Like many people, you have probably been looking to go on holiday this year or perhaps save for a new car. However, one of the biggest hurdles to this is making the conscious effort to save money. Just like many other things, getting the motivation together is often the biggest problem, but once you get started, it can soon start to gain momentum. Here are some simple ideas that you can use every day to help you save money.
Record Your Expenses
The first step to getting your money in order is to know what you are spending it on. Often, you might not even realize the small items you buy and how they can mount up into a lot of money over time. Take some time to note down all of the things you buy, even the little things, and also add the money you get in from salary and other payments. Once you have completed this, see how much money you have left over at the end of the month. If you have covered all of your outgoings, you should be left with money that you can save. However, if you find that there is little or no money left, then you need to look at your spending and see where you can cut back.
Commuting
One of the biggest daily expenses for most people is travel for work. For that reason, if you can find a cheaper alternative, it can give you the biggest saving. If you usually drive to work, then consider any other ways that you can get there that could save money. Take a look at your monthly spend on fuel and see if taking a bus or a train would be cheaper. Another consideration is to cycle to work every day. It also has an added benefit of helping you to keep fit, but you need to be careful, especially cycling in a city. Many now use cameras on their helmets, so that if they suffer an accident, they can give this evidence to a top law firm for bicycle wreck.
Cut Back on the Small Luxuries
Over time, you might start doing small things that can lead to a regular expense without realizing. For example, you might occasionally buy a coffee on the way into work, but then you start to do it more often until you are buying one nearly every day. These regular amounts can build up to a lot of money at the end of the month. Take a look at your spending and see if there are any of these small amounts you can cut back on to give you additional savings. The same applies to buying lunch, instead, take a packed lunch with you along with some snacks if you get hungry during the day.
By doing these small things and cutting back on non-essential items, you can quickly start to find extra money that you can use to save for those special purchases.