So your mother’s birthday in in one month, and you want to buy her something really special.
Problem: You want to give her something that is very special to her, but costs more than you can afford. How can you save enough money in one month?
Solution: Do you buy items that you don’t really need or that you could buy cheaper? Changing the following purchasing behaviors can help you save that needed money for your mom’s gift.
- Do you buy a bottle of soda, juice or water several times a day? If you brought your drink from home, you could save $4-$6 a day. Multiplied by 30 days, this adds up to $120 – $180 a month in savings.
- Do you buy and drink your morning coffee on the way to work? How much do you spend on coffee every day? Can you bring a thermos bottle of coffee you prepared at home? Doing so could save you $1 or more a day or $30 or more a month.
- Do you buy magazines from the bookstore or news-stand? If you buy the same magazine every week or month, why not get a subscription or read it online? Magazines are cheaper when purchased by subscription plus you’ll get discount offers to stay with the subscription. You could save $20 a month or more.
- Do you buy groceries or household items when you need them? Why not stock up on non-perishable or frozen items when there is a sale? You’ll save quite a bit of money over the course of a month or year.
- Do you buy clothes that are not on sale? Purchasing clothing on sale can save you a lot of money! Watch for sales, plan your purchases, and buy three shirts on sale for the price of one shirt.
Are you concerned about accidentally spending the money you are saving? Here are some options:
- Every day calculate your savings and transfer that amount from checking to savings
- Every day put your savings as cash in an envelope or box and keep it in a safe place
Good luck!
Post authored Elizabeth Metura
