What are bad habits that one might want to kick to live frugally? What are some of the little ways to save money? Here are a few of my personal examples. Some of them might seem obvious, but everyone needs a bit of reminding now and then.
Stop smoking. I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. Needless to say, that set me back more than a hundred dollars a month. It was difficult to quit cold turkey, of course, and I thought that my lungs will burn with longing, so what I did was look up websites that offered advice and support through chat rooms and community forums.
Don’t shop when hungry. Any hungry shopper faces a great temptation. The lure of the here and now, the prospect of immediately gratifying one’s self, is too much sometimes. I can relate. Before I used to go grocery shopping in the morning, before lunch, and I would be picking out all kinds of canned goods and potato chips from the shelves. Now I go to the grocery after I have eaten, so I wouldn’t think too much of looking for food and spending without a sense of proportion.
Cook at home. I used to eat so frequently at restaurants that I remember having spent about a thousand dollars a month on meals. That’s why evenings tired me; the dinners out also made me gain weight and lose a lot of potential savings. Now, I simply cook at home. I’ve bought a couple of recipe books so I can cook fine meals at home. I also eat leftovers and sometimes even bring my lunch to work.
Research first before finalizing travel plans. There are a lot of online deals being offered by travel companies and agencies. I used to ignore these and traveled rather capriciously – whether the trip was for business or for leisure. Now, I actively search out deals and check the Internet before deciding on anything: I check bookings, cancellations in travel clubs I’ve joined, special package offers, and budget airline tickets. I also usually stay at cheap hotels that have loyalty programs for frequent guests.
Avoid too much loyalty and shop around. I used to be so intent on getting the best and most popular brands – be it for fashion, for cars, for cellphones and for computers. Now, I first study what online deals there are available. Can I get something cheaper but just as practical? Am I paying a premium for the name of the manufacturer? Shopping around may take some time, but it also saves a little money.
David Stack is a computer programmer and web developer, and a weekend writer. He has been operating Coupon Saver for over a year now. Get more gift coupon codes, free shipping and promos by visiting Promotional Codes.