Top Story – 10 Lifestyle Changes That Help Save Money

Counting the Pennies

There are not many worse things than to be constantly counting the pennies up in your head as you panic about whether or not you are going to make it to the end of the month. Life really should offer you a little bit more than this torment and it probably can if you make some real changes to the very way you lead you life.

Here is a look at ten simple lifestyle changes that could see you living for less and being much happier for it.

Play the Lottery

A bit of a silly one to start but where is the harm in spending an extra pound or two on something that could make all of your money worries disappear in an instant if you are the lucky winner. Of course, it is very unlikely that you will hit the jackpot, but you might as well give it a go while you concentrate on some of the other more practical tips listed below.

Budget

It’s amazing how many people complain about being short of money but make no attempt to control their own spending. If you set yourself up with a monthly and daily budget, you are able to control exactly how much money you have to survive. You stick to the budget and work around it. Once you impose this kind of discipline on your spending, you’ll be surprised at just how much of a difference it makes.

Check it Out

It is very easy to fall into the habit of always going to the same supermarket to buy the things you eat and drink. It is also very likely that you are paying more for them than you need to. Take a little bit of time out to study different companies’ prices and you will soon learn exactly where you need to go in order to start saving a little every time you do the weekly shop.

Another latte, really?

The amount of money spent in high priced coffee shops is amazing. There is nothing stopping you getting stocked up on some high quality coffee of your own and taking that with you into work each day. If the stuff at work is undrinkable and you just need that extra caffeine boost to get through the day, suggest to your colleagues that you pitch together to pay a decent espresso machine for the office.

Get a Library Card

Almost all of the books and films that you pay good money for can be got for free from your local library. The membership is also usually free, or very inexpensive, and the very act of just going to the library can have a really soothing and positive effect on you.

Eat Well

Healthy eating can have a massive impact both financially and on your general well-being. Fresh fruits and vegetables are really quite cheap and the eating of them in the place of meat products and other processed foods can give a great boost to your health.

Get on your Bike

Cut out your travel costs by investing in a bike, or just walk if the distance is not too far. Biking to and from work is a brilliant source of exercise and it also cuts out the stress from the daily, squashed commute on the bus, train, or underground.

Shop Around

When you are looking to make an expensive purchase, do some research and find out exactly where the product you are looking for can be got for the lowest price. The internet is so full of offers that it is sheer lunacy not to do even the most basic investigation into prices when you are looking to spend a significant amount of money.

Sign Up

The internet is also the home of a whole host of companies that will email you offers on a daily basis about absolutely everything you could ever be interested in. 99.9% of this stuff may be of no interest to you, but the savings you can make are astounding and all you need to do in return is scroll rapidly through an email every morning.

Do It Yourself

A really enjoyable way to save money is for you take up a new hobby that will have some practical value. This could range from anything to the simple jobs that need to be done around the house through to something more complicated like pottery or perma-culture. Not only can these new hobbies help you to save money by reducing your need to call in professionals, but they can also be activities that you might really take to and which might even lead to you turning them into a small extra income.

The options are definitely out there if you only open your eyes to them. The changes that you make to your lifestyle can be big or small, but all of them can and will save you money to some degree.

By Alisha Webb. Alisha is a British writer working out of Barcelona she is also content developer for saffrey.com- a firm of London accountants.