Introduction
Living under budget isn’t easy. Most students or working professionals in their early days struggle to save as much as they want.
It’s mostly because of a tight budget or limited income; and also because of lack of financial knowledge or specific spending habits.
But there’s a way to fix that as long as you’re willing to get creative with your lifestyle.
Your spending habits and lifestyle can cut through the financial anxiety that constantly keeps you at the edge of your mental sanity.
Don’t worry, we can help with some ideas; and make the time you spend on this blog worthwhile.
Mindful Entertainment
Don’t you think skipping one or two events a month is a good way to cut down on extra spending? If you love to attend expensive events, then it can put a dent on your monthly budget.
Although entertainment is necessary, ensure that it’s not making a hole in your wallet. Find resources like community event listings or something similar to get low-cost entertainment.
Or you can replace it with affordable entertainment options like –
- Going to parks.
- Free online entertainment over movie tickets.
- Ordering from local restaurants instead of Michelin stars.
Make Investment Your Habit
Lowering the habits of eating away at your money can help you save money. But it’s not enough to help you grow your money.
Set aside a budget for monthly investment or periodical investment. This habit can create an urgency to spend mindfully.
Also, you can think of different investment vehicles with different levels of returns to playfully grow your money.
Many platforms offer up-to-date charts and educational materials to new investors and help them grow their income. You can refer to those platforms for more learning and know how to increase your money without breaking a sweat.
Review Recurring Charges
Recurring charges can often hurt your financial condition if you don’t keep track of them. We often take subscriptions we don’t need to continue. But, if you have already clicked on the autopay button, then you’re probably paying for some services without even needing them.
The result? You hardly know where your money is going from the bank account. It’s time to cut down on unwanted subscriptions that are eating away at your month’s earnings.
Expenses that renew automatically can be canceled if you review them before the next charge is debited.
Say no to Meals Outside
You might be spending twice – no – thrice the amount of money on meals than you’d be if you had meals prepped at home.
Relying on restaurants and meals from fast food takeout locations costs you more. On top of that, fast foods aren’t enough to fulfill your nutritional necessities. So, you may also end up spending on health supplements and medicines, adding an extra layer of expense to your monthly budget.
Prepping a meal at home is a lifestyle change you can make to ensure both your financial and physical wellness.
Wait Before You Buy
Track your impulse buying habits. Just because a dress looks nice at the mall doesn’t mean you should buy it. It’s ok to want something for yourself.
But, if your financial condition doesn’t permit, it’s best to take a step back for another time. So, how do you stop impulse buying? Well, you can make a list of things you must buy before heading to the shopping mall or retail store.
Convenience stores and malls are designed to make you buy more. The alluring product displays and welcoming sales agents can motivate you to buy things you don’t need yet. But when you know what you came for, you won’t get distracted.
- It helps to create your budget and limit your spending accordingly.
- Plan your shopping before heading to stores.
- Use credit/debit cards instead of UPI to make quick purchases.
- Delay your decision by using the save for later feature on eCommerce platforms.
Conclusion
Financial wellness starts with budgeting. So, ensure to create your monthly budget if you have a limited income. You can also cut down on unnecessary expenses, eliminate recurring charges, and focus on mindful entertainment to keep your money from going out too soon.
And when you build the habit of saving up more, you can drive them toward different investment channels to grow your wealth. Let us know if the tips in this article were helpful or not.