With the New Year approaching, many feel inspired to start strong and make positive changes. Committing to save money throughout the year can be one of the most rewarding resolutions. Here are a few practical ways to get started.
Trying to save money for a special event or trip can be hard. But, with the right motivation this can be achieved, though it will require some additional steps. For anyone looking to save money for a longer holiday, to purchase a car, or even a house, building up those savings is a must. With the tips listed below, it’s entirely possible to do just that.
Put money aside monthly
The first step to consistent savings is to start budgeting effectively. This process becomes easier when individuals set up multiple accounts within their bank. Diligently placing a specific sum into this separate savings account each month can help to build the pot. And, with this sum removed from the main spending account, it’s essentially out of sight out of mind. This approach often leads to surprising savings over time.
Erase unnecessary spending
Somewhat harder, but no less achievable is the idea of erasing any unnecessary expenditure. What this is will differ across shoppers, so it’s worth thinking outside the box on this one. For some, it might be a case of whittling down the different TV subscriptions in place, sticking to just one rather than three for a period of time. For others, it might be removing other monthly subscriptions, reducing the amount spent on new clothing and so on.
Plan purchases in advance
Planning purchases is a highly effective way to save money. For those who have a prepared list of things they need or want to buy, they can keep an eye out for sales and discounts before jumping right into a purchase. Knowing what is on the to-buy list, is also helpful in checking out older collections, outlet stores, or even going on comparison sites to have a look at prices across stores. All these steps result in finding the best deal. Spur of the moment purchases are often the ones that can cost the most, which is why planning is highly recommended.
Get money off with online promo codes
Finally, there are hundreds of promo codes available online. Also known as coupons or vouchers, these codes are strings of letter and/or numbers provided by the store to unlock a discount or offer. These are very easy to use and can award some pretty impressive savings.
All shoppers need to do is go to the site and add items to their cart. Once they’ve finished shopping, going to view the cart will usually show a promo code box. Copy the discount code and paste it into the box making sure it is applied or added to the order properly. The total will change to show the addition of the code and the shopper can pay. However, all codes have terms and conditions, which must be checked prior to using it on an order.
Finding these coupons is easy too. For one, shoppers can visit the official page of the brand or retailer. This can be the website or app (if there is one) as typically, the offers will be clearly advertised on the homepage. Most retailers will also have a social media presence, with multiple accounts across the various platforms. Shoppers can follow the brand on their preferred platform, getting access to updates, discounts, giveaways, sales, new products, and so on, without having to search themselves.
Finally, there are discount or promo code websites online. These sites, such as Discoup, collate all the codes and list them on their individual brand pages. Better still, these codes are checked and vetted before being listed on sites like Discoup. This way shoppers can know for a fact that the coupon will work. On top of that, the sites are always updated regularly to keep abreast of all new offers. And, they often have exclusive offers and discounts that can’t be found elsewhere – they’re usually not available on the actual retailer page either.
