How To Save Money

How to Save Money - Simple Money-Saving Tips

Save money by budgeting, spending judiciously, using offers, setting financial goals and avoiding impulse buys. Start today to grow your savings!

Written by : Nitin Bhatia

Reviewed by : Gaurav Nagpal

Gaurav Nagpal

2024-08-22

1415 Views

10 minutes read

You may have a dream of buying your first house or your vacation home. At the same time, you may also have other unavoidable financial obligations, like your child's education. However, to achieve these 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 effectively.

The good news is that you can achieve your wealth goals with the right money-saving tips. There are only two things you need to do – learn to save money regularly and invest your savings wisely. You must build a saving habit and invest the savings to achieve your significant goals.

Why is Saving Money Important?

You cannot underestimate the importance of saving money in your financial journey. If you are always thinking of ways to save money, 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 money for the future for the following reasons:

  1. Financial Security: Once you start saving money, 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 car repair expenses. 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 dream of early retirement, and it is only possible if you start saving and do it early. Savings gives you the option to retire early.

Simple Ways to Save Money

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

  • Budget Everything: When you have a definite amount coming in, you must ensure you know where everything goes. Budgeting your outgoings, whether expenses or investments, will take you a long time to improve your savings.
  • Cut Non-necessary Spending: There is no limit to wants. You can spend all the money you earn. To develop a habit of saving, you will have to control your expenses. You should mark all your spending under needs and wants. Prioritise the needs and reduce the wants.
  • Learn to Cook (Cook at Home): You will not believe how much you usually spend while eating out. Even with delivery, your per-meal cost falls anywhere between 2 to 20 times that of home-cooked meals. That means you will spend ₹6,000 to 60,000 from ₹3000 to 4000 monthly. So, if you have the ingredients and a kitchen at home, cooking your meals should be a priority.
  • 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.
  • 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 as well as the Internet. At the same time, the separate fibre net also offers the same.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 saving for other financial goals.
  • 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.
  • Reduce or Eliminate Debt: Debt, especially in 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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, they will 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:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Wrapping Up

Saving money is a crucial aspect of financial health and stability, providing a safety net for emergencies, enabling future investments, and enhancing overall quality of life. To save money effectively, start by creating a realistic budget that tracks income and expenses, ensuring you live within your means. Prioritise needs over wants, distinguishing between essential and non-essential spending. Automate savings by setting up automatic transfers to a savings account, making saving a consistent habit. Consider reducing recurring expenses, such as subscriptions and utility bills, and explore cost-effective alternatives. 

Additionally, practise mindful spending by avoiding impulse purchases and seeking out discounts or buying in bulk when practical. Lastly, focus on long-term financial goals, such as retirement planning and investing, to grow your savings over time. Implementing these strategies not only fosters financial security but also empowers you to achieve your financial aspirations and enjoy greater peace of mind.

Glossary:

  1. Long-term purchases: Any contract with an initial period longer than three months to acquire the product.

  2. Automated savings: A system where a set amount is automatically transferred to your savings account at a scheduled time.

  3. Automatic Subscriptions: Subscriptions that charge for renewal from the first payment method on the same date every month.
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FAQs on How to Save Money

The top five money-saving tips are as follows:
 

  • Always save money regardless of the amount
  • Prepare a budget for regular expenses
  • Inform and involve all stakeholders, i.e., family
  • Prioritise large expenses, i.e., set financial goals
  • Automate savings to investment movement

The 30-day savings rule says that you should save your impulse buys for 30 days. Buy it if you still feel the need for it after 30 days. The basic premise of the rule is that with time your emotions subside and you can make a more rational expense.

Depending on your age, you should aim at saving anywhere between 10% to 40% of your annual income. 10% when you are in your 20s, and 40% when you are in your 50s. With age and rising income, your savings ratio should also increase.

Here is what you can do to create a budget and save money for the future:
 

  • Establish your objectives
  • Determine your earnings
  • Figure out the costs you incur
  • Make a budget for yourself
  • Prioritise taking care of yourself
  • Use credit cards with caution

Here are a few of the best money-saving tips for handling  everyday spending: 
 

  • Get rid of any subscriptions you aren't utilising.
  • When possible, do it yourself.
  • Configure auto-paying bills.
  • Transfer funds between bank accounts.
  • Examine your budget for any surplus funds.
  • Examine your expenditures with great care.

You can follow these steps to save money on groceries and household items:
 

  • Plan your meals
  • Shop the sales
  • Buy generic brands
  • Buy in bulk
  • Join a loyalty program
  • Make a shopping list
  • Never shop while hungry
  • Make a list
  • Stick to a list

If at all possible, consider walking, bicycling, carpooling, or using public transportation. These choices can drastically lower your transportation expenses. For instance, public transit is a fantastic choice if you live in an urban region, and walking is also good for your health if the distance is shorter.

Consider the following tips to build an emergency fund in 2024:
 

  • Increase your income
  • Automate savings
  • Set savings goals
  • Cut costs
  • Make a budget
  • Set a goal
  • Add to your emergency fund