MASTER THE 30 DAY RULE
Do you know what the 30 Day Rule is? Not? Want to know what your kids want most?
Then this article is definitely worth a read!
There are hundreds of saving tips out there but there was an article written on thesimpledollar.com just months before the recession of 2009 that had some simple, fresh and ingenious suggestions to saving money. I’ll share five of these with you know, as I did a month ago…
1. MASTER THE 30 DAY RULE
Whenever you’re considering making an unnecessary purchase, wait thirty days and then ask yourself if you still want that item. Often, you’ll find that the urge to buy has passed by… and you’ll have saved yourself some money by simply waiting.
If you want, you can even keep a “30 day list” where you write down the item and the day you’ll reconsider it, but I prefer just to keep this one in my head – that way, I often just forget about the unimportant things.
2. WRITE A LIST BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING
And stick to it! One should never go into a store without a strong idea of what one will be buying whilst in there. Make a careful plan of what you’ll buy before you go, then stick strictly to that list when you go to the store. Don’t put anything in the cart that’s not on the list, no matter how tempting, and you’ll come out of the store saving a bundle.
3. INVITE FRIENDS OVER INSTEAD OF GOING OUT
Almost every activity at home is less expensive than going out. Invite some friends over and have a large pasta meal with some salads and breads, then play some cards and have a few drinks. Everyone will have fun, the cost will be low, and the others will likely reciprocate not long afterwards – giving you several FREE meals…
4. DON’T THROW OUT ‘BROKEN’ CLOTHES
Don’t toss out a shirt because of a broken button – sew a new one on with some closely-matched thread. Don’t toss out pants because of a hole in them – put in a patch of some sort and save them for times when you’re working around the house. If a zip is broken, a tailor can easily replace it at less than the cost of a new top or pair of pants. Most dry cleaners also offer basic needlework services – just ask!
5. DON’T SPEND BIG MONEY ON YOUR CHILDREN
Most children, especially young ones, can be entertained very cheaply. Buy them a roll of newspaper from your local stationery supplier and let their creativity run wild. Make a game out of ordinary stuff around the house, like tossing coins into a jar or playing imaginary games with boxes.
Realize that what your children want most of all is your time, not your stuff, and you’ll find money in your pocket and joy in your heart.
Have these five points given you some fresh ideas? I hope so!