3 Simple Ways to Start Saving Money

3-Simple-Ways-to-Start-Saving-Money.One of the biggest challenges many people face today is how to save money. The cost of living expenses has not gone any lower, and it can be tough to set money aside after settling monthly bills. Additionally, there are the children’s needs to take care of, one of which is their education to ensure a brighter future for them. Rent, utilities, food, and so many more are expenses you cannot take for granted as they are all part and parcel of living a comfortable life.

Just the same, saving money is essential, considering all its proven benefits. It is a habit that everyone should develop, primarily because it provides you and your family with financial protection for any emergencies. Moreover, having money stashed away helps you make significant purchases, keep you away from debt, and make your life much less stressful. Saving is so necessary that children should be taught at a very young age to save. Some parents may even teach their children how to earn their keep, such as recycling discarded items like aluminum cans and getting paid for them by recycling companies such as langleyrecyclingkc.com. Habits like this can teach them the importance of setting money aside for the future.

If you want to learn more about how to start saving money, here are some simple ways to begin.

  1. Start with a budget

Creating a budget is the first step to start saving successfully. A budget allows you to itemize your expenses and find a way to balance your regular costs and savings throughout the year. It also helps you determine your goals and discover how you can achieve them. Begin by checking your credit card and bank statements, receipts, and other bills to identify your usual expenses. From here, you deduct them from your monthly income, including your part-time job, government benefits, etc. Then, if you find you are overspending, see where you can cut back on your spending.

  1. Learn how to economize

Most of the time, people find themselves short of money because of habits they have developed through the years. Impulse buying is something that many of us are guilty of. The simplest way to solve the problem is always to have a list when you go shopping. Avoid spending on items that are not on your shopping list. Turn off appliances, lights, and other electrical equipment when not in use. Electricity bills are some of the most significant monthly expenses in every household. As mentioned earlier, you can also earn money from recycling. Start decluttering and bring discarded aluminum cans to the people or companies that put them to good use, such as langleyrecyclingkc.com. You not only earn money but help the environment and keep your home clutter-free too.

  1. Monitor what you spend

Most people have the mistaken notion that making large purchases is what keeps them from saving. In reality, it is what we spend daily on little things that make us pay much more. Therefore, it is always best to monitor your expenses each day, so you don’t overspend. When you check your bank statement, you can determine what you save and what you spend. The next step is balancing it with your budget, determining if you are still within it, and pinpointing areas where you can cut down.

There is no better time to start saving than now. You never know when you will need money you don’t have.

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 Money Saving Tricks for Working Moms

4 Ways To Buy Your Dream Guitar

Ways to Save Money for Your Dream Guitar

You have a pretty clear idea of what you want your dream guitar to be. First off, it should be from a trusted brand. It’s actually not hard to find a guitar, you can use the Allaxess , they have virtually simplified the reviews of branded guitar and accessories so it’s easy to compare and see which suits you best. It should also have a solid wood top, a pickup system or or at least the option to have one factory installed, quality tuning pegs, a nice finish, a comfortable neck and a good sturdy hardshell case. 4-ways-to-buy-your-dream-guitar

You’re hoping to find ‘the one among the most highly rated acoustic guitars under $2000, because that’s your budget limit. Choosing an acoustic guitar is not easy. Make sure you do your proper research and compare prices and features before making a purchase.

You’re now wondering how to save up enough money to buy your dream guitar. The old ‘loose change in the piggy bank’ strategy you did as a kid to buy your first guitar is simply taking too long. At the rate you’re going, you’ll probably be able to buy the high-quality guitar you want in five years’ time. Not ideal, especially if you’re planning on using the guitar for work. 

Guitar Lessons

If you’re willing to be a tutor and teach students to play guitar in Cape Town that’s an excellent way to make some extra money. You can charge an hourly rate that’s fair and give students one on one personalized training from the comfort of your home.

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So, what to do? How can you save the cash you need? Follow these quick tips!

Set money aside every month

Check how much you still need to buy a guitar and how much money you can realistically set aside for it every month. Think of it as a fixed cost. Stick to your monthly budget and avoid spending on unnecessary items so you don’t dip into your guitar money.

Do online research

Take a look at which online shopping platforms have the best deals on acoustic guitars. There’s a big chance you can get a guitar at a lower price than the retail price stated on the manufacturer’s website. Always check for coupons or discount codes from guitar sellers.

Make small sacrifices

Saving money doesn’t necessarily mean living the life of a pauper. It means being conscious about what you’re spending on and spending your money wisely. This involves not spending at all on things you clearly know you don’t need.

You don’t need to buy that big bag of chips or tub of ice cream right now. You don’t need that new pair of headphones that just came out – your old one is still working great, though it’s not as shiny as before. You can switch to another brand of toilet paper if it’s as efficient as that of a more expensive brand. You don’t really have to eat out tonight.

Before you spend on anything, think. Can you do without it? Is there a cheaper alternative? Making these small sacrifices can speed up your saving process so you can buy your dream guitar sooner.

Sell some stuff

You probably have a few items you’re not using anymore. Some old guitar equipment, chord books, perhaps even a starter guitar that’s still in good playing condition. Consider selling these to raise funds for a new guitar. A beginner on a budget may be looking for the same items you just have lying around. Declutter, set a fair price for the things you can sell, post about them in online forums or community board and watch your guitar fund increase as you sell off those items one by one.

Earn more

To really speed things up, you need to earn more money. You can do this by getting a side gig or a part-time job. Try offering basic guitar classes to folks in your neighborhood, doing odd jobs like sweeping lawns or trimming hedges, painting someone’s house, assisting at a local music studio and so on. We’re sure there are plenty of opportunities for you to get that extra cash – just keep it legit, OK?

So there you have the top 4 ways to save money for the guitar you want. Focus on your goal and be conscious about where your money goes, and you’ll be on your way to getting your dream guitar in no time!

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3 Benefits of Buying in Bulk

When people hear of buying in bulk, they may immediately think of doomsday preppers loading up a pantry with canned goods and foods that do not expire for years. However, buying in bulk does not have to be this intense, and it actually has many benefits for families. Some of the main benefits include: Getting lower prices, never running out of what you need and making fewer trips to the store. Buying-in-Bulk-has-its-advantages-one-is-to-save-moneyLower prices in buying bulk

1. Get Lower Prices

When you buy in bulk, you can often get a lower unit price than if you buy things in smaller quantities. While your initial grocery bill will appear higher, you will be saving money in the long run. Things like toilet paper, paper towels, soap and shampoo do not go bad, so you can stock up on them when you find a good sale or a great per-unit price. This is especially true if you are brand-loyal and prefer a certain variety of these products. You are also able to take advantage of sales from places like smokingthings.com and buy a large supply at one time.

2. Never Run Out of What You Need

When you are buying small quantities of things, it can be easy to run out of them and forget to put them on your list. Instead of having to make a last-minute shopping trip for cat food, buy it in larger sizes so that it will last longer. When you start getting to the bottom of the bag, you will have more time to add it to your shopping list and make sure you have more.

3. Make Fewer Trips to the Store

The more trips you make to the store, the more you will spend. It is a frugal strategy, then, to buy in bulk so that you shop less. You should still shop from a list when buying in bulk, but the point is to buy a lot at one time so that you will not have to make large grocery runs every week. Instead, you should be able to do bulk shopping trip about once a month, and then you simply buy your fresh produce once a week.

Buying in bulk may be a new idea for you, but the benefits will add up over time. Consider shopping online for your bulk needs, or see if a membership to a warehouse store would save your family money in the long run.
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5 Ways to Save Money on Family Expenses

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3 Money Lessons You’ll Want to Teach Your Kids

When it comes to saving and spending money, it’s never too early to start teaching your little ones the basics. If you’re not sure exactly what the money lessons ought to look like for preschoolers and kindergarteners, here are 3 tasks to help educate them.

1.      Show Them What You ValueMoney-Lessons-Youll-Want-to-Teach-Your-Kids

You’ve been a role model to your children since the time you started pushing them in the double stroller for infant and toddler with car seat. No pressure, right?!

But seriously, you can use this influence to show your youngster what to value as they have grown up. From what you make for dinner to how you and your spouse talk about financial matters, they’re taking in everything they see and hear.

One way to show them the value of money is to give consistently to charity and involve them in the action. Tell them when you donate to an organization and explain how far the dollar bills go toward helping others.

2.      Start to Use Monetary Terms

Begin to casually use finance talk in your conversations around the house, both with your partners and children in kindergarten. We’re not talking about big words like investing but instead:

  • Giving
  • Charity
  • Saving
  • Spending

As they get older, you’ll want to introduce talk about income. And budgeting too.

By starting to use financial speak with your kids while they’re still quite young, you’re able to instill behaviors before these habits become ingrained by age 7.

Basically, as soon as your youngster is of the age where they can have money then is the time to start educating them about it. Teaching values is a key part of parenting and you can really make a positive difference.

3.      What Does Money Buy, Anyway?

The third money lesson to teach your kids is what cash can buy at a store, restaurant, or elsewhere. Doing so puts concrete worth to toys and other material things they will begin to see in commercials on TV and when you’re out together grocery shopping.

So, the next time that you are food shopping, show them a few items and say the monetary amount of it. And when you’re at the cashier, they’ll see you do credit card transactions, view the physical receipt, and watch you being polite when paying for items.

A lot of lessons are learnable from this one trip to the supermarket! It’s likely more valuable than a lecture at home would be as you’re demonstrating actions here rather than simply saying words to your kids out of context.

Then, when you get back home, take out some coins from your purse and start to explain the names of each one. Any easy way for them to tell the difference between coins at this young age is by color.

Finances at a Young Age

A bonus about teaching money lessons to your kids is that you’ll spend quality time together. By having conversations and interactions about money regularly, you are showing them that money is important, deserves respectful thought, and how to use (and save) it wisely.

The habits that you’ll pass onto your daughter or son are ones that will stay with them for the rest of their life. The insights they learn through your time together can help them build confidence when it comes to money and see them through any difficult financial times later.

Feel good about how you’re preparing them for the future. And enjoy the valuable time together too!
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Related:
How Well Do Your Kids Understand Finances?

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