Spending habits
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Calculate the cost of small purchases in hours of work rather than dollars to judge their true value.
It makes it easier to talk yourself out of frivolous purchases.
3 people, independently
Be skeptical of deals that require purchasing multiple units to save money.
It can lead to buying things you do not need.
one person who lived it
Wait a minimum of 10 days or a month before purchasing anything.
You will find you need fewer things than you thought.
one person who lived it
Save up enough money to buy an item outright rather than buying now and paying later.
To avoid getting into debt trouble.
one person who lived it
Question sales claims by checking if prices were raised prior to the discount, as some retailers inflate costs to simulate markdowns.
Certain stores increase the cost just before a promotion and then lower it back down, meaning no real savings exist.
3 people, independently
Compile your cart and wait over a week before buying to delete impulse items.
Waiting allows you to delete items before you are ready to buy.
one person who lived it
Buy short-term needs at regular prices and stock up only on shelf-stable essentials you know you will use.
Buying items on sale that are then thrown out does not help finances.
one person who lived it
Cut out bad habits like excessive takeaway spending identified through budgeting.
One person saved money and lost weight by cutting this habit.
- This is based on one person's experience.
one person who lived it
Put items back at the store if you only have a limited amount of cash, such as a $100 bill, to avoid overspending each week.
To avoid overspending each week.
one person who lived it
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Pass on deals when your pantry or freezer is already full.
Savings increase by saying no to deals under these circumstances.
one person who lived it
Do not justify spending based on cashback rewards if you would not have made the purchase otherwise.
You are spending the remaining percentage rather than saving the reward amount.
one person who lived it
Use coupons and sales only for items you already planned to buy and use regularly.
Buying items on offer that are not needs does not lead to total savings.
one person who lived it
Work out savings in absolute dollar amounts rather than percentages.
The same dollar amount saved has equal value regardless of the item's total price.
one person who lived it
Give paid-off credit cards to a family member to hold onto.
Without memorized card numbers, the only option when tempted is using your own money.
one person who lived it
Apply the 'sleep on every purchase' rule to avoid impulse buys by ensuring you are absolutely sure you want something before committing.
To avoid impulse buys.
one person who lived it
If your spouse grew up in poverty, recognize that they may struggle with long-term planning because they believe money is temporary and should be enjoyed immediately.
They operate from the belief that money does not last.
one person who lived it
Calculate your real hourly wage by dividing monthly income by total hours worked including commute.
This helps you better value your time against purchases.
one person who lived it
Focus on finding cheap options for frequently purchased items.
Small savings on repeat purchases accumulate over time.
one person who lived it
Unsubscribe from marketing emails to reduce exposure to sales promotions that trigger impulse buying.
Sales pull you in, even if just for online window shopping.
one person who lived it
Consolidate small daily purchases into fewer transactions to reduce costs.
Multiple small purchases cost more than a single larger purchase.
one person who lived it
Ignore advertisements and peer pressure; do not buy things you don't need just because others do.
one person who lived it
Before making a purchase, ask yourself if you would be happier or better off spending the money on something else; if yes, do not make the purchase.
one person who lived it
If you are a couple, share one debit card while the other partner carries cash to trade; this approach almost halved non-essential spending for one family.
one person who lived it
Discard coupons for items you would not otherwise buy.
A small discount is rarely enough motivation to purchase unnecessary items.
one person who lived it
Do not attempt to return spoiled food for a refund by transferring fresh product into the original packaging.
- This is considered stealing.
one person who lived it
Choose generic or store-brand alternatives to luxury brands if they offer similar quality at a lower price.
one person who lived it