If you find yourself in a position where money is tight then there is no reason to feel the situation as hopeless
. Cutting down does not necessarily mean that you have to stop those things that give you the most joy. All you have to do is think creatively and here are few suggestions:
Get a clear idea of what money is coming in and going out. You can do this by creating a simple budget plan. Identify your all your expenses and target those non-essential expenses that you can either cut out or at least reduce. Ask yourself if you really need satellites TV and 150 channels?
When compiling your expenses for your budget you may find that you eat out more often than you think. Rather than going out to a restaurant every weekend go out for a meal once a month. This way you will not only save money but going out will feel more like a treat.
Many people can save plenty of money on how much they spend on the food they eat.
With todays convenience foods it is so easy to buy these however, many people buy more than they will ever need. A cheaper and healthier option is to grow your own. If you have room in your backyard then create a vegetable patch and start growing your own food. At least you know what is in it.
Many people throw away a lot of food these days when they could be keeping it and creating it into extra dishes for the week ahead. For example, if you have roast chicken for Sunday dinner keep the leftover meat and use it for sandwich fillings are for chicken pasta meals during the week. Store the meat in the fridge to keep it until it is ready to be eaten.
This is a good tip. Before you go out shopping take only the cash that you need to spend on essentials and leave the credit and debit cards at home. This will feel difficult and require discipline at first but, with practice you will be surprised at how easy it becomes.
After years of over consumption every household is full of stuff that is never used or sees the light of day. Do a spring clean and be ruthless about this. Take out everything or anything you can either sell or give away to charity that has not been used in the last year. This includes clothes, shoes, furniture, anything.