How to save up money for the thing you want, without ruining your present life!
Hello there all you beautiful people.
What brought you to this blog post?
Are you saving up for something big like long-term traveling or something smaller like a good quality yoga mat?
Both means spending money you won’t get back. Is that something to think about or worry about? No!
Never worry about spending money on things that will make you happy and will make your life experience a better one, for you.
There are always jobs to fall back on. Friends, family and random friendly people to fall back on when things don’t go as planned.
But this post is not about this side of the story!
I will share some tips on how to save up for the thing you WANT, without ruining your present life.
So without saying no to fun trips, eating out, potlucks and just anything that wants to make it’s way into your experience.
Of course you shouldn’t make these things a habit, but if you feel a pull towards something.. follow your intuition and go!
Don’t go for someone else’s sake, like a friend wanting you to go out when you don’t want to.
Listen to your own wants and needs.
The following are my ‘tips and tricks’ and to be honest.. I apply most of them in my life without actually saving up for something.
–Sell everything that’s not serving you. From clothes to an old laptop, books, jewelry, paintings, your CAR.. you name it. Go through all your stuff and put the things you use all the time a side. It gives you perspective on how much you actually really need/use.
It will also give you a peace of mind when decluttering and minimalising the stuff you own!
A tip on top of this tip: stop magazine subscriptions, maybe your gym subscription(and start working out at home), downgrade on your phone subscription, BUT get yourself some sort of subscription on public transport and other things you use a lot.
A car.. do we really need it? Are you working a one hour drive from your home and they are not compensating public transport costs?
In that case you need a car. Don’t buy a car because it’s easy and it will get you places. A bike will get you everywhere you need to be and when that place is too far away to travel by bike, think about: carpooling, public transport(keep an eye out for cheap day tickets and subscriptions) + it will make you realize how often you went somewhere just because you could when owning a car.
Like grocery shopping in the city next door, because they have more stuff. Stuff you don’t really need 😉
A car brings lots of costs and it could drain your bank account without you noticing it.
Just like cigarettes.
–Only buy what you need. When shopping think twice with everything you THINK you want to buy.
Will it serve you? Will you use/wear it, often? Do you really NEED it? Everyone needs a pair of good black jeans so if that’s the case, go get yourself those pants. Is it a top with a bright color inviting you to buy it, think twice.. you probably have enough tops.
When it comes to grocery shopping: go once a week and make a list of the things you think you’ll need. Grains, vegetables, fruits, herbs, peanut butter.. Keep this list with you and don’t look at all the other stuff inviting you to buy it. On that list is everything you need and you know it, because you wrote it!
-Do chores. Easiest way to earn some quick/extra money. Let people know you want to earn some extra money or just that you’re saving up and some will ask you to do something for them. Like cleaning a car/house, babysitting, walking dogs..options are endless.
What I did for my trip to Thailand: I put out a message on facebook that I wanted to earn some extra money including some ideas of different chores I could do. I cleaned 2 cars and went babysitting twice, I earned 150 euro’s total!
Chores take up way less time then work, but you’ll earn more for the amount of time you’re actually busy with it.
-Move in with your parents or live with roommates. I totally get that you want your own space, trust me. Also trust me when I say that it’s possible to create this ‘own space’ just about everywhere. Your own room, a garden or park, a barn, the gym, the attic, the library, a room at a friends house? Think outside the box when needed and think about the unnecessary costs being saved!
-Find the beauty in thrift shopping and replace your ‘normal’ shopping trip with a thrift shopping trip.
Personally it gives me such a good feeling to give used clothes and stuff new life! The fact that someone didn’t want it anymore doesn’t mean it can’t be used or worn anymore.. that’s why they sell it! Ask around for the nicest (and cheap) thrift shop places and write them down for when you actually need something.. 😉 Also, the fact that it’s cheap doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think twice before buying!
ONLY. BUY. WHAT. YOU. NEED.
Oke?
Oh and.. stop buying books. I’m sorry, but yes I said it. Books are very expensive and it’s so easy to borrow a book or to buy them second hand. Or, or.. go for an E-book over the printed books, much cheaper.
Fun idea: start a book sharing group in your area and exchange books with each other 🙂
Or start one online and send each other the books. That way both parties only pay for the shipping costs and you both get a book(or a few at once). Lots of books are also available ONLINE. On the INTERNET. PDF. Type in the book you want + PDF and when you’re lucky you can download a PDF file of this book. Download the app Aldiko (for android) on your phone and start reading.
You’re very welcome.
-Write all your financial stuff down and check your progress. Watching your ‘saving progress’ really helps to motivate you for further saving!
It’s like getting into a flow, a ‘saving flow’ haha(watch out that you’re not getting obsessed and are letting other fun things slip).
Also write down how much you’re earning every week/month, what you’re spending on groceries, clothes, subscriptions, bills..all your fixed charges! And make an estimation of how much money you have left, how much you want to set a side and how much you are willing to spent on other things(the fun things, the things enhancing your present moments).
Next to those things also write down what motivates you, why you’re saving up, what you’re working towards and what kind of feeling it will give you when you reach it.
Accept the fact that you’re not there yet and appreciate the journey! You should make the most of every present moment, not just live towards something in the future.
-DIY. It’s not that hard. Make your own toothpaste, body/lip scrub, snacks (!), house cleaning stuff, air freshener, peanut butter, tomato sauce. The DIY options are endless 😀 I love to make my own toothpaste and I definitely want to make more stuff myself in the future!
-Make a wish list for your birthday, Christmas etc. I never know what to ask for my birthday, but I started writing things down I want/need/use for the upcoming one.
It could be all kinds of things: books, skin care products, toothpaste, socks, table ware, a yoga mat/block/strap/pants ehm..yeah you know best what you use and need. Maybe a subscription to Netflix or spotify?
Or just ask them to give money like I always do.
-Take every opportunity to save some, but don’t be greedy. The kind of opportunity’s I’m talking about:Â 2 dishes on the menu and you feel attracted to both. 1 of them is cheaper. Go for the cheaper one.
What I’m not talking about:
The waitress at the restaurant was very friendly and helpful, the food was amazing and the vibe was great. You ask for the bill and you pay the exact the amount. Not a cent more. Don’t do that! That’s just bad karma and unfriendly.. just give a small tip. That money will find it’s way back to you.
”Beware of small expanses,
a small leak will sink a great ship.”
Here you go guys!
I’ll leave it with these tips, for now.
I bet more tips&tricks will be added and I ask you to tell me yours so I can add those too!
I hope this is helpful for all of you and I’m curious..what are you saving up for?
What are your plans and dreams? Wants and needs?
I would love to hear about it! <3
Believe it or not, but I have a song fitting our topic!
(for the people who don’t know: I try to find a fitting song with every blog post)Â
