Money Saving Tips for Beginners

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Saving isn’t just about preparing for long-term goals like retirement — it’s about being financially prepared for the unexpected. Whether that’s a spontaneous trip, buying a home, or tapping into rainy-day funds, it’s important to make sure you’re financially secure. And here’s the good news: saving doesn’t mean you have to pinch every penny. It just means you have to be mindful of how you manage your money. In this article, we put together simple money-saving tips you need to know.

1. Determine Your Budget.

The first step is to calculate two things: your income and your expenses. That means everything – from grocery necessities, to bill payments, to weekend spending. After you collect the numbers, organize those expenses into wants, needs, and savings. Needs would be bills, food, rent, and other necessities, while the amount of money that’s left is your lifestyle budget or wants.
While everyone’s situations are different, many savers aim to follow a 50/20/30 budgeting ratio*: reserving 50% of their funds for necessities, 20% for savings, and 30% for personal spending.

2. Pay Off Your Debts.

Debt shouldn’t stop you from saving, but it is in your best interest to pay off premium credit card and loan debts as quickly as possible. Once you have, you can channel those extra funds into savings. Start by using only one credit card, since it's easy to lose control when you have multiple cards, store cards and debit cards. Set aside some money every month to pay those debts down. There are multiple strategies and techniques that can help you to do this.

Avalanche Method: this strategy tells you to pay the highest interest rate to the lowest. By tackling debts one at a time, you’ll have more money to move on to the next credit card, loan.

Snowball Method: this is the opposite of the Avalanche method. With this, you’ll pay your debts off from smallest to largest. This approach is slightly more manageable and gives you more motivation as each one is paid off.

3. Make Saving a Habit.

Once you know how much you can save each month, commit to doing it consistently. An easy way to build your savings, stress-free, is to set a recurring transfer on payday. By automatically contributing to an investment account or high-interest savings account, you can build your funds without having to think about it. After a few deposits, your lifestyle will adjust.Also, if you work for a company that offers a 401k plan, you can set up automatic contributions to start funding your retirement.

TIP: if your company offers a 401k match, be sure you take advantage of it.

4. Manage Your Spending Wisely.

Saving doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t spend money. It just means you have to spend it wisely. Each day, try to find new ways to cut out unnecessary spending, and watch those extra funds add up over time. Here are some daily, weekly and monthly savings tips to better manage your spending.


Daily & Weekly Saving Tips:

  • Prep for grocery shopping. A little planning before a grocery trip can make all the difference—and cut down items that you don’t need! Make a grocery list and stick to it. Start clipping coupons and join loyalty programs to maximize your savings even more.
  • Order small servings as restaurants. Just because you’re budgeting, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a night out to dinner. By ordering just an appetizer or splitting an entree, you can still treat yourself while continuing to stay within your budget.
  • Plan for major purchases. When the time comes to buy new appliances, furniture, or anything else major, make sure you’re doing your research. Wait for annual sales, and consider buying at a non-peak time.
  • Restrict online shopping. Websites make it so convenient to purchase things quickly and efficiently, but it’s important to resist the urge. Uninstall the shopping apps, and try using a web version to make it less accessible. And when it comes to shopping for something you need, remember: stick to your budget!
Monthly Saving Tips:
  • Monitor your utility bills. You can save hundreds of dollars by watching your electric bill and making small changes in your energy usage.
  • Lower your car payment. Try refinancing your auto loan. Lower interest rates could save you a $1,000 or more. Or look into other car saving options like changing insurances or dropping certain coverages.
  • Cancel unnecessary subscriptions. By cutting down on streaming services, apps, and magazines, you could be saving or investing that extra cash.

Like all good habits, savings is something to start practicing early and often. Starting now will give you greater peace-of-mind and confidence. Follow these 4 tips, and you’ll be well on your way to better financial health.


* Forbes

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