Tips Not Tricks for Living Thrifty

You know there are a million (it seems like) thrifty living blog, books about budgeting, and live speakers holding conferences about saving money. The funny thing is, that while resources are awesome learning tools, it’s really, REALLY not that tricky to live thrifty.

It can be hard at times to make smart money decisions but the rules you should follow are basic, not crazy weird or tricky. If you follow some bare basics you’ll be able to live thrifty, save money, and not build up a bunch of debt. For example…

Buy less stuff - I guarantee that most people in America buy more stuff than they need. I’ve bought stuff I don’t need, my thrifty pals have, and some people I know buy WAY more than they need then complain about their budget. People do not need four TV, 15 pairs of shoes, a home with three bathrooms, and countless books. People don’t need soda pop, fast food, or to go to the movies once a week. The first step in living thrifty is to be honest and realistic about the items you actually need and buy vs. the items you don’t need and buy anyhow. SOME extras are nice, but too many is a major downfall of most budgets.

Limit waste – like buying too much or buying too many unnecessary items, wasting is another great way to cramp your budget. Use items until you really can’t. Don’t upgrade to a newer more expensive phone or car or home unless it’s actually necessary. Fix items before buying new and use reusable items (like cloth napkins and containers) over disposables (like paper towels and plastic wrap).

Make more money – this tip seems silly for the economy but if you don’t have enough money you one, need to make more, or find a way to save more. Honestly, it’s usually easier to save more. Consider how much a second job costs your two parent family. Think about the costs of working longer vs. shorter hours when you’ll need to pay for day care. Sometimes the best way to have more money is to let a second job in the family go – obviously not a realistic answer for one parent homes, but something to think about in a two parent family.

There’s also the option of looking for a new job for more money or to cut costs – for example a job that pays the same as your current but is closer to home and doesn’t require dressy clothing is a money saver. Right now people feel they don’t have may employment options, I know, but if your job is truly the reason why you never have any extra money something does need to change. You can even consider learning a new skill or going back to school.It’s very hard to make significant changes when it comes to your career, but unless you want to live as you are now, you have to consider other options – plenty of people make these changes and it can work in your favor.

Buy less, limit waste, and find a way to get more cash in your pocket. Good rules to follow if you want to live thrifty and save more.

What are some other good money saving rules you use?

[image via stock.xchng]