Four Money Saving Tricks: How do you fit into a budget?

Website design By BotEap.comThere was a candy store on my way home, and my weakness was an overly sweet jelly called jujube. He used to buy them whenever he could if he had pocket money.

Website design By BotEap.comMy grandfather encouraged me not to “waste my money” on that “garbage.” All the things he said were true: it was bad for my teeth, it was probably full of chemicals. He made very good arguments. But I didn’t stop.

Website design By BotEap.comWe all have weaknesses that we spend our money on. We have a difficult day, we think we owe ourselves the luxury of a good dinner, or a vacation after a difficult year, or a new flat screen TV, or that nice outfit in the window. The temptations are many. It’s hard to walk down a lively, well-lit shopping street and not buy something. But there are some saving tricks that you can use to overcome temptation.

Website design By BotEap.comSome of these tricks really work. Take it from a former jujube lover: Eventually, as I grew older, I tried to overcome my addiction to sweets by taking a different route home. I still feel nostalgic for them, but they no longer dominate me.

Website design By BotEap.comHere are four great hacks that are easy to adopt and turn into habits.

Website design By BotEap.com1) Make a list. Every time you go out, make a list.

Website design By BotEap.comThis is easy to do and it works, simply because when something is not on the list you have to think about buying it, and that moment is the death of impulse buying. Keep the list handy and refer to it, so that when something is not on it, it is much easier to ignore.

Website design By BotEap.comtwo) Don’t go shopping hungry.

Website design By BotEap.comThis is important: Studies show that hungry shoppers buy more, sometimes up to 40% more, compared to people who shop on a full stomach. When you’re hungry, you’re not only convinced by the smell of caramel popcorn from the other end of the store, but also by the glasses of wine that you’re sure you need urgently.

Website design By BotEap.com3) If you are married, make a plan at the beginning of each month.

Website design By BotEap.comPlanning your monthly expenses is also quite useful for single people, but it is an especially powerful exercise if you are married. Whatever happens, no two people are completely alike in their financial behavior. Sit down together at the beginning of each month and plan for monthly expenses: essentials, fun things, children’s expenses, etc. Once this is done, take the excess cash and immediately move it into your “long-term savings” account. This eliminates the temptation to touch it.

Website design By BotEap.comDoing this regularly at the beginning of each month reduces the stress couples often have around money. And well done, it brings them closer.

Website design By BotEap.com4) What are the savings for?

Website design By BotEap.comDebt can often arise unannounced, due to a medical emergency or job loss, etc. Be clear with yourself, and if you have a partner, come to an agreement on how much of the savings constitutes an ’emergency fund’ and cannot be used for expenses, etc. Remember, bad things happen to everyone. It’s the way we handle them that makes financial tragedies and horrible events short-term, not life-changing.