By just a little self-discipline, you can save a significant amount of money every month.
Almost everyone has their own tried-and-true tips for saving, which they are happy to share with others. This is what thousands of commenters did to the question asked on Reddit, from which we selected the best ideas.
One of the most talked about savings tricks is the 72-hour rule, which is very simple. If you want to buy something you don’t need right away, add it to a list and wait 72 hours. If you still want it after three days, buy it.
Most people no longer want the desired item after 72 hours, so they save the price of the purchase. Another useful tip for saving money is to learn to say no to various invitations to the movies, dinners, and more, which are only good to spend money on programs invented by others.
If you can’t say no to buying food, it’s a good idea to eat at home before you leave. You’ll definitely spend less on food when you’re full, and you’ll get by with smaller portions.
Most supermarkets offer a variety of coupons to their customers, but don’t buy a product just because you have a coupon for it.
Use a basket instead of a shopping cart, which can hold much fewer things, and you’ll spend less. Others choose home delivery instead of in-store shopping, in order to avoid impulsive in-store shopping.
You can also save a lot on entertainment and clothes
Many people pay huge amounts of money for various streaming services, when in reality they only watch one movie at a time. See which services you use and how often, and cancel your subscription to rarely viewed services.
It’s the same with email subscriptions: only keep the ones that are really useful. Unsolicited promotional emails can encourage unnecessary purchases, so delete them and unsubscribe from them.
Instead of buying new books, join a library, where you can often borrow movies too. Instead of a trendy, shiny gym, choose a simpler but cheaper place, especially if you only go to lift weights occasionally.
You can also save a lot when shopping for clothes if you buy used clothes instead of new ones. Always think about whether it’s worth the price and whether you’ll wear the same outfit often. In the case of children’s clothes, you can save a lot if you buy used items or exchange them with friends, as they will soon outgrow them anyway.