Money hacks to keep your cash under control

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Lisa Alioto

02 February 2021 21 comments

No matter what stage that we are in life, it always seems like we get our paycheck and in no time at all, the money is gone.   And there is nothing big or substantial to show for it. So, where does it go?  Quite often it goes toward little things that quickly add up.

So, what can we do about that?  How do we save when much of what we are buying is necessities?   Or are they?  When should we buy something to keep the most money still in our pocket book?

Here’s some quick ways I’ve found to save money:

  1. Bring lunch from home. It may not be as “good” or interesting as what they are serving at the cafeteria or local restaurant, but it’s definitely a quick way to save a good chunk of money over the course of a week, let alone month.
  2. Cut coupons. I know, this may seem old-fashioned to do but on a regular basis I have noticed that I have saved 10-20% off my grocery bill by doing so.  And if you start bringing your lunch from home, you will be shopping a bit more so let’s keep the savings going!
  3. Time your purchases. There are “best times” to buy everything!   Black Friday, of course, is one of the most popular such times.   Great deals on almost any type of product.  Other types of products have their “sale seasons” – try to buy your products during these times.   The internet is a great source of information on these seasons.
  4. Buy Quality. This one may seem counter-intuitive because quality almost always means a higher price tag.    Let’s think of the long-term game here though.  If you only have to buy something once, or it lasts twice as long as the other option, in the long run you’ve saved money.
  5. Before you toss something out that is no longer working, think about whether it might serve another purpose.  For example, old T-shirts make excellent dust rags.  Empty containers make good coin collectors.  Have some fun with this one and let your creativity run wild.

I find that just having a greater awareness of where my money is going is a huge help.  It helps me make more informed purchasing decisions and ensures that I am putting my hard-earned money where I really want it to go.

One other strategy that I’ve found helpful is that I break down my salary to the equivalent hourly wage.  Then, when I find something I want to buy, particularly a splurge item, I ask myself, is this really worth ## hours of my time at work?  This sometimes has been quite effective for stopping me in my tracks.

Hopefully these ideas and exercises are helpful.  Ideally they are meant to simply be some initial strategies toward getting yourself on track with managing expenses. Once you’ve figured out your new habits (if you so choose), it won’t be something that you fret about every time you take your wallet out.  You will already have a good sense of what the item in front of you is truly worth to you.

A place where you can always find a deal is right here!  Deals every day!

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21 thoughts on “Money hacks to keep your cash under control

  1. These are great tips! I like the idea of repurposing things before you throw them away. I’m admittedly terrible about that. I will try a bit harder 🙂

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Thanks Jen! I find repurposing a challenge at times too but sometimes it works out surprisingly well!

      Thanks for stopping by!

  2. These are great tips! I definitely agree about timing your purchases. If I know I’ll be needing something soon such as a makeup remover, I’ll wait for it to be on sale before buying it.

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Good move Karalee!! You can catch some great deals if you time it right!

  3. I really like your tips. I consider myself a conscious spender but I don’t repurpose that much. I like to throw things to not clutter ????. I should be extra conscious from now own. Thank you for sharing those ideas.

    1. Lisa Alioto

      I’m glad you enjoyed the tips Darina! 🙂

  4. Great post! I think I definitely need to start bringing lunch from home, because not only does it save money, it should be good for the environment as well.

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Yes and yes Rhea! Great points!

  5. Great post! I definitely need to start bringing lunch from home because not only does it help to save money, it should be good for the environment as well (in reducing plastic waste).

  6. Definitely need to get better at taking lunch to work! Used to be in a good routine, going to start again for sure.

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Good luck Thia – it’s quite a bit of savings!

  7. We always find another use for things that are no longer served their purpose. You got really good tips and helpful.

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Thank you Fransic – I”m glad you found these tips helpful!

  8. Great tips here. Especially the breaking down your hourly rate! That would certainly make most purchases seem wasteful x

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Thanks Claire! It really does – sometimes I just have to remind myself not to go to the other extreme. Little splurges are nice every now and again.

  9. This is so relatable, and there’s some great advice here! I love the idea of buying quality — I used to go for cheaper stuff to save money, but it just doesn’t last. Great post love ❤️

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Thank you so much Meredith – I”m glad you enjoyed the post! Yes on the quality – it’s so worth it in the long run. 🙂

  10. These are great tips, I always try to time my purchases around the best times to buy if possible or look for offers/ coupon codes if it isn’t sales time. And buying quality is a great investment, and better for the planet! x

    Sophie
    http://www.glowsteady.co.uk

    1. Lisa Alioto

      Thanks for sharing your insights Sophie – I appreciate you stopping by.

  11. Good advice! I find that even just writing down my spending is very eye opening, it quickly becomes clear where I am wasting money. Thanks for the tips!

    1. Lisa Alioto

      That is a great tip Alison! Seeing your spending on paper can be a real eye-opener!

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