As 2019 winds down, it’s time for those inevitable New Year’s resolutions. Some people are drawn to more health, lifestyle, or self-care related goals; however, many have practical goals like managing their finances better. If you’re more interested in improving your finances, you may be wondering how you can improve your budgeting skills for 2020. Here are some methods that will help you save money and better manage your budget.
Cancel Monthly Subscriptions
If you have subscribed to several services, determine which ones you use the most and which ones you can eliminate. If sticking to a budget is an important goal for you, then review all your memberships or cancel trials that could turn into a subscription. Ask if the service is a necessity, or benefitting your life – if the answer is no, then it’s easy to cancel any subscription as many companies offer easy cancellation methods.
Determine and Prioritize your Monthly Expenses
To better save money, you need to know where you spend money. Make a list of all your monthly expenses – if you have a fee that you pay every few months, include these as well.
Then, take that list and write down the essential items that you need. If you see some things where you are questioning if they are useful or not, cross them off your list and eliminate them as an expense. If you are unsure of any purchase, that likely means it’s a waste of your money.
When you consider your monthly payment, don’t forget about where you spend money on payday or when sale season comes up – these two periods can cause you to veer away from your budget. Also, it’s important to anticipate any unexpected expenses that could come up. To ensure you are financially prepared for unexpected expenses, this helpful tool from a payday loans company will provide you with tips on how to properly manage your finances.
There’s a Hack for that
Some simple hacks can save you money – even if it’s small, every little bit adds up. For instance, you can use reusable shopping bags or water bottles instead of buying them all the time. It will not only save you money in the end, but these practices are better for the environment.
You can also switch to generic brands on some of the products that you are used to buying. Many generic brands are of higher quality these days and even have the same ingredients as the name brand products – the only difference is that their packaging looks more appealing.
In today’s world, there are many temptations to spend money and buy products. It can be challenging to save, which is why a little planning can go a long way — especially if you have a solid game plan and a little bit of discipline. If you’re looking to budget better as a New Year’s Resolution, then the previously mentioned strategies should help get your finances back on track. Good luck!
