Recently, I got lured by an advert I saw to learn how to make 20 different cocktail mixes in an online class for N1000. Being the food and drink enthusiast that I am, I was ready to sign up for it. That was before my best friend (bless his kind heart and analytical mind. Lol) pointed out to me that I could find loads of free resources online that would give me the same knowledge or even more and would cost me less than N1000 to learn in data cost. Of course, I didn't sign up for the class again and yet I will probably be in a position to teach you how to make 25 different cocktails soon! That experience got me thinking that there are so many ways in which we spend unnecessarily everyday.
Who doesn't wanna keep more money in his/her pocket these days?! These are some pointers to help you do just that:
1. Budget! This is the cornerstone of all savvy financial planning. Make sure you plan out your income and your expenditures correctly to avoid spending money on what you don’t need.
2. Cut many of those “extra” expenses. Paint your own toenails instead of getting pedicures. Brew coffee at home rather than buying coffee out. Carry a bottle of water from home so you din't have to keep buying water on the streets.
3. Minimize your cable/satellite TV. Do you really need 100 channels?
4. Reduce how frequently you eat out. This can save you a lot.
5. Buy groceries in bulk at wholesale stores or markets. You can do this twice a month and save a lot.
6. When you plug appliances into a power socket, flip the socket switch off whenever you’re not using one of those appliances. You’ll save on the cost of ‘phantom energy’ — the slow drain of energy that comes from keeping things plugged in.
7. Want something romantic with that special someone? Eat a picnic or take a walk in a nice park. It’s far cheaper than buying tickets to the zoo, movie theater or amusement park!
8. Check prices online before buying something at a retail store.
9. Stop paying monthly/annual subscriptions at a gym, especially if you hardly ever use it. The government won't charge you for running or cycling on public roads!
10. Reduce the money you spend on phone bills. Why make lengthy voice calls when you can chat, send voice notes and even make internet (whatsapp/facebook) calls? Data is getting cheaper and cheaper. Utilize it fully!
11. Save on transportation costs. Assume taking a bike from your house to the bus stop costs N50, why not factor in the time and walk the distance. You also gain the benefit of getting in some daily exercise from walking.
12. Save on the cost of data, rather than buy data from each service provider for each device you own, buy in bulk from one and share the data via tethering.
13. Take stock of things you have not used in a long while and might not even ever use and then sell them if possible.
14. Never get into the habit of impulse buying. If you didn't budget for it before, you probably don't really need it yet.
15. Drink water more instead of alcohol and bottled beverages. It's not only cheaper but also healthier.
16. As much as possible, eat before leaving home to avoid buying junk on the streets or eating out.
17. Stuff is just stuff. Don't buy expensive gadgets or trinkets you don't really need just for show off.
Do you have methods you already have that help you cut back on daily unnecessary spending? Then kindly add your points and let this list grow, we can all benefit from each other.
Cover image via Canadianliving.com
17. Stuff is just stuff. Don't buy expensive gadgets or trinkets you don't really need just for show off.
Do you have methods you already have that help you cut back on daily unnecessary spending? Then kindly add your points and let this list grow, we can all benefit from each other.
Cover image via Canadianliving.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hi there, thanks for stopping by to read this, I hope you enjoyed it. Please feel free to share your views.