a startup. This will help you set realistic targets for yourself encouraging you to save the required amount every month and abstain from overspending.
Open A Savings Account
I recommend you open a savings account in a bank where saved finances are deposited or transferred every month. If you’re a US resident consider using FDIC-insured deposit accounts like Certificate of Deposit which keeps your money locked for a specific profit margin every month or an FDIC-insured individual retirement account (IRAs) which is a tax efficient savings account apt for long-term money-saving goals.