10 Simple Ways to Start Saving Today!

     You work hard for your money, so don't waste it. Whether you have lots of money or not much at all, these 10 tips will help you recognize ways that you can start saving in your life today.

1. Go to university or college? Take advantage of what your campus has to offer.

     From free food to university run programming, there are many opportunities for free stuff on your campus. Chances are you actually already paid for these things in your tuition fees, so you might as well make use of them. If you are not making use of certain things in your tuition, like health coverage, consider opting out of those fees if possible. Otherwise; use it! Additionally, most campuses include a gym and have you pay for membership within your tuition. Your gym may even offer free group fitness classes! Why pay for a secondary gym membership when you are already paying for one that you can go to after lecture? 
     My biggest piece of advice is to look into what you are paying for and make sure you are aware of how to benefit from it. Read your tuition invoices. Become aware of opt out dates. Follow your student's union on social media for information about free events and free food. Reap the benefits! 
     If you have already graduated; many schools offer excellent alumni perks like discounts to stores, parks, and sports events, premium insurance rates, credit card benefits, and more! Definitely something to look into. 

2. Online shopping? Free shipping!

     If you are shopping online, look for sites that offer free or reasonably priced shipping. There is nothing worse than going to checkout your cart online to find that you will have to pay almost double to get your goods shipped to you! However, be careful when there are deals like, "Free shipping for $50+." If you are adding more things to your cart to reach that free shipping mark, you may end up spending more than you originally would have, even with shipping. Calculate it out, and make the smarter and cheaper choice. 

3. Reduce how much you are eating out and ordering in

     Skip apps like "Skip the Dishes!" 
     I must admit, I have been guilty of ordering in too often and grabbing food while I am out without thinking. Yet, this was taking a major toll on my wallet and is something I have decided to limit. One meal from a restaurant can cost around $25. Meanwhile, through careful planning you might be able to buy enough groceries for a entire week off that same amount! Sure, there are some occasions where eating out or ordering in is the better option, such as for special events, when you are away from home, when you are in a time pinch, or for food that you can't make yourself at home. But, whenever possible, you should cook at home.      Sure, sometimes you can "treat yo'self," just be careful you aren't doing so ALL THE TIME!

fast food girl GIF - GIPHY

4. Make a grocery list, and stick to it!

     When I first lived away from my parents one of the most challenging things for me was buying groceries. At first I would just show up to the grocery store, aimlessly wander around while adding a bunch of random ingredients into my cart. I would end up buying things I didn't need, things that I already had, too much of some things and not enough of others, and forget things I had wanted to buy. In the process, I was not only not eating as healthily as I could have been, I was also wasting a lot of money. 

     Luckily, I started picking up better habits like making a grocery list. This will save you both time and money in the grocery store. But, you need to make sure you stick to the list you've created for it to work. In a future post I will discuss the benefits of meal planning, one of which is how it makes writing your grocery list easier, because you know everything you need. 

     Another tip that will help you stick to your list is to NEVER go to the grocery store hungry. You want your brain to be doing the shopping, not your stomach!

5. Spend less money when hanging out with your friends and loved ones.

     You do not have to spend a fortune every time you spend time together. From hang outs with friends or family to a date with your S.O., consider these alternatives to spending money:

• Cook a meal at your home together.
• Have a movie marathon. 
• Go on a walk or hike.
• Find free events and concerts in your area.
• Have a game night.
• Plan a beach day.
• Go to a trivia night at a bar or café.
• Go ice skating on a public rink.

     If you are spending money, reduce how much you dish out:

• Find out if any places around you offer discount days. For example, Cineplex movie theatres offer discounted movie prices on Tuesdays. 
• Do you attend the same gym? Consider working out together.
• Visit a pool hall and pool your money to pay the table fee. 
• Go out to restaurants for breakfast or lunch, these meals tend to be cheaper than dinner. 
• Go out for hot (or cold) drinks instead of full meals. 

500 days of summer film GIF - GIPHY

6. Considering shopping at thrift stores 

     Try the racks of your local thrift store before hitting the mall. Sure some items will look dated, but many will still be in great condition. Some items will even have the original tags still on them! In the past, I have found some really great, and unique pieces at the thrift store. And don't forget that they sell more than just clothes. While I recommend avoiding the used shoes, you can find some real gems in the used furniture section. They may need a little DIY fixing up but can ultimately add something to your space for a fraction of the price. Try for yourself and you may end up agreeing with Macklemore's assessment, "This is f*cking awesome." 

7. Keep your receipts.

     Keeping your receipts can help you in multiple ways. First off, if you've kept your receipts you will be able to get your money back for things that you decide to return. Very few places will let you return their merchandise without proof of purchase! 

     Secondly, you can use your receipts to help keep track of your spending habits. Log the information on your receipt into a spending log once you get home. You will eventually get to see where you are spending your money and how much you are spending. This will help you avoid "where did all my money go" moments. This can also help you recognize patterns of inappropriate spending. 

     Another benefit of keeping your receipts is that you can get discounts and possibly even free stuff off of your receipts! Always check your receipts for contests that you can enter, and discounts off your next visit. These usually come with the small price of answering a survey about the service you received or your experience at the place of business in question, but this is a small price to pay for some of the benefits you can acquire. #IGotTheReceipts

8. Get creative with gift giving

     If you are the creative type, look up DIY projects on Pinterest like these Bath Bombs or this Marbled Clay Ring Dish. Your friend will love these gifts and appreciate the work you have put into them. Just make sure to create something that is personalized to them and that they will enjoy or find useful. 

     Not artsy? Do not fret, you can give your friend the gift of time. Consider helping them with a project they are doing around in their living space or throw them a party. 

     Is it Christmas time and must you come up with 5 gifts for each member of your friend group? Suggest having a secret Santa gift exchange. This way each person will only be responsible for gifting to one person and can therefore put more effort into getting that person the best gift instead of getting everyone a mediocre gift. 

9. Extreme Couponing 

     There is no shame in collecting coupons! Find them in your mail, along with your purchases, and on websites like Retail Me Not. Sure some of the savings might be small, but these savings will add up over time. Just make sure that you do not spend money at places that you were not already planning to visit just because you now have a coupon. 

10. And finally... don't bother with shaving cream!

     The cosmetic companies have many woman believing that they need shaving cream to have luscious, hair-free legs but, the truth is, soap works just as well, and is normally much cheaper! 

shaving shave GIF by HOLYCHILD - GIPHY

     I hope you are inspired to try some of these money saving habits. Do you have any other tips or tricks to saving a dime here and there? Let me know in the comments below. And if you enjoyed this post, please share! 

Stay classy, never trashy, and just a little sassy!

- Kel