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Determine why you want to increase your savings

Having a clear goal in mind when you’re saving money makes it far easier to stick to your plans. Are you saving for a car or a big family vacation? Do you want to redecorate your house or pay off your student loans faster? Figure out what your goal is and write it down. You can then display that goal somewhere in your home so that you can be regularly reminded.

Set up a separate savings account

Having a separate bank account for your savings is important if you want to reach your goal. You’ll find it easier to track your progress and keep your money separated this way. Additionally, you could get better interest on your savings by shopping around for a high-yield savings account. You might also consider investing in stocks and shares with an ISA so that you get the highest payback possible from your savings.

Review last month’s spending

The next step is to print off your bank statements and carefully review your monthly spending. Categorise your spending into categories such as bills, household essentials, entertainment, groceries, transport, memberships and so on. You can then go through each of these categories and make note of areas where you could be saving money.

Set monthly goals

You have your yearly goal ready. Now it’s time to set achievable, monthly goals. When saving money, you’ll need to do one or both of the following: reduce your spending and increase your income. When it comes to reducing your spending, go back to those categories you set up and pinpoint where you could be saving. For example, you could switch smartphone plans, cut back on takeout food or meals out, cancel a TV subscription you’re not using, or even change your energy provider.

As for increasing income, this might be difficult if you already have a full-time job and there’s no chance of getting a raise. Luckily, there are ways you can make money online, such as filling out surveys, completing admin tasks, or freelancing. This list of the best websites to make money online is a good place to start.

Set up transfers to your savings account

It’s an obvious tip, but you’ll need to regularly transfer money into your savings account if you want to save. For this you have two options, you could set up automatic transfers or manually transfer money every month. Automatic transfers are great as you don’t need to think about your savings as much as the money will automatically come out of your monthly budget. Manual transfers are more flexible, so during months when you save a bit more money you can send more money into savings while during more expensive months you can send a smaller amount.

Celebrate your successes

The end goal of increasing your yearly savings will be a huge milestone, but it’s important to celebrate along the way too. Treat yourself at regular stages of your saving journey, perhaps taking some inspiration from this list of ways to treat yourself for free.

Find A Part-time Job

To earn more money, many students start working during their studies. Combining full-time employment with learning isn’t a possibility for most students, but freelance and part-time jobs could be an excellent solution. However, even working a part-time job alongside your studies can impact your academic performance. If you find yourself struggling to complete academic assignments, you may want to consider finding a trustworthy essays order service and pay for essay in a couple of taps. This simple trick will help you get your papers done before the deadline. Moreover, you will have more free time for working and hobbies. As a result, you will get an opportunity to earn more. 

Garage Sale 

If you need to boost your funds quickly, then arranging a garage sale could be a good option. Most of us have tons of things that we no longer use and might as well sell them for cash instead of keeping our cupboards cluttered. Selling items you no longer can significantly help to boost your budget.

Cut Your Expenses 

How many times per week do you usually visit clubs and restaurants? If you’re short on money, it’s time to cut your expenses. However, you don’t have to miss out on the fun completely. Next time you’re out clubbing, for example, buy just one drink instead of two or three. Instead of saying no to nights out completely simply set yourself spending limits and don’t feel pressured into spending more than what you’ve allowed. Excessive partying is an all-too-quick way to see an empty bank account. 

Set Limits For Buying Apps and Games 

Making online payments when playing games is a common thing for any student. Many students make plenty of purchases to improve their gaming performance and win more often. However, if you feel you don’t have enough money to cover your needs, it’s time to set limits. Only allow yourself to spend a certain amount each month. If it helps, write your limit down on a sheet of paper as a reminder to yourself. 

Buy Used Books 

Buying books brand new can be incredibly expensive. Second-hand books can be bought for a fraction of the price and assist your learning just as well as glossy new ones. 

Use Loans Wisely 

Many people believe that loans and credit cards lead to excessive debt, especially for students who often aren’t familiar with the full dangers of having too many loans. The best solution is to avoid taking out any loans unless you need the money for something really important. In this case, it is better to choose bank loans with a minimum interest rate. Shop around for the best deal by comparing various interest rates, and don’t be too hasty when signing on the dotted line. 

Look For Financial Aid 

Many government and financial organisations, as well as colleges and universities, offer financial aid to different categories of students. These are grants, scholarships, and other solutions that might cover a significant part of your expenses related to learning. For example, some institutions offer help with buying books or will consider reducing your tuition fees. Don’t hesitate to participate in different scholarship programmes and look for grants from non-profitable organisations in your local area. 

Organise Your Expenses 

Planning and managing your monthly expenses is a key solution to getting your spending under control. Try to write down and monitor each of your expenses and split them into several categories to understand what you are mostly spending money on. This way, you will be able to cut some of your outlay and save money. 

Saving money and improving your financial situation when studying at college is easier than you might think. Try to organise your expenses, avoid unnecessary loans, look for financial aid, buy used items, and limit your spending on partying and going to cafes and restaurants. Moreover, having a part-time job will also allow you to get more money to meet all your individual needs. 

During this time of financial uncertainty, many opt for emergency small term loans to cover the cost, however these are for financial emergency only and alternative funding will be needed. Here we are going to give you our top tips for saving money and avoid using your credit card.

Make A Shopping List

One of the main ways to avoid making payments on your contactless credit card is to have a shopping list and stick to it. In doing this, you can ensure that you have bought all the food that you need for the week at one time without spending large sums of money as a result. By having everything in the house that you could need, this reduces the need for you to travel to the shops and get tempted by a chocolate bar or other sweet treats that can be bought on impulse with your contactless card.

Avoid Fast Food

Although it may seem tempting to opt for fast food when you have had a long day in the office, it is important to avoid this temptation. One of the ways that you can do this is through making food the night before and freezing it. This not only helps you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but it saves you money as a result. This is ideal particularly for students as this will allow them to save excess money and maintain a healthy diet.

Don’t Use Mobile Banking

Mobile banking is something that you should definitely avoid if you are looking to save money. This is because applications such as Google Pay, and Apple Pay make it easy for you to pay for items with a fingerprint or simple passkey. This will not aid you in saving money as this makes it to easy to overspend and end up buying items that you do not need. One way that you can get around this is through travelling to the bank to look at your finances or even restricting your online banking to one desktop.

Pay By Cash Not Card

When going out for a night on the town or on a shopping trip, it is very easy to opt for a contactless payment to purchase items quickly, but what about just taking cash? By taking cash with you and leaving your card at home, you restrict yourself to the amount of money that you can spend. This is particularly important if you are limited on funds as this allows you to budget accordingly and ensure that you do not overspend at any point. If an item is out of your budget at this time, you must then wait till next month to afford it.

Buy Your Own Lunch

Although this may seem like an extremely small transaction per day, purchasing lunch can actually amount to a large portion of your spending per month. In order to combat this and save yourself more money, begin packing your own lunch. This could save you an average of £5 per day which can amount to a large amount at the end of every month. This can then be saved and placed within a bank account for a financial emergency or a treat later in the year.

Whether you are looking to completely avoid using your card on a daily basis or you are looking to limit the amount that you are spending in general, you can be sure to find the solution that works for you by following one of these top tips.

About Finance Monthly

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Finance Monthly is a comprehensive website tailored for individuals seeking insights into the world of consumer finance and money management. It offers news, commentary, and in-depth analysis on topics crucial to personal financial management and decision-making. Whether you're interested in budgeting, investing, or understanding market trends, Finance Monthly provides valuable information to help you navigate the financial aspects of everyday life.
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