Saving Benjamin

Okay, I realize this is something that gets posted on a lot of blogs and websites but I’m deciding to share it again because I think there are some very helpful tips in here. And lets face it we all are trying to save up for certain things; in my case, to list a few things, a new laptop, and a trip overseas. Though your goals probably are not the same as mine and might not be as expensive as mine, it's always nice to have that little bit of money set aside for whatever it is your trying to save up for.

Since this isn't a new topic there are plenty of websites where you can find money saving tips, but the one i liked can be found here www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/02/06/little-steps-100-great-tips-for-saving-money-for-those-just-getting-started. This website contains 100 simple money saving techniques. Of course not all of them are gold and not all of them will apply to everyone so just read through the list and see which ones apply to your life and which ones you feel like trying.

These are just a couple of the ones that I liked from this article.

1. Make your own gifts instead of buying them.

2. The 30 Day Rule - If you are thinking about getting something rather expensive write it down, then wait 30 days and ask yourself if you still want it (obviously you shouldn't do this with really important things like car or house repairs).

3. Always make a list before shopping and stick to it. This is usually down when shopping for food but could be useful for shopping in general.

4. Don't eat out as much or at all.

5. Don't be afraid to buy generic. All of us have certain things that we prefer to buy the brand name version of, but in reality generic is almost always cheaper and the quality is usually comparable to the name brand. You do have to be careful when buying generic, because as my mom always says "You get what you pay for." So if you see a product that is ridiculously under priced you may want to think twice before you get.

Since I've started to be more mindful of my spending I've noticed that you can't expect to be perfect at it at first. It takes a little time to gain control of your spending but you just need to remember your goals and work towards saving for them. I should add that you don't want to become frugal with your money; you just want to cut back some unnecessary spending so you can afford the things you really want.

May the force be with you.

Dylan