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I save money by getting my Starbucks already ground at Target for $8 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.
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.