As most of you can agree, we love going out with friends, buying new clothes, going to the movie theater, and shopping online, but some of you may have been in the same problem I often find myself in. Especially because the mall is a great place to spend when you're bored in the midst of summer, or because frozen yogurt is truly better when it's 100 degrees out, it's easy to find yourself running out of money. There's nothing worse than reaching into your wallet to buy another adorable shirt at the mall and realizing that you're down to your last few one dollar bills. But how do you fix this? Because I found that I was quickly burning a hole in my wallet, I sat down and gave myself some guide lines on how to cut back on spending. It's hard to pass an offer on a typical sale at your favorite store, but using these 7 tips, you can still enjoy your usual fun without spending too much!
I find this tip extremely useful. If you have all of your money in one wallet, you can mindlessly keep pulling out money while shopping. However, if you only have a twenty dollar bill instead of several, you will be more conscious of how much you are spending. (Bonus: It also is a good tip to divide your money between wallets for safety. Therefore if you lose one wallet you do not lose all of your money!)
This tip is close to the first tip, however opening a bank account not only can prevent you from spending all of your money, but it also can give you even more money over time with interest. Opening a bank account for your personal money is important not only for the present day but for your future too!
I learned this tip from one of my favorite shows "Say Yes to the Dress". If you find a dress in a store that is calling your name, but it's way over your budget, don't taunt yourself with it any longer by trying it on. If you try it on there is the chance that you will forget the price and buy it anyways, only later realizing that you paid way to much for it!
Going through your clothes has many benefits for not only you, but also for your community. Simple take an afternoon to sort through all of your clothes, donate the ones you don't need anymore, and then organize the clothes you keep. Once your clothes are organized and in clear sight, you will have a better understanding of what you have, and when you go shopping you'll know what you already have and will be less tempted to buy more!
The movie theater is ridiculously expensive. I mean, $6.00 for a small bag of popcorn and $3.00 for a teeny little box of candy is insane, but honestly I love going to the movie theater with friends. When I new movie comes out, I have this gravitational pull towards the theater. It's a fun thing to do with friends, however you could end up paying $30 each time for the movie plus all the food you and your friends share. Instead, go to the Redbox and rent a $1 movie and invite all of your friends over for a movie night. Pop your own popcorn, serve some drinks, and Walmart even carries the same candy the theaters sell at only 99 cents, talk about big savings!
Setting yourself a weekly budget can be important for saving money. Especially if you have a current job, you can set yourself a weekly (or monthly) budget that includes your income and how much you are letting yourself spend over a certain period of time. It's super easy to do and it helps you prepare for adulthood!
Coupons! Use them! Coupons can save the day, and almost every store or business gives them out. So do some research and find if your favorite retailers have a Coupon Club or a weekly newsletter with awesome deals! This way you will get the same clothes, but for much cheaper.
These tips will help you get in the healthy habit of being conscious about your money while still letting you enjoy your time off from school... follow them and you'll be on the path of saving in no time!
Love,
Natalie
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