Tightening Your Budget
Maybe you aren’t in a position to renew, but you still feel the stress of increasing rates and worry about how it will impact you come renewal. Changing your lifestyle and budget now will help you in the long run. Some ideas are extreme but worth a mention. Look for ways to decrease or reduce your spending, not cut it entirely. Here are some ideas that may work for you.
Groceries
Food costs have sky-rocketed over the last year or so. Here are some great ideas if you can incorporate them into your planning.
Grow a garden
Garden swap
Farmers Markets / CSA Boxes
Can, preserve, and save seeds
Make a menu ahead of time, and use grocery lists
Shop deals and price match
Do meal prep, cook in bulk
Do it Yourself (DIY)
Setting aside a day or a few hours of your downtime to flex those Do-It-Yourself muscles could save you money in various aspects of your life, such as cleaning and grooming.
Make your cleaning products.
Paint your nails instead of paying for a pedicure or manicure
Cut your hair - if it’s just a trim
Ditch Convenience
When money is flowing and time is tight, convenience is gold. When the situation is flipped, cutting out some of those conveniences to save money makes sense. You don’t have to skip them entirely; cutting back can go a long way.
Skip or reduce the take-out and ordering In
Skip or reduce daily cafe coffees
Reduce Entertainment Costs
This can be tough since we work so hard during the week, and entertainment is what we look forward to, but there is a way to do it cheaper without sacrificing much. Again, cutting back rather than cutting out is a great strategy.
Go out for dinner or drinks less often
Go to the library instead of the bookstore
Check out community activities
Rent a movie at home instead of going to the theatre
Have a BBQ or potluck gathering at home instead of going to a restaurant
Working out
Don’t skimp on your health or exercise; this is crucial to your well-being. Consider other ways of working out that won’t break the bank.
Skip the gym membership or see if you can pause it for a while
Work out at home; there are free or inexpensive streaming workouts
Go for a run, walk or cycle
Change your Habits - Spending and Otherwise
We spend money in so many other areas without even thinking about it. Here are some simple ways you can cut back, from big changes to small ones, that will save you a few dollars here and there.
Switch to a gas-friendly vehicle or electric one to save on gas
Consider a used car instead of a new one and save on payments
Drive less-cycling or walk shorter distances
Cut your usage - use less water, electricity, and gas
Check your credit card and phone for sneaky apps subscriptions you no longer use
Go thrifty - shop garage sales, thrift stores
Declutter your home - you may be able to reuse or upcycle things you already own
Monetize your hobbies - if you have them
Price match any purchase you need to make
Winter and summer proof your home to save on expenses down the road
Go through any other subscriptions you may have and see if you can pause or cancel the ones you aren’t using
Mobility Usage - check to see if there is a way you can reduce this bill - there often is based on your usage. Even if it’s only temporary.
We hope something on this list has been helpful; stay tuned for Summer on a Budget….