Learning to Save Money

I save money by getting my Starbucks already ground at Target for $6 a bag, and
I get a fancy creamer at Aldi. I treat myself and save money!

As an adult, you have to learn how to save money. While everyone wants to win the lottery, this should not be your go-to plan for life. Life will throw you responsibilities in the form of bills that will need to be paid. Bills will not wait for you to win the lottery. That being the case, it’s important to learn how to save money. Saving money comes instinctively for some people, but less so for others.

Distinguishing between a want and a need is the first step towards learning how to save money. If you’re on a tight budget and that item you want is incredibly expensive, it is not ideal to purchase it. There are even ways to save money on food. No, this does not mean eating less. Rather, you could limit the number of times you buy food while at work and eat out less.

Distinguishing between a want and a need

Understand the difference between a want and a need. A roof over your head, for instance, is a need. Enough food and water are also necessary. Eating filet mignon every single night at a fancy restaurant, on the other hand, is a want. Not only is it a want, but also it is a pricey want. Create a budget plan for yourself to help keep on track. However, spending a little extra every now and again is good. In fact, treating yourself, especially after a stressful and long week, will make you happy. However, this should not become the norm. Learn to appreciate what you have in order to distinguish between wants and needs.

Food budgeting

Constantly eating out is expensive. While it is important for your sustainability, there are ways you can save money on food. Make a habit of going grocery shopping as opposed to eating out at restaurants. Before you even head out to the grocery store, make a list of what it is you require and stick to it (at first, to the best of your abilities). You shouldn’t leave that grocery store with three tubs of ice cream and four bags of chips, especially when it’s not even healthy. In addition, pack your leftovers for work the next day to save money. Get in the habit of packing lunches. In order to save money on food, you should set a monthly or biweekly food budget.

Using coupon codes

Let coupon codes become second nature. Even if not on a budget, there is no shame in throwing a coupon code during checkout if the option is available! In fact, it’s called being smart. There are also certain sites, such as Dealhack, that make coupon finding easy. For instance, if you are located in Canada, there are constantly new Canadian discount codes that you can find on the site. These are codes that can be used for an infinite amount of brands; you just have to search for what it is you are looking for, and see if a code exists.

Make Sensible Switches

Have a look at where you are spending money now and see if you can get better deals elsewhere. For example, could you switch energy providers? A company like Just Energy has promo codes and discount rates that could make a huge difference to your monthly spends. The same goes for your internet provider or cell phone company. Then, when it comes to shopping, could you switch to cheaper brands or even a cheaper store to save money? There are some really easy swaps you can make, you just need to think about it and then count your extra pennies.

Learning to save money is part of being an adult. Although budgeting isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun time, it’s still a part of adult responsibilities. On the plus side, learning how to save money will benefit you. It will teach you how to appreciate what you have and may see you learn how to cook and be resourceful as a result of the coupon codes.