Spend Less and Be Happier: 12 Great Ways to Save Money

Let's face it; the very idea of frugal living can be a big turnoff. Depressing images of doing without, of deprivation and of general gloom are immediately conjured up by such concepts. But, here's a list of some of the best ways to save money with no negative (or very little) impact on your lifestyle.

First, this little plan is about making changes to your spending that, apart from saving you money, not only won't make you miserable, but will make you happier. You'll have more money every month, so why wouldn't you be happier?

Second, if any one of these tips doesn't contribute to that vital objective for you, scrap it.  The selection of twelve tips is neither exhaustive nor in any order of priority. Your special circumstances may not allow you to do everything here, but try as many as you can.

1. Telephone: First, scrap the "old-fashioned" land line. Then, replace the monthly cell phone subscriptions with a pre-paid plan. Just don't stay on your cell phone as long as before! If you have a computer, use your unique webpage provided by the cell service to send free text messages.


2. Internet: Get an Internet subscription bundled with the cable or, if you can't get Internet via cable, consider a 3g modem (mobile broadband) with a monthly subscription. First, check 3g cost and signal coverage in your area and discuss it with someone who's already using the provider you're considering switching to.
   
   For calls that you used to make on your land line, use a VOIP service (similar to Skype). You can call landlines and cell phones using such services. You can even get your own "land line" type number so that people can call you from anywhere by dialing that number from any kind of phone.


3. Transportation: For short journeys, walk or cycle, at least sometimes. For many short journeys, it's often as fast to walk or cycle as it is to drive. It's certainly a lot healthier. Plan your trips to the supermarket. "Go less, buy more." (See next item.)


4. Shopping: Always make a list. Keep it in the kitchen and add to it as needed. Don't shop often. Do at least one week's shopping with each visit.   In the store, don't buy on impulse. The exception to this is when there are very special offers on items you often buy and will definitely use. 
   
   Buy the store's own brands. For much the same quality, the store's own brand products are usually much cheaper than the big-name brands.  Beware of convenience foods:  pre-made meals are fine in an emergency, but most of this kind of food is not very healthy and very expensive for what you get.


5. Cooking: Make a habit of regularly cooking large amounts for freezing. For example, you can make and cook twenty-five portions of tasty Bolognese sauce in about an hour! Of course, you don't want to eat Spaghetti Bolognese every day. Many other healthy meals can be produced in large quantities and frozen.


6. Oven: Your oven uses a lot of expensive power. Try to cook more than one item each time you use it. When you're cooking say, a roast, the oven is on for maybe an hour, yet it's probably only half-full.


7. Credit Cards: The number one rule with a credit card is to pay off the total balance every month. Never incur interest on a credit card. Use it purely for its convenience. If you can't do that, cut it up today. Even if you are getting the best credit card rewards around, if you are paying interest each month, you are losing money.


8. Periodicals: The motto here is; "don't buy, but still enjoy." If you're a regular buyer of a print newspaper, reading it online will save you a small fortune.


9. Books: Join your local library and borrow--it's free. If you must purchase, consider checking the local second-hand bookstores, or buy online.


10. Eating out: We all need a break from routine, but just be aware of the cost pf restaurant meals. On a single dinner out, a couple can easily spend as much as they do on two weeks of grocery shopping. Maybe the relaxing ambiance and the break from the humdrum are really worth that much to you. That's your call. If you're seriously into saving, consider reducing the frequency of those costly restaurant outings.


11. "Expensive" Friends: Many of your friends probably share your enthusiasm for not wasting money. But some probably don't. Maybe they're loaded, or just want to give the impression that they are. There's no sense in trying to keep up with people like that. If they're true friends, they'll understand that your priorities may be different from theirs. If they don't want to understand--well, maybe they're not such good friends.


12. Savings Calculation: Actually, this is the magic tip and it's simple. All you have to do is roughly calculate your savings at the end of each month. You should do this near a mirror, so you can watch the warm smile spread like sunshine across your face. More importantly, not only will you not want to stop basking in that sunshine, but you'll be motivated to look for extra ways to attract more of those invigorating rays.
    
    If you don't immediately need the cash you've saved, why not put it into, well, a savings account. Shop around for the one with no hidden charges and the highest interest.

Remember, there are many ways to save money. These specific ones were chosen because they can be implemented immediately by most people. No doubt, your special circumstances offer additional and unique opportunities to make yourself happier simply by not throwing away money that you don't need to.