Everyone is always looking for easy ways to save money. No matter how financially stable or unstable you are, it’s never a bad thing to have a little bit of extra money in the bank.
However, it can be difficult to figure out easy ways to cut spending and increase your savings. If you’re struggling to find ways to be smarter with your money, consider trying a few of these easy money management tips.
Put Impulse Purchases on Hold
Everyone’s guilty of making unnecessary impulse purchases from time to time. Sometimes, when you see something interesting in the store or while browsing Amazon, it can be easy to convince yourself that you need it — leading to hundreds of wasted dollars.
An easy way to curve impulse spending is to tell yourself that you’ll wait a couple of days and buy it if you still feel like you need. More often than not, you’ll find that you don’t really want it that bad.
Avoid Banking Fees
Maintenance fees, ATM fees, overdraft fees, minimum balance fees, and other seemingly small banking fees can add up over time. Some people end up spending several thousands of dollars on banking fees over a number of years.
Cut banking fees by looking for a checking and savings accounts that guarantee no fees. Even, better try to find a savings account that offers high interest rates. Ally Bank, for example, offers a savings account with an APY of 2.2% no matter what your balance is.
Automate Savings
This one is a particularly easy one as it requires minimal effort. If you want to save more money, simply set up a recurring transfer to your savings account.
Determine how much you want to automatically deposit into your savings every month. It doesn’t have to be a lot. You can always deposit more if you happen to earn more in one month than another. However, automatic savings deposits ensure that you’re constantly building up that emergency fund.
The 50/30/20 Budget
Many financial experts recommend the 50/30/20 budget for individuals looking to be a little bit smarter with their money.
The rule is simple: 50% of your income goes to essential costs like housing and groceries, 30% goes to unnecessary luxuries, and 20% goes to savings, debt repayment, etc. This simple budgeting strategy lets you continue to enjoy the luxuries that you’re used to without ignoring your responsibilities.
Get Rid of Subscriptions
Countless individuals fall into the trap of paying for numerous subscriptions that they rarely use. Netflix, HBO, Showtime, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. are all fairly cheap, but add up when combined.
Determine which services you are getting the most out of and cancel the others. If you only use HBO to watch new seasons of Game of Thrones, there’s no reason to stay subscribed year-round.
A lot of people make saving harder than it needs to be. You don’t need to become a financial expert to improve your financial stability. If you’ve decided to use this year as an opportunity to improve your financial situation, consider implementing a few of these easy savings strategies.
