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Is saving more money at the top of your to-do list? If not, you might want to reconsider. Not only do smart money habits save you stress but it also helps you do away with debt and build up a fund for those unexpected circumstances.
Fortunately, spending less and saving more doesn’t need to be difficult. Here are five easy ways to keep your finances in check this year.
Ditch your budget
If the word budget makes you cringe, it’s time to reframe how you think about spending and saving. “Budgets are created around the idea of not purchasing things. The budget is the enemy,” says Ashley Gerstley of Fiscal Femme and The 30-Day Money Cleanse. “A ‘happiness allocation’ is a different term. It’s really just an honest look at what’s going in and what’s going out so we can allocate our money in ways that are going to make us the happiest both short and long term.”
Automate your savings
Saving just 10 percent per paycheck can help you build a fund to save for long-term financial expenditures like a new car, a mortgage, or even starting a small business. Pull this off by setting it up with your bank or tap into an app like Chime or Digit to tackle your transfers with mobile banking.
Drink smarter
Dropping cash on coffee and water every day really adds up. To put it into perspective, spending just $4 each weekday will cost you over $700 this year. Instead, use reusable bottles and thermal mugs that you can refill on the go – it’s a surefire way to cut costs!
Shop online
Love shopping online? So do we. To help you resist the urge to click “checkout,” sign up for Ebates to claim cash back from your favorite retailers, add the Honey extension on your browser to automatically search sites for discount codes, and utilize Paribus to stay on top of any price adjustments.
Take inventory
Not knowing what you already have is an easy way to spend money on things you don’t need, so take a quick inventory of what you already own. It’ll stop you from buying duplicate houseware items or filling your closet with five of basically the same shirt.
Need more inspo to finally get your finances in check? Check out six podcasts that can help you manage money.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
