How to Save Money - Simple Money Saving Tips

You may have a dream to buy your first house or your vacation home. You also have other unavoidable financial obligations like your child's education. But to achieve big financial goals you must figure out the right ways to save money. All of these financial goals require a large sum of money and will be tough to achieve unless you know how to save money.

The good news is that you can achieve your wealth goals with a few robust money-saving tips. There are only two things you need to do – learn the ways of saving money regularly. You have to build a saving habit and invest the savings to achieve your goals.

Why is Saving Money Important?

You cannot underestimate the importance of saving in your financial journey. One of the best financial habits you can develop is to make regular savings. It can be tempting to spend money when it is credited to your bank account.

However, you need to understand it will only satisfy your immediate wants. You need to save for the following reasons:

1. Financial Security

Once you start saving, you can become financially secure - at an early age. Even if something unexpected happens, for example, a job loss, your savings can take care of expenses.

2. For Unexpected Expenses

You will always be hit by an unexpected expense in life for which you were unprepared. It could be a higher utility bill, urgent home improvement, or expenses for car repair. With savings, you can take care of these additional expenses without taking a loan or having sleepless nights.

3. For Changes in Life Circumstances

You will get married, have children, or move to a new house. For all these important life events, you need money. If you have savings, you can easily manage these events.

4. Early Retirement

Today, many dreams of early retirement, and it is only possible if you start saving and do it early. Savings gives you the option to retire early.

15 Simple Ways to Save Money

Once you understand the importance of savings, the next step is to start saving. Below are some ways to save more towards your big life goals:

1. Budget Everything

When you have a definite amount coming in, you must ensure to know where everything goes. Budgeting your outgoings whether its expenses or investments will take you a long way in improving your savings.

2. Cut Non-necessary Spendings

There is no limit to wants. You can spend all the money you earn. To develop a habit of savings, you will have to control your expenses. You should mark all your spending under needs and wants. Prioritize the needs and reduce the wants.

3. Learn to Cook (Cook at Home)

You will not believe how high you usually spend while eating out. Even with delivery, your per-meal cost falls anywhere between 2 to 20 times home-cooked meal. That means you will spend Rs 6,000 to 60,000 from Rs 3-4000 a month. So, if you have the ingredients and a kitchen at home, cooking your meals should be a priority.

4. Check your Automatic Subscriptions

Automatic subscriptions are a drag on your cards as they keep deducting small amounts before you can stop them. Check all such subscriptions on your cards and accounts and cancel the unnecessary ones.

5. Lower Cell Phone, Cable, and Internet Bills

These multiple services in India often have overlapping benefits. For example, your postpaid mobile connection may give you access to DTH and OTT platforms along with the internet. At the same time, the separate fiber net is also offering the same.

6. Save on Energy Bills

Temperature control is one of the most expensive demands in homes, especially in urban areas. Installing outer layers to reduce heat loss or absorption will help you curtail your energy bills to a great extent.

7. Save Whatever you can

You may not be able to save a large sum as you may have just started earning or for other reasons. The key is to start saving. The amount, at the start, is not essential. Save whatever amount is possible for you.

8. Treat Every Purchase as an Investment

When you make a purchase, see it as an investment and evaluate whether the investment is good or bad. If your investment will give negative returns in the future, you should avoid that purchase and put the money into savings.

9. Have Financial Goals

You will need to have mid and long-term financial goals. These will keep you motivated to keep on saving month after month. Keep some short-term goals as well - once you achieve them and enjoy the reward, you will get a psychological boost to continue savings for other financial goals.

10. Make Savings Automatic

If you want to save for a long time, you will have to automate your savings process. Choose when and how much you want to save and use the available tools to automate the process.

11. Reduce or Eliminate Debt

Debt, especially the long-term can drain your wealth gradually. So, if you wish to save more money, you can start reducing your long-term debts fast. Though the lenders don’t like it, repaying your debt early helps you get your savings back on track early.

12. Budget Long-Term Purchases

Long-term purchases would be anything apart from groceries. Clothes, electronics, books, utensils, and furniture are all long-term purchases. You can park a small amount for each of these expenses regularly. This will allow you to have an adequate budget over a few months to fulfil your needs.

13. Save the Bonus before Spending

Windfalls and bonuses are a good source to boost your wealth. So, when you receive such income, make sure to save a large part of it before you decide to spend.

14. Refinance Expensive Debt

Credit card debt, car loans, etc. are some of the costliest loans of all time. Credit cards can charge up to 3% p.m. as interest. So, you are better off not borrowing from your credit card unless you are certain of timely repayment. If you have significant credit card debt, you can reduce the interest charge by turning it into a personal loan.

15. Declutter your House

Discarding, selling, and donating unnecessary stuff from your home helps you declutter. While these activities will do little to improve your cash flow, it does help build your moral and social strength.

How to Increase your Savings?

Once you start saving, you will have to find ways to increase your savings. Below are some of the ways to help you increase your savings:

1. Start Investing

Savings is like buying a car. If you only buy the car and keep it in your garage, it is of no use. You will have to drive it around to make the most of it - you need to invest the saved amount. The returns on your investment can boost your savings component.

2. Invest First, Spend Later

If you look to save towards the end of your month, you will never have enough money to save. The right approach is to invest first and then spend what is remaining. If you are going over budget, bring down your expenses and not the savings.

3. Postpone Big-budget Purchases

If you need to make big purchases and don't have the cash to buy, delay the buying. It will help you figure out whether you really need the product. If the answer is no, you can avoid purchasing the product.

4. Avoid Borrowing for Buying

Do not buy stuff on loans - when you are in debt, the savings components can never increase. If you can avoid buying the item for a period of time, or till you get the money to buy it – avoid buying it.

Where to Invest your Savings?

You should invest your savings in investment instruments to achieve different financial goals. Choose a financial instrument based on your risk profile and time of maturity.

Understanding the importance of savings is essential in today's time. It helps you with financial planning and gives you freedom. Savings allow you to focus on enjoying life and freedom from repayment schedules.

Once you develop the habit of saving, you create a prosperous future for yourself and your loved ones. Savings is the only proven road to financial prosperity in the world.