12 Best Tips for Saving

Here are a few tips that will help keep some cash in your pocket:
 
1. Saving your change! Gather all your loose change in one place (not in your purse or pocket where you will end up spending it). This could be kept at home and over the course of one year, you will surely have a good gathering of an emergency fund.

2. Keep Track! It is important to know what you spend and were you spend it. Keeping track of all small purchases will help you evaluate your expenses and also allow you to make better choices in the future. Example: I bought bread and milk from the local bakery and spent €3.25. On a different day i bought bread and milk from the local supermarket and spent €3.10. Not a big difference? Well a little goes a long way... Take note of where you can purchase your essentials cheaper and keep track of how much you have spent over the course of one month.

3. Think Before you Spend! You saw that beautiful dress in the store window and you just got to have it? Or do you? Don't buy it on impulse, take a day to think about it. Is it an evening dress; will you ware it more than once; will you get good use out of it if you do purchase it? If you give your self a little time to think it over, you will have less regrets about impose spending.

4.Create a Budget! Start from the first day of the month and keep all your receipts of all purchases (big and small). By the end of one month, you will be able to know what are your major monthly expenses and what are your & your family's needs and expenses. You will be able to then create a realistic budget for all these expenses and always keep keep within that budget.

5. Spend what you have! Yes, it might be the easy way out to use your overdraft option when paying with credit or debit cards. Unfortunately this will leave you in dept and could effect how you sleep at night. So spend what you have and no more. Make this a Golden Rule!

6. Prevent! Do you avoid certain things until they just have to be done? Do you neglect the cervice of your car until it finally breaks down, leaving you with a repair bill that is be double the amount of your regular service? Make a plan and add these chores to your monthly budget. If its accounted for there will be less change of you avoiding what has to be done before any disasters.

7. Sales/Discounts! Take advantage of the months were all the stores go on Sale. This would be the best time to purchase birthday/Christmas gifts in advance. Its the perfect opportunity to buy that something special at 50% off.

8. Tangible Goals: If you plan on putting €200.00 or more toward your savings; chances are you will not meant your goal. But saving €20.00 a week is a more possible scenario.  Keep your goals simple enough to be able to keep them! 

10. Shop On-Line! Are you planing on having a party? Are you expecting a new baby? If you have a heads up on upcoming events, it is not a bad idea to purchase items online and in advance. Also try to purchase things in bulk so shipping fees are reduced.

11. Plan ahead: Are you spending quite a bit of money on ordering food for lunch? Planing ahead by making little extra food from the night before so  you can take to work the next day; will have a large affect on you savings. 

12. List It! Before heading out to the market make sure you have your grocery list in hand.  Make sure you keep to the list and do not end up purchasing the unnecessary items just because they happen to be on promotion.