6 Easy Ways to Save Money in 2014

Here are 6 Easy Ways You can Save Money in 2014

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We live in a modern world in which money seems to fly out of our wallets faster than ever before, which makes it difficult to save money.

Actually, it hardly even enters our wallets these days – bills, payments, memberships and subscriptions are all automated.

It can get complicated and overwhelming. Everybody would like to save a little money, so thankfully there are a few easy tips that you can put into effect right now that can help you save money.

1. Pay off or Pay Down your Credit Card Balances

Paying off your debts will save you more money in the long run, as you end up saving the money that would gone towards interest payments.

In general, credit cards have high interest rates. Paying off or reducing your credit card balances should be one of your first priorities.

2. Pay Yourself First

Set up an automatic savings plan using salary allotments. To do this you will need two separate accounts, preferably with separate banks.

For the first account, use the one you already have and regularly use to buy things. Let's call this the 'spending' account. From here you will pay for everything from bills to groceries to movie tickets.

For the second account, set up a high interest online savings account and request to NOT have a debit card attached to it.

This is because you want it to take a little bit of time to access this money, so that you will have the time to consider if you really should be spending those savings. By having the savings account with a separate bank to your other account you will not be able to instantaneously move money from your savings to your spending account – this is a good barrier to block yourself from compulsive spending.

Next, go to your payroll officer at work and request to have a percentage of your paycheck paid into the savings account, (10 – 20% is a good place to start), and the rest paid into your spending account. Here is the brilliant part – you will hardly notice that the money is missing and you will start automatically budgeting your life based on what is in your spending account.

You will be forced to think for a minute about if you really want to blow your savings on a new pair of shoes. But if you have the money to buy those shoes available in your spending account, then you can spend away, guilt free, happy in the knowledge that your savings are tucked away and that you are not spending irresponsibly.

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3. Earn Some Extra Cash

You know that skill you are good at? You definitely have one.

If you studied mathematics then maybe you could tutor math for some extra cash. If you have a lawnmower let it be known that you will mow lawns weekly for a fee (and get some good paid exercise!).

Speak another language? Get on odesk.com or elance.com and look for translation jobs.

Paint houses, walk dogs, put together IKEA furniture for a fee.

Between you, your skills and the internet there is plenty of quick cash avenues that you could explore whilst also helping out somebody else. Check out craigslist.org for ideas and to get started.

4. Sell Those “Stuff” That You Never Use

And stop buying more useless stuff. If you only go golfing twice a year, would it not be cheaper to rent golf clubs instead of buying and owning them?

If you own something that you rarely use, or could rent instead, sell or sell it on EBay!

Sell old clothes and only buy things that you will actually wear.

Have a cable bill for a TV that you hardly watch? Cancel the cable service, sell the TV and get Netflix on your computer.

Clean out your unused stuff, cancel any useless subscriptions, make a commitment to not buy more “baggage” and enjoy the quick cash and the savings that you will make.

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5. Cook Your Own Food. Maybe Even Grow Some

Yes, the pub is a great place to socialize and happy hour is an awesome time of day.

By all means take advantage of that.

But cooking for yourself more often will save you money and will probably improve your health.

If you get good at it you can even entertain friends at your place – which is also highly social.

You can buy foods in bulk, cook in batches and quickly learn some simple healthy recipes that won't take that much time.

Herbs are expensive to buy, save some money and improve your cooking by growing them yourself.

Your guests will comment on the freshness of the flavor. In addition to saving money, you will learn a skill that will make you a more useful and impressive human being. In addition to that, the improvements to your health may very well save you some money in avoided medical bills.

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6. Ride your Bike, use Public Transport and Practice Sharing.

I don't own a car anymore. I sold it (see point number 4).

I bought a great quality bicycle for approximately 4% of the sale price. I make use of the local buses / trains when the weather is bad or I don't want to ride. If I really need a car for something I can borrow one from a friend or use a site like uber.com.

If I need to move furniture I can hire a truck at home depot. If I want to really impress a girl on a first date I can rent a Mercedes for a weekend (hertz.com, etc.).

All of that added up – all of it – works out to be much cheaper than insurance fees, registration, the cost of fuel, the cost of mechanical work, parking fees and the purchase price of a car that loses value with every day that you own it.

If you live near a public transport route that can reliably get you to work, and your social scene is around your neighbourhood, then you will save a TRUCK LOAD of money by not owning a car.

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6 Easy Ways to Save Money in 2014

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