7 Shortcuts to Overcome Money Stress

Isn't it amazing that even when you have no spare money and you receive a speeding ticket, you always find the money to pay the fine before it gets bigger?

If we use this principle and reverse it, we can then say “I can save money even where I think there is none to be saved”. So if you follow it, you will start saving money - won't you? Yes.

Considering so many people struggle with money planning and we are all on different incomes, it should be obvious that our cost of living is determined by our income.

If someone else can live on a lesser income then you, can't you live on a lesser income then you are currently living on? Of course, the answer is still yes. So if this is the case, you should be able to save more or pay off debt faster than you currently are.

Once you get your head around that you can take control.

Here are some easy tips to find where you can immediately make a difference in your weekly expenses.

How to Start Saving Today

Some or all of the below expenses might apply to you. But if you stop to identify where you could be saving a few dollars from your daily activities, your problems could instead become your savings. Use this list as a guide in your home:

1. Food Scraps

Keep your kitchen food scraps to turn in to compost. Use your own food output to save money by using it in the garden, instead of paying for these products from the produce store or gardening centre.

2. Grow Veggies

Once you've given your garden a real boost from your kitchen scraps/compost, you'll be in a great position to grow your own. Saving a couple of dollars each week by growing your own rosemary, coriander, basil, lettuce and tomatoes makes a huge difference across a whole year. A $3 fresh herb sachet verse a $3 seedling could even make you money or give you produce to exchange with the neighbours.

3. Cleaning Products

There are options to the chemical-based products under the kitchen and laundry sink. For example, all you need is a bottle of $2 detergent to mop your tiles with, instead of the $6 branded detergent. Look up online home-made cleaning suggestions to find the most effective and cheaper alternatives available to you. Use diluted vinegar to clean your windows and kitchen benches. Use 50mL of methylated spirits in a bucket of hot water after you've mopped the floor to increase drying time and remove the soapy finish from your first detergent clean.

4. Fresh Flowers

Grow your own fresh flowers to gift to others on their birthday or special days. A bunch from the grocery store will still set you back $10 on sale. All you need to do is grow a couple of different options in the veggie patch. This will increase both bee and butterfly activity to pollinate your herbs, fruit and veg and give you the best home-grown gift to others when you need a quick gift fix. Also, it will improve your mood just by using your cut flowers in a vase at home or in the office.

5. Fuel Bill

Can you review exactly where you need to drive on a regular basis? Are you combining your trips away from home to reduce your fuel bill? e.g. plan your weekly chores for one trip to cover off on all the things you need to do and follow a route that orders your needs instead of criss-crossing your way around town. Could you walk to the corner store instead of taking another drive to get that one thing you missed off the grocery list?

6. Grocery List

Don't miss another item off the grocery list, by writing it down! Taking and shopping for the list and nothing else will save you hundreds of dollars of random expenses across the year, just by planning your shop. Don't shop hungry. Eat before you leave to ensure you don't add in expensive junk food because you are shopping on an empty stomach.

7. Coffee Keep Cup

Invest in your own coffee keep cup. Not only will this help the environment, but it will also allow you to take your own coffee to work and keep it hotter for longer. This is to reduce the takeaway temptation of a $4.50 coffee daily, replacing it with a 20c option if you use instant granules or go the non-environmental route and replace it with a $1.20 capsule.

8. Left-overs

Planning to cook enough food at dinner time to create left-overs will allow to pack your lunch for the following day. When you cook large meals in bulk, it reduces your overall grocery bill, therefore, reducing the cost it took to make your lunch too.

Take Control of Your Finances

If you can take control of your spending by making some of the little changes above, you'll put some breathing space between you and your money stress, allowing you to relax and start building a stable financial future for your family.

How many expenses do you accept in your day without question, and where could you reduce your weekly outgoing money just by changing a few habits?

If you just can't get your head around that and/or you are tired of money stress and have decided it's time to take control, talk to a Spending Planner to find out how you can break the cycle. BOOK A FREE CALL 

You have nothing to lose and lots to gain. Spending Planners are non-judgmental professionals who are trained to help. A short relationship with a Spending Planner will provide you with tools and training that will benefit you for the rest of your life!


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Creating your own personal Spending Plan will be one of the best things you ever did.

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