Tips for Successful Personal Finances
Board games aren’t just for kids. Lately, teens, college students and adults have rediscovered game night parties thanks to new games like Apples to Apples, Ticket to Ride, Last Night on Earth (a zombie game), Pandemic (a plague game), Settlers of Catan, and the crazy fun Quelf. Personally, I love a fast-paced game of Mexican Train (dominoes).
How about a movie marathon at home? Go to your local library, borrow several movies, and watch them on your own TV with homemade popped corn. If the library doesn’t have what you want, rent them from your local grocery store movie kiosk for minimal cost. Netflix members can use a Roku or compatible game console.
If you want something more than pot luck but don’t want to pay a fortune for dinner out, try a BYOB restaurant. Check around, some restaurants will let you bring your own bottle of wine. Ask first, because there could be a “corkage fee” for bringing your own bottle. When you buy wine from a restaurant, your favorite bottle can be double the price of what you would pay retail. Check with your state, because some states will let you bring the partial bottle home, and others won’t. This is one way wine lovers can enjoy dinner out and still save some money.
Want to spend time with a friend at no cost?
Try going for a walk and having a chat with your friend. Save the cost of food and get your exercise in.
This is a fun thing to do and has many health benefits.
Do you ever want to spend time with friends, but don’t want to spend lots of money on a restaurant? I know that I really want to spend time with people. Consider a potluck dinner.
You can select the house (yours or theirs) and then everyone brings something. To kick it up a notch, try having a menu based on a certain cuisine. I and some friends got together at a friend’s home and the theme was Chinese food. The hostess made moo shoo pork and the rest of us brought the sides.
I know people who get together on a regular basis for dinner clubs, wine tastings, movie nights and more. What appeals to you? Think about which of your friends would find it fun to have an inexpensive dinner party. Make a plan with your friends.
I was brought up with a family that had a backyard garden. Especially now when I am making a great effort to eat more fresh and locally grown food, the garden makes sense. The garden my grandparents had when I was growing up took most of the backyard. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work for me. I have to keep mine small so that it’s something that I can manage and is not too overwhelming for me. I start around March with seeds inside (although in some years I buy plants in another month).
You can do this too. You can have a garden in your backyard or a container on your deck – whatever works for your situation. You can grow whatever appeals to you, from herbs to tomatoes. There is nothing better than going out and picking what you want to eat when you are ready to eat it.
You are probably thinking, “What does this have to do with saving money?” Lots! The more you grow the less money you spend at the grocery store.
Lettuce is a very easy vegetable to grow. Put seeds in the soil and within two weeks you have lettuce for your salads. No more buying lettuce at the grocery store, or wanting a salad only to find out that the lettuce in your fridge is bad. You pick the lettuce leaves as you need them.
Think about what you would like to grow today.
Do you shop on the web? Do always go to the same website without comparing the price elsewhere?
You might want to think about price shopping for the lowest price. I know that this can take up your precious time. The website www.Billeo.com offers a way to search, and even notify you, of discount coupons.
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Will you do the paperwork?
Each year I purchase my antivirus software just after Thanksgiving. Not only is it on sale, but I usually get a three-user pack for less than $10 with the rebates.
I make sure to do the paperwork the day of purchase while I still have everything I need. When the rebate comes, it’s like FREE money.
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I never use change when making a purchase. I always get coins back.
At the end of the day, that change goes into a bank in my home. At the end of the month, I bring it to the bank (mine has a free coin counting machine) and deposit it to my savings account.
I average about $20 per month. You might be thinking what’s $20, but for me, $240 a year is a car payment. Learn to think with the bigger number and it will feel worthwhile to you.
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Now comes the day to add up your numbers to see where you stand. Use my budget tracker to make it easier. Which side is bigger? Is there more money coming in than going out? Or is it the other way around? That is all I am asking you to figure out here.
You need to determine what the next step is for you. If you are like most people, you will need to get your expenses down or generate more income. Don’t panic! In the coming months, I will discuss raising your income and reducing your debt. You may want to pick up my book to read the “Reduce or Eliminate Expenses” chapter in Thrive in Five (where these micro-tips come from).
For the rest of this month, I will talk about ways to save more. Again, these are suggestions that you can chose to do… or not. Only implement ways that seem right to you now. Then go back at a later date and try others.
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