The need to cut down on spending, for me, arises a couple times a year – Summer and at Christmas. We … or … I get a little over-zealous with online clothes shopping, online makeup shopping, and online jewelry shopping. See a trend here?! When our funds are looking a little less than desirable, I examine our expenses with a fine tooth comb and see where we can cut back. So here I’m sharing a few simple tips for saving a little dough!

Save for something special.

To start, determine anything special that requires saving up for, and how much money you need to save in order to be able to afford it. Whether it be home renovations, a family vacation, new living room furniture – having a goal to look forward to is a great motivator for opting out of needless purchases. Think about how much you eat out. Add up all the coffee runs, lunch with the work wife, and fast food takeout you spend your dollars on in any given month. The number will likely be shocking! Now think about how closer you would be to your savings goal if you put even a portion of those purchases away instead of blowing on $7 lattes!

Lower your credit limits.

Online shopping is so easy. Too easy. And one can get into a whole heap of trouble really fast if they don’t pay attention to how much they’re spending. Having one credit card with a lower credit limit can help alleviate some of the careless expenses. One cannot go on a massive shopping spree if they max out their credit card! A lower credit limit is also a little reassurance in case your credit card number is stolen or hacked.

Review the family subscriptions.

Do some digging sometime and see just how many subscriptions your household has! Pretty surprising, right?! Streaming television (Netflix, Prime, Disney+), music services (for Google or Alexa), magazines, subscription boxes, meal kits – it’s astounding the amount of subscriptions that are out there! Purge the services that are duplicates or are not longer used. Put that money you’ve just saved towards a family outing!

As a blogger, I have an insane amount of memberships and subscriptions. Besides the obvious domain and web hosting fees, which are paid annually, I subscribe to a whole slew of services for my blog and social media content. Recently, I reviewed my bank statement and the list of charges was shocking! $2 here and $15 there – these seemingly minuscule amounts really add up over the course of a month.

So, I too, purged what services and member fees I could forego in order to lessen the expense of running my blog. Sacrifices must be made in order to not go broke doing what I love (and what keeps me sane)!!!

Make shopping lists, but stick to them.

Raise your hand if you still browse the flyers (literally or online) to find the best deals on whatever your family may need – or not need for that matter. My husband religiously shops the latest sales listings of all the local stores we frequently shop at. He then meticulously creates his list of what he plans on buying on any given grocery run.

Only trouble is, we already have enough food and supplies to survive a zombie apocalypse! Our pantry cabinet is full. Our fridge and freezers are full. Our toiletries are stocked. You know the toilet paper shortage that occurred when the pandemic first began? We didn’t suffer because we had enough TP to stock a military base! Needless to say – we over shop. Saving a little dough on your next grocery trip by taking stock of what you already have will help keep expenses down.

Use cash.

Taking a little bit of wisdom from Gail Voz-Oxlade from Til Debt Do Us Part where she sets her clients up with their weekly budget – along with their cash allowance for their expenses. No plastic was allowed! It’s understandable in our current pandemic state that contactless purchases are preferred over cash, but it’s still an option. Setting a comfortable and attainable budget for fluctuating expenses – groceries, clothes, entertainment, booze – is a great way to avoid over-spending.

Separate needs from wants.

Expenses can increase exponentially when we are buying everything we want – but don’t need. Separating what you want (coveting the neighbour’s new hand bag) from what you or your family needs (a new bbq) can help to drastically reduce spending. If there is something you really want – simply save for it! Create a savings account – or even a jar in the cupboard – and add to the “new hand bag” fund whenever there is extra change or a few dollars here and there. You’ll be proud to have earned your little treat!

Take stock of what you already have.

Whether it’s clothes, shoes, sunscreen, or tampons – always confirm what you have on hand before buying more. Each season we go through our daughter’s clothes to see what still fits (kids grow like weed). We take stock on what she could use more of, and likewise, what she definitely does not need. We shop the sales online and also browse local thrift stores to get what is actually needed.

The same goes for everything else in your home. Check to see how much sunscreen you have before going and buying more. More importantly – check expiry dates on products such as sunscreen, insect repellent, cold/allergy treatments, etc. The only thing worse than over-stocking is waste! Always take the time to take stock in the linen cabinet, makeup bag, and pantry before haphazardly investing in more crap.

Related Post: Creative Ways to Use Up Leftovers.

How are you saving a little dough this summer?

Are you taking any steps to save a little dough this summer? Perhaps your family is opting out of a summer cottage vacay and staying close to home instead. That’s exactly what we are doing! Instead of spending a couple thousand on a trip to the lake, we are making the most of our backyard and taking little day trips here and there. To be truthful, we’ll likely end up spending the same amount over the summer, but the expense won’t seem so daunting.

Cheers to spending less and loving more!