Stay on budget while adding to savings……

Sometimes it’s hard to save.  We all go through times when life gets in the way with unexpected expenses.  But there are a few things that are easy, common sense ways, to continue to add to your savings.

If you have a loan you’re paying, say a car loan, when the maturity date arrives and the payments are all paid up, continue ‘paying the loan’, but put that amount into your savings account(s).  You got along without it these past years, so you still can.

Make lunches to bring to work and school.  Cook meals at home rather than eating out at restaurants…. homemade meals are far cheaper than eating out.

Make your coffee/tea/cocoa at home and put in a travel mug to take along.  Even one cup of your favorite beverage every day bought at your favorite stop, times seven days a week gets pretty pricey.  Get a pen and paper and figure out what it costs for a year…. until the figure is seen in black and white, quite often we don’t give it a second thought, and have no idea it is costing us that much.

Cut back at the grocery store by using store brands, coupons, watching for sale items and buying what you need while the sale is on (there is usually a 6 week cycle for items on sale). The snack aisle can be a costly aisle to walk down.  It’s another area where you add things to your cart without thinking of the cost.  Add the cost of the snacks in your pantry…. leave the snacks out of one grocery shopping trip….then every other. Put that money you would have spent into your savings.

Talk to all those you exchange gifts with, and instead of gift giving, maybe instead of individual gifts, you all could have a get together with each bringing a ‘grab gift’. Have a ‘potluck’ dinner with each bringing something to eat.  The money saved on gift giving can then go to your savings. And the get-together will be a lot of fun and make great memories.

If you get a pay raise at work, put the difference of what you had received before and the amount you now receive into your savings. Again, you got along without it before.

And of course, if you’ve been paying down your credit cards and now have zero balance(s), kudos to you!  But continue ‘paying’ the amount by adding it to your savings now.

All easy, but common sense ways to see more going to your savings.