Question

What are your best money savings tricks? I have a couple weddings this year one out of the country and one in California that are going to be costing me a pretty penny. I need to save up to pay for these but I am horrible with saving money! Thanks ladies!  

Answer 1

Meal planning and sticking to a list when shopping. Not only for groceries, but target runs too.  

Comments

@ashlaring yes! I save so much money when I have a list and buy only what I know I’ll need for the week

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@patten yup! I spent $50 on groceries this week. Minus pizza night coming up. but still. 1-2 Costco trips a month and one grocery store trip a week.  

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@ashlaring how did you only spend $50 at the grocery store? I want to know your meal plans! And what things do you stock up on at Costco?  

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@omer I make a meal plan for two weeks and just have them repeat every two weeks. I usually use recipes from all recipes to make it easy for me because I’m not a great cook nor am I good at throwing a meal together with what’s in my fridge. I also stock up on a sale. so when cereal is $1. 49 a box, I buy a bunch. I also make sure I don’t browse and shop at Costco or Sams. It’s easy to stray off the list and spend a lot there. I can send you my meal plan template and more info if you want.  

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@ashlaring I would love that!  

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@omer I sent you a pm, but it says you haven't opened it yet. Please check your messages. :)

Answer 2

I really focus on my food budget. It is so easy to over spend on food. I made a lot of meals in the crock pot and bake extra and freeze the left overs.  

Answer 3

Dumb question but is your problem reducing your expenses or keeping the money tucked away for when you need it? I’ve got some thoughts but don’t want to assume anything.  

Comments

@connected keeping the money tucked away, I just like to spend too much so saving is really hard for me!  

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@necrosis i know the feeling! A few ideas, maybe you’ve heard them before. 1) Saving using cash. A good old fashioned piggy bank can help if you’re used to spending on plastic. 2) a separate account at a separate bank. No debit card access or anything like that. 3) a friend. Not even kidding. Pick your toughest friend and work out an arrangement where your savings are kept safe no matter what.  

Answer 4

Don’t walk into Target  

Comments

@pentathlon55 you are so right about this one, it is definitely my weakness!  

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@necrosis the struggle is real!  I only use driver up option now. Just order thru the app everything that I NEED and that’s it. Cuz if I walk in minimum $100 is gone! In general, it is important to stop consuming  May be watch a “Minimalist” documentary on Netflix to get inspired.  

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I use site to store also- just the essentials- the minute you grab the cart- it's over! $$$

Answer 5

Donation Plasma! You get paid and they put it on a debit card. Then you use that money for your trip and you so something nice for someone who needs your plasma.  

Answer 6

Meal planning and online grocery shopping

Answer 7

I use an app called “tip yourself”. Every week after paying my bills depending on how much is leftover, I’ll tip myself about $25. For me if it’s out of site it’s out of mind. And the good thing is when i am wanting to get my hands on that extra money it takes about 2-3 days to transfer back to your bank and by then my impulse is over lol. Plus if i want to eat out and have food/lunch I’ll tip myself the $6-10 i would’ve spent so j can see how much it would really add up to. Also i save every single $5 bill i get and when it’s $100 i wrap it in a bundle. In 3 months last year i saved $1, 000 and that’s how i was able to pay for my daughters birthday party!  

Answer 8

Start couponing! Its pretty easy. I stock up on my everyday items, shampoo, conditioner, body wash etc. Its so nice not needing to run out all the time and spend ridiculous amounts of money on those things. ‍♀️

Comments

@forequarter silly ? How do you coupon. I never know where to start? ‍♀️

Answer 9

Start investing with Acorns today! Get $5 when you use my invite link: CPZLZX  
https://acorns.com/invite/CPZLZX

Answer 10

Love Acorns! It rounds up your purchases to the nearest $1 and takes that money and invests it. I’ve saved so much money without knowing it! I use it yearly for Christmas! I also meal plan so I buy only what I need. I see what I have first and plan meals around that. My kids are asked each week what the want for lunch. I don’t buy a pound of lunch meat I buy by the slice at the deli so it never goes to waste! I shop at Aldi and Mariano’s on occasion Target/Walmart. I do buy meat and lots of stuff we use daily in bulk at Costco’s! Love Mariano’s digital coupon deals which then turns into $ off gas! I paid $1. 89 a gallon the other day for gas using my rewards from Mariano’s.  

Answer 11

I use Acorns and I love it! I saved $1000 in 4 months to help pay for an overseas trip! The amounts are so small you don’t really notice it at all! Start investing with Acorns today! Get $5 when you use my invite link:  
https://acorns.com/invite/NLW6RR

Answer 12

I save every five dollar bill in a little change purse in my big purse. When it gets to $25 I put in an envelope. It ends up being our spending money for vacation.  

Answer 13

I use Acorns, Ibotta and Rakuten for saving/cash back. If going to aldi , jewel or wherever and I just need a few things, I take cash only to cover those things so I dont impulse buy. I leave the credit card in the car so I'm not even tempted.  

Answer 14

Take a look at what you’re spending money on now that you don’t really need. Maybe eating out or a morning coffee, and try to limit yourself to 1 a week and plan that into your budget. Also make a budget and plan savings into it just as you would a bill. To keep the money from being touched, look into opening a Christmas club account at a credit union. Mine allows for one withdrawal before November, so it’s not easily accessible and if it’s not your primary bank, you won’t even see those funds!  

Comments

Also, I work at Abri Credit Union and we just added the really cool savings product called Save to Win. It works like a certificate of deposit, but you can continually add money to it. Then, every $25 you deposit each month (up to 10 entires) puts you into a National and CU drawing to win money! The only down side is there is a $25 early withdrawal fee because it’s basically a 12 month CD, but really what’s $25 if you’re saving more and have a ton of chances to win money too!  

Answer 15

Separate savings bank account . Decline a card and only make deposit to it. You’ll be surprised how much u save cause u can’t take out at any atm . Lol We do $50 to $100 a week and just pretend we are making a payment to something or wasting it on unnecessary buys on The Weekends. Trust me if you just do that till your events you’ll have a really good amount saved up just for your vacation /party . We’ve been doing this for years and has worked tremendously. Good luck

Answer 16

I am also horrible at saving! I recently downloaded an app called Albert and it has been amazing! It looks at your spending and it pulls from your checking account when it sees you have a little left over here and there in your budget. Check it out, I love it!