How to Save Without Sacrificing Too Much

In the face of all your financial responsibilities, it may feel like you need to sacrifice getting the things you want just to be able to save. This can make you feel deprived, making it difficult to view saving in a positive light. 

But saving without sacrificing too much is possible by simply changing your mindset. Instead of saving by depriving yourself of the things you want, you can save money by being more money-savvy and finding ways to spend your money more wisely. 

Here are some money-savvy tips you can try: 

Create lists. 

If you’ve ever tried grocery shopping without a list — and on an empty stomach — you know how easy it is to give in to cravings and spend more than you intended. Bye-bye, budget! 

Resist the temptation to buy on impulse by creating a list. This helps keep your shopping on budget and writing a list compels you to think about what you truly need versus what you want, allowing you to assess how much you can afford. Try listing both short-term wants and long-term needs so you can plan your budget accordingly and see how much you may be able to save over time. 

Have fun cooking. 

Eating out frequently can cause a huge dent in your wallet, and it’s often cheaper to cook your meals at home. However, cooking can seem like a tedious task, especially after a long day at work. 

Change your mindset by turning cooking into a fun experience. Challenge yourself to replicate your favorite restaurant dishes at home, find new recipes to try, or cook with your friends. All of these can help you look forward to spending time in the kitchen while saving money in the process. 

Be a thrifty fashionista. 

It may seem like you need branded, brand-new clothes to follow the latest trends. But building your wardrobe this way is costly, and you’ll eventually end up with a closet full of clothes that go out of style — after all, fashion cycles come and go. 

You can express your inner fashionista in ways that may not cost much at all. Try borrowing or bartering with friends and relatives to refresh your wardrobe. Look at the clothes you already own and see if you can mix and match pieces to create new ensembles or alter pieces to give them a new look. You can also hit the ukay-ukay and turn your hunt for thrifted treasures into an adventure. These are all money-savvy ways to build your wardrobe without breaking the bank. 

Rethink your shopping strategy. 

You may already be set in your ways when it comes to shopping — from the brands you patronize to the stores you frequent. You may even have a routine for how you buy things, such as purchasing a month’s worth of food with specific meals in mind or only buying items when they’ve already run out. 

Consider whether changing things up could lead to savings. For instance, you could buy certain items in bulk, try cheaper brands, or shop at a store closer to home to save on gas. In the process, you may even discover new things and build relationships with people in your neighborhood, all while saving money. 

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