It appears that you're new here. If you like this content, subscribe to my feed via RSS or Email and you can keep up with all the new posts.If you aren't sure how to use an RSS feed, read this post.
Saving money is a worthless endeavor if you don’t really “save” it. Too many times, I have personally started doing frugal activities and later noticed that somehow the savings vanished. I never really saved any significant amount of money because the money just got absorbed by something else. I’ve had to “start saving my savings” to really make a difference.
Maybe you need to trick yourself into saving money. Maybe you’re one who sets a clock 10 minutes fast just so you can arrive “on time.” If this describes you, or if you’ve discovered that your savings seem to disappear like mine, you’ll love these sneaky savings strategies. How you use the money is up to you, but I would suggest:
If you’re interested in tricking yourself into saving money, here are 17 specific strategies (actually they’re tactics but I love alliteration), to save money. The big picture is avoid spending your savings on frivolous stuff that you really don’t need!
1. Borrow and save. Every time you get a book from the library, deposit half the cost of the book in a high yield savings account.
2. Send yourself a bill for savings. People give high priority to printed bills so think of your savings as a bill that simply MUST be paid. You have no choice in the matter. Period.
3. Love those singles. When you leave the house every day, carry only five dollar bills and put all your ones into a savings “jar” when you get home. Every Friday, deposit the entire amount into a savings account … and don’t count it until you’re already at the bank. Then transfer it to a high yield account such as ING DIRECT.
4. Your own restaurant. Learn to fix your favorite restaurant meals at home and save the cost difference. If a family of 5 eats out once per week, they can easily save $150 per month, plus making your own southwestern egg rolls is a lot of fun!
5. Your own tip jar. If you go out to eat, tip yourself the same amount as you tip your waiter.
6. Make it an even amount. Round up all your purchases to the next $5 or $10 (you pick) and save the difference.
7. Have you just paid off a bill? Save the same amount you were paying (unless you’re applying that money to another bill).
8. Join the club. Do you shop at a store that requires you to join their “savings” club? Deposit that saved amount (usually at the bottom of your receipt) into your savings account when you get home.
9. Get an ROI on that movie. When you return a movie (hopefully on time) to the rental store, pay yourself the late fee.
10. Charge your own admission. If you rent movies from BLOCKBUSTER Total Access
or Netflix, pay yourself $2 for every movie you watch.
11. Eat healthier AND save money. Forgo dessert when you eat out and save the amount it would have cost. Double the benefit!
12. Gift yourself the gift of less stress. Open a Christmas Club account and save a certain amount each month, even if it’s only $10. You’ll never miss it.
13. Make ‘em pay YOU. Regardless of what they sell, if you’ve switched companies for price reasons, save the difference. Think of phone companies, internet access, cell phones, credit cards, and others.
14. Can a lighter light bill mean a heavier wallet? It can if your utility bill came in a little lighter this month. Save the difference!
15. There’s cash in that lunch box. Brown bag your lunch at least 3 times per week and deposit the savings every Friday.
16. Own your own laundry mat. Drop a quarter into a jar every time you use your own washer or dryer.
17. Make cash rewards really work for you. If you use a cash rewards credit card (and pay it off faithfully every month), deposit the cash rewards.
BONUS
18. Use coupons? Save the amount you don’t spend.
The key is to start saving something today and you can start by saving your savings. It doesn’t have to be a set percentage, a set amount, or large sum. Even if you’re on a tight budget, these small amounts will add up over time. Saving money doesn’t have to be hard (it isn’t hard to make extra money either) but it IS important to involve your whole family. Plan a treat for everyone when you reach your savings goal, such as such as a day at the zoo, the park, or a museum.
What other sneaky methods can you think of to save money?
Technorati Tags: save money, saving money, save cash, save, sneaky, savings, savings account, account, retire, retirement, emergency fund, coupon, coupons, ing, ing direct, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar, savings strategy, savings strategies, strategy
photo credit: quinn.anya
PF Buzz It!
|
Tip it!
|
Stumble It!
|
Print This Page for Future Reference
Leave your comment here:
Get Updates to The Wisdom Journal via RSS
Or, Get Updates by Email
Can't find what you're looking for? Try searching here:
My StumbleUpon Page
I've been using TaxCut Software from H&R Block for the past 12 years and I've been extremely happy with it. At various times, I've had a pretty complicated return and TaxCut has always performed perfectly.
Online Phone Service
I have been VERY pleased with Skype . The quality of the call as well as the rate is outstanding. Give it a try! You won't regret it.
Great Coffee
My family and I have used Gevalia for years. They have fantastic coffees and if you sign up, you can get a really, really nice coffeemaker. I have a coffeemaker, two carafes, and a coffee storage container from them. Highly recommended!
The Wisdom Journal is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult with a competent professional before acting on any advice found on this or any other website.
© 2007 The Wisdom Journal, - Daily Blog Tips Themes
By the way, I am one of those people who sets my clock ten minutes fast, hehe.
- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 6th, 2008
Thanks Jack,
I’ve never been able to trick myself with the 10 minutes thing. I just compensate when I know about it!
[Reply]
[Reply]
Very true. A good friend of mine recently told me about how he redid his budget to free up a couple hundred dollars a month. After the first month of his new budget he went out and bought some new furniture. Oh well, it’s a start!
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 6th, 2008
I’ve found that I fall prey to that too. It really hits me hard when I look back and think about how much I’ve wasted but I’m resolute that I’m going to change. Another thing I plan to do is save half of my next raise…no matter what.
[Reply]
[Reply]
Thanks for stopping by to comment Gracia!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Maybe after your experiment is completed you can implement some of these ideas and save even more.
Stop by and comment anytime!
[Reply]
[Reply]
[Reply]
i really loved the post, Ron
[Reply]
[Reply]
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 8th, 2008
You got that right. We managed to save enough over 5 years to take a trip to Disney World with the kids. Of course, we added some large amounts at times, but that small change really does add
[Reply]
Thanks for the ideas
[Reply]
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 8th, 2008
It really is a mindset isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing your experience!
[Reply]
I love your tricks!
The trick about keeping your watch 10 minutes fast never works for me cause in my head I know that it is not time yet… he he he
I have tutored in past years to make some extra $$ and now I refinish furniture and sometimes paint for that extra little help!
I have a piggy-bank which is made of clay and there is just one little opening for putting the money in… no opening for taking it out. You have to break it to take out all that money or you have to really shake shale shake to get “some” money out. I put all the loose change and any other money from tutoring or finishing projects in it. I always break it in December and then start all over. Last December I had $ 843.00 in it….. paid an extra 500 towards the mortgage and the left over I used to pay for a round trip to North Carolina!
Not bad…..
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 10th, 2008
That is so COOL! I’m glad you liked the post and keep up YOUR good work in saving just a little here and there. It really adds up, doesn’t it?
[Reply]
[...] 17 Sneaky Savings Strategies :: The Wisdom Journal [...]
[...] 17 Sneaky Savings Strategies. I’ve never thought of several of these “sneaky” ideas, but I plan to implement them in the frugal household. The “own your own laundry mat” is my personal favorite! [...]
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 11th, 2008
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! You’ll have that down payment a lot sooner with your great attitude! Keep me posted and drop back by when you get the chance.
[Reply]
[Reply]
We also save our dollar bills every month and deposit it in a separate ING account. I plan to use it for any Christmas gifts I haven’t gotten yet.
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 11th, 2008
That is GREAT! I’m so glad it works for you and thanks for sharing your real world experience with “saving your savings.” $4,000 is a ton of money! Woo Hoo!
[Reply]
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 11th, 2008
Glad you liked it! One I didn’t mention was to always order the free water at restaurants and pay yourself the cost of the sodas or tea. With my family of five, we saved an average of $10 every time we went out to eat. There are all sorts of ways to save money if you look for them. Thanks for commenting!
[Reply]
[Reply]
I like the laundry mat idea - only I think I’ll try $1/load.
That would be the way to save up for a new washer
The library one would break me! With no TV, I must check out
10-15 books a week.(Speed reader) It would eat my whole paycheck! LOL!
[Reply]
Ron 's reply:
October 11th, 2008
You could always lower the amount!
[Reply]
[...] 17 Sneaky Savings Strategies | The Wisdom Journal [...]
—————————————
http://www.cafepress.com/sarobey
http://moderncorporategirl.blogspot.com/
[Reply]
Thank you!
[Reply]
[Reply]
[...] buddy Ron over at The Wisdom Journal gives us 17 Sneaky Savings Strategies. These c an help whether you’re trying to pay off debt, save for specific goals, or save for [...]
Go through all of your communication related bills….you would be amazed at all of the excess cash we spend needlessly…….Cable, cell phone, landline, calling directory assistance and ignoring the yellow pages…….
[Reply]
[...] The Life Skills Network has done a very cool job of keeping content relevant in the face of changing economic times. From making life simpler and more affordable to making sense of the headlines, I’m very proud to be a part of this great group of bloggers. From The Life Skills Network: The Wisdom Journal: 17 Sneaky Savings Strategies [...]
[Reply]
[...] Find a better deal and actually SAVE the difference. – “Regardless of what they sell, if you’ve switched companies for price reasons, save the difference. Think of phone companies, internet access, cell phones, credit cards, and others.” – via The Wisdom Journal [...]
[...] Find a better deal and actually SAVE the difference. – “Regardless of what they sell, if you’ve switched companies for price reasons, save the difference. Think of phone companies, internet access, cell phones, credit cards, and others.” – via The Wisdom Journal [...]
[...] the past (the 30-day rule, the spending tax). Now Ron at The Wisdom Journal has compiled a list of 17 sneaky savings strategies, a collection of money games you can use to boost your savings. I like this [...]
[...] 找更好的條件的交易，然後把差額存起來。 「不管他們賣什麼，如果你因為價格原因換家公司，請記得將差額存起來。考慮電話公司、上網、手機、信用卡等。」 via The Wisdom Journal [...]
[...] Find a better deal and actually SAVE the difference. – “Regardless of what they sell, if you’ve switched companies for price reasons, save the difference. Think of phone companies, internet access, cell phones, credit cards, and others.” – via The Wisdom Journal [...]