10 Money Saving Tips

As a Financial Coach, I love helping people solve their money challenges. I also am a nerd and love saving money! Here are 10 of my favorite tips to help save you money in your budget.

1. Change your cell phone company. It’s amazing how much you can save if you explore offers from other carriers.

2. Ditch cable/satellite. With all of the streaming services out there, cable/satellite tends to be the more expensive option. 

3. Pick ONE subscription service. Don’t sign up for the extras. We never have the time to watch everything we want, or end up binge watching something and lose track of time. Sometimes too many options can overwhelm us. Pick on service and save time and money.

4. Get the cheapest plan on your internet. This may not be an option if you work at home, but much of the time the basic service will give you the bandwidth you need, and save you money in the process!

5. Look at your insurance and see if you can save by making changes. Sometimes just updating your mileage per year can save you money on car insurance. Do you have too much coverage based on your vehicle? Do an assessment or check out other companies to see if you can reduce this expense.

6. Use grocery store apps to plan your shopping list and stay on budget. When I use an app and add my items to the cart, not only do I know exactly what I will be spending and can edit the list accordingly, but I stop the impulse buys in store. 

7. Pack your lunch. Eating out is super expensive, even if just for lunch! How many of us eat at our desks in between meetings? Save the eating out for an experience you can take time and enjoy, and pack your lunch for work.

8. Make your own coffee. I love my Starbucks as much as the next person! However, I recommend for your daily cup of coffee making your own. Huge money saver, plus saving the specialty coffee for meeting up with a friend or date with your spouse will help you savor the experience.

9. Wait 24 hrs before making a purchase. Ask yourself if it’s a need or a want. We often hit “buy” or make the purchase without thinking twice. Putting a boundary on spending and waiting 24 hours will allow you to give some thought to the purchase, see if it is really in your budget, and be more intentional with spending.

10. Use a budgeting app. I was an Excel spreadsheet girl for years for my budget, but a budgeting app has made all the difference! There are so many free ones available these days I like Every Dollar by Ramsey Solutions. It is easy to use and can be shared with your spouse so you are always on the same page with the budget.

What are your favorite tips? 

Getting a Financial Coach in your corner can make a huge impact to your financial success. Contact us at admin@opendoorscounselingaz.com to learn more about our Financial Coaching Services.

Kelly Gutowski, LCSW is a Counselor, Coach and Clinical Social Worker at Open Doors Counseling, Coaching and Consulting. Learn more at www.opendoorscounselingaz.com