We’ve all had them. Those really hard times when you’re down and out, and have no money to really do anything. You want to go out and have a good time, you want to look good, and of course you want to feel good. However, you’re either living from check to check, are unemployed at the moment, or in a bind where you really need to save.
Having to save when you want to spend money is hard, we all know that. But there are ways to make the most of your lack of funds, while still being able to shop, go out for a night on the town, and live your life like it’s golden.
Here are 10 Ways to Save When You’re Broke:
1) Cook Instead of Eating Out or Ordering Food
Cooking your own meals helps you save a great deal of money. Instead of spending between $5-$10 a day EACH time you buy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can save yourself $20 a day by just cooking. Chef up something quick, easy, and healthy for breakfast (which means you have to wake up at least 30 minutes earlier) that will hold you off at least until lunch. If you get hungry in between lunch you can munch on a light snack (that you brought to work from home).
For lunch you should be eating left overs from last night’s dinner, or eat the sandwich you made that morning after cooking breakfast. Once you get home you begin to cook up the meat you took out of freezer that morning. Visit ThugKitchen for fun and witty healthy recipe ideas, and a good laugh while you’re at it.
This helps you keep money in your pocket, and work on maintaining a healthy diet. When you start doing this you can try and treat yourself once a week to lunch at your favorite diner.
2) Have Social Gatherings at Your House
Not being able to go out with your friends is a major blow when you’re low on funds. However, inviting friends over for a night of drinks and drinking games, (Hip Hop Dance Experience, Twister, Kings.…At least one of these three are always a win). You’ll probably have more fun at home with your friends, rather than going to a club and wasting $50 only to still have to sleep alone that night.
3) Do Your own Hair and Nails (Ladies)
Self mani and pedis will become your best friend when you’re trying to save money. It’s hard to save when your spending $40 weekly on your hair or nails. The job the ladies do at the beauty salon is amazing, but it’s nothing you can’t do on your own, especially when you’re trying to manage your money. Cut down how often you visit the beauty salon, and take on some of your cosmetic needs on your own. It will help add dollars to your bank account.
4) Limit Your Moves and Begin to Enjoy Your Own Company
No one knows you better than yourself, and it’s always good to have alone time to just watch a movie, surf the net, or do whatever the hell you want. When you’re low on funds, spending time to just focus on you is always a plus. This even helps to get your creative juices flowing, so you never know where that alone time could beneficially lead you. Allowing yourself to remain distracted by parties, friends, your love life, or work can limit your time to really explore your own talents and find what it is about you that can possibly bring true value to the world.
5) Go on an Affordable Getaways Rather than Expensive Trips
Going on a affordable getaway, or mini vacation will help you avoid spending an extra $1,000 for a vacation. We all need vacation time, it’s a necessity in life, but that doesn’t mean you have to break your pockets; or avoid them all together when you’re broke. Check out Groupon or Travelzoo for some of their daily vacation deals. You can find deals that will take you to Jamaica for 4 nights for around $600….not bad. Also visit our travel/review blogger, JoVonn Coupons, website TasteofTravel, to have her assist you in finding an affordable vacation within your financial means.
6) Save 25% of Whatever Money You Make
Everyone should save at least 25% of their financial earnings regardless if you’re broke or not. Practicing a good saving regimen will help you with acquiring true wealth. Wealthy people don’t go broke because they know how to save. We see a lot of “rich” people go broke constantly because they don’t know how to save and acquire money. So start by saving at least 25% of every paycheck you bring in, even after taxes.
7) Avoid Borrowing Money (it’ll only make you more broke)
Borrowing money only puts you in more of a financial bind because you have to pay someone back whenever you do finally get money, so it’s like you never even had money to begin with. Borrowing money, in most cases, doesn’t always help you fatten your wallet, so try to avoid it all together.
8) Shop at More Affordable Stores or the Sale Section
Shopping at cheaper stores, or visiting the sale section when you shop, can help you save money while still staying up to date on the latest fashion trends. H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Uniqlo, and even the sale section of Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Ave will have you still looking extra fly, while saving money in your bank account. Even check out our blog on Thrift Shopping, where you can find high-end fashion brands for extremely low prices. Ballin on a budget baby!
9) Make a Vow to Only Go out Once a Week….if that!
If you must go out, like most of us, at least limit your moves that require you to spend money to at least once a week. Hitting up house gatherings, BBQs, or a cheap party is a definite, but if you crave the city night life, limit your city moves to once a week and vow to spend no more than $25-$40. If you can’t afford even that, then you don’t need to be going out anyway. Stay home. Nobody likes partying with broke people!
10) Practice Self-Control
All of these tips share one common factor, that if practiced and mastered, they can help you possibly acquire true wealth in life. Self control will allow you to do every one of these tips and then some. Self control will help your time of being low on funds more enjoyable and life changing.
Once you get your money back in order then you can stunt on everyone.
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