Fire Safety Encyclopedia

How to save your budget. How to save your family budget (personal experience). Hypermarket, wholesale warehouse or online store

Each of us wants to always have enough money for meaningful family purchases or annual vacations. With a small budget, some manage to achieve this constantly, while others only do that they take out loans or borrow from friends. The difference between such families is that the former save money, while the latter “cry” about the lack of money. In this article, we will provide you with real tips on how to save your family budget.


Tip # 1: Get Rid Of Debt And Set A Purpose Of Savings

If there are debts, then it is impossible to save. Therefore, it is necessary to pay off all debts taken from friends or relatives, as well as from credit institutions, as soon as possible. This will immediately give you two advantages:

    You will have to save money, and you will already begin to practice in practice all the further steps that are described in this article.

    By repaying a loan or loan ahead of schedule, you will save on overpayments, since in this case the interest will be recalculated for the actual time of using the borrowed funds.

Having paid off debts, you need to protect yourself from loans. They can only be used in the most extreme cases.


For example, your refrigerator has broken down, and it cannot be repaired, and you have not yet collected the money to buy a new one. It is impossible to live without this household appliance. Therefore, you will have to apply for a loan, but again it is necessary to pay off with it as soon as possible.


So, you have no debts, and force majeure will be bypassed. Life is getting better. So, it's time to take the first step towards saving, which is the definition of a goal. Savings will not work without it. This is due to the simple psychology of any person, because if you know why you are sacrificing the same trip to a restaurant, then it is easier to refuse it.


Defined purpose must be specific. For example, if you are saving money for vacation, then you should know where to go and how much money is needed for it. Or the goal is to buy a car. In this case, you know which brand and model to buy, and you can also say exactly how much money it will take.

With each income, you need to put aside a certain amount in the piggy bank. You determine its size yourself. Although here it is not necessary to "invent a bicycle", but rather to use the standard advice of psychologists. The most convenient amount is 10% of all income. This amount of money will practically not affect the daily life of your family, but will make an excellent help for saving, and as a result of saving.

Here it is worth taking care of how your piggy bank will be. It is immediately necessary to abandon ceramic pigs, hiding places under the mattress and other old options that are only suitable for storing small things. Large sums like a more serious attitude towards themselves. Debit cards or bank deposits are ideal options. This is due to two reasons:

    After placing money on a deposit or card, access to it will be complicated, which means that it will become more difficult to succumb to the temptation to spend it.

    The funds placed in the bank will be charged with interest, and this is additional earnings.

An excellent option would be a card product with interest on the balance. This will allow you to replenish your account at any time, as well as receive additional income. For example, a Tinkoff Black debit card. Be sure not to be too lazy to consult several banks about the products provided in order to choose the most convenient and profitable.

As strange as it may sound, most families in our country do not know not only the amount of their expenses per month, but also the exact amount of income. This naturally does not provide an opportunity to save money. After all, it is impossible to compare a debit with a loan, and identify unnecessary items of expenditure. Therefore, you need to take a simple piece of paper and, having cut it in half, write on the one hand the exact amount of income, and on the other all items of expenditure.


Describe your expenses in as much detail as possible. For example, write not utilities, but separately light, water, heating, etc. Do not combine all meals - for lunch for your child at school or for your work, dinner at a restaurant once a week, meals at home, etc. This approach will allow you to determine as accurately as possible the options on which you can save.


Now with this list, you can already identify items that will reduce costs, but more on that later. Now you need to remember two more mandatory points.

First, always involve your kids in budget planning. This will increase their responsibility, and in the process of determining the savings items, you can explain why it is worth abandoning a particular purchase for the sake of a more desirable acquisition. Moreover, this method will help you in the future.


For example, in a store, when a child asks for a chocolate bar that is not included in the planned expenses, you will be able to explain that for the sake of a trip abroad you cannot buy it now. Moreover, he himself participated in the preparation of the budget, and did not foresee this purchase.


Secondly, you yourself need to strictly adhere to the drawn up spending plan. Determine the frequency of trips to the store (once every one or two weeks). Be sure to make a list and only buy the items that are on it. That is, completely eliminate spontaneous acquisitions.


Remember that all supermarkets use special placement technology to encourage you to make as many spontaneous purchases as possible.

The first thing your savings should touch upon are costs that can be completely eliminated from your daily life. Often such expenses are trips to a restaurant, shopping and entertainment centers, buying any decorative items, etc.

Next, you should analyze your utility costs. Strange as it may sound, but at this point you can get significant savings by adhering to the simple rules described in the table.


Ways to save on utilities
Electricity Water Heating
Remove limescale deposits from kettles and other heating appliances. This will increase the thermal conductivity and speed of the heating time of the water. Eliminate water leaks (dripping taps, leaking cistern). Do not cover the radiators with curtains, furniture and other interior items that block the flow of warm air.
The diameter of the bottom of the pan should be equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the hotplate so that energy is not wasted. Take a shower, not a bath. In this case, the water consumption will be 3-4 times less. Remove dust and dirt from batteries. It reduces heat transfer.
Allow food to cool to room temperature before placing cooked food in the refrigerator or freezer. Install a economy cistern. It uses, in comparison with the standard, 2-3 times less water. Install a special foil shield between the radiator and the wall.
Refrigerating appliances should be located away from heating appliances. Eliminate running water from your daily routine. For example, you need to wash the dishes in a closed sink filled with water, and rinse the laundry in a basin. Insulate old windows and doors, and it is better to replace them altogether with energy efficient ones.
If the appliance is not in use, it must be unplugged from the socket. Even a mobile phone charger. In the process of brushing your teeth, turn off the tap, and rinse your mouth with pre-drawn water into a glass. Close the curtains at night. They will partially retain heat in the room.
Heat exactly as much water as you need right now. Do only wash with the washing machine when it is fully loaded. Partially cover the ventilation grill. This will reduce the flow of cold air into the room.
Turn off the hotplate for a while before boiling or cooking. It is still hot, but does not consume electricity. Lever mixers mix water faster than with two taps. Therefore, their consumption is less. If possible, insulate the wall of the apartment or house from the street side with foam and plaster.
Iron items that require a low temperature first, and then increase it as needed. Be sure to install special mesh on the mixer. They saturate the stream of water with air and its consumption is reduced. Do not ventilate the room for a long time. Often, 15 minutes is enough to saturate it with fresh air. The rest of the time, only heat loss occurs.
Change bags frequently or empty the container of the vacuum cleaner. It will work in a more economical mode. When buying a washing machine or dishwasher, give priority to “smart” appliances that determine the amount of load. In the presence of plastic windows, use only the "slot ventilation" function.

Pay enough attention to household chemicals. You should not purchase the cheapest options, but give priority to concentrated products. They cost a little more, but they last much longer. After two to three months of using concentrated detergent or laundry detergent, you will see significant savings.

Savings on food items are also possible. Although it is necessary to resort to this measure “wisely”. You can't just give up meat, so that later "fall into a hungry swoon." In this option, you should adhere to two rules:

    It is necessary to exclude from the diet only unhealthy foods. The same chips, crackers, semi-finished cutlets can be prepared at home. Moreover, it will not only be more economical and useful, but also tastier.

    Go completely home-cooked. Ditch the fast food from a nearby cafe in favor of burgers made at home and taken to work in advance.

Do not forget that during high technologies it is possible to make purchases on the Internet. Moreover, using special services, you can buy some goods much cheaper than in classic stores. For example, on AliExpress.


It is worth remembering the possibility of bargaining. Moreover, this can be done not only in the market that is familiar to everyone, but also by buying some used thing, and sometimes even a new one, using a variety of discounts and bonuses, which sellers may initially be silent about.

Immediately after the first month of savings, analyze your planned budget. In it, you will definitely find articles on which you can still save money. After all, you have gained practical experience, and you begin to notice subtleties that you did not even know about before.

In addition, it is worth considering that the same dish detergent or washing powder will now be enough for you for several months. After all, you bought concentrated household chemicals. These are also saved funds that you will be happy to put on a deposit or debit card opened with the bank.

It is worth noting that the most difficult point will be saving on everyday expenses. Although if you and your family constantly adhere to all the rules, then in one or two months such an approach to buying and using utilities will become the norm. Moreover, its quality will not deteriorate in any way.

  • Disconnected home phone, which was practically not used. Minus 350 rubles.
  • Cable television from Rostelcom was transferred to a different tariff, I will not say exactly which one, because my husband was dealing with this issue. As a result, the number of channels did not change, and they began to pay 80 rubles, instead of 170 rubles. Minus 90 rubles.
  • Until I began to keep track of expenses, I did not even know how much money was spent in the family to pay for mobile communications, and when I saw the real numbers, it became clear that this was a lot. It turned out that all this time they were using the most unfavorable tariff available. We switched to a new offer from TELE2 for the "Black" tariff. With a subscription fee of 95 rubles, you can talk within the network for a whole month without restrictions. Total monthly expenses for a family were 380 rubles. Another minus 520 rubles.
  • Energy saving. For this, a number of measures were taken: they replaced all the light bulbs with energy-saving ones, they began to use more often the night rate for washing clothes (we have a two-rate meter), and they began to monitor the rational use of electrical appliances and lighting. Total still on average minus 900 rubles.

3. Optimize food costs. I wrote a little about it. As a result, although it was not immediately possible to reduce food costs to 8,000 rubles. Yet minus 3232 rubles. Mainly due to the following measures:

  • They began to go to the store only with a list of products, which made it possible to exclude spontaneous purchases of unnecessary and useful products.
  • Drawing up a menu for a week, which made it possible to plan the purchase of products for future use.
  • I began to search and write in a special notebook
  • We switched to buying chicken meat. Usually I take several carcasses of chilled chicken at a time, in our Magnit store for 106 rubles per 1 kg, and already at home I cut them into portions and put them in separate bags. For example, fillet separately, wings, legs, bones separately. Very handy when cooking. From 4 carcasses, I make 16 portioned sachets.
  • They completely abandoned the purchase of semi-finished products, especially dumplings. They began to buy ready-made minced meat and prepare dumplings on their own. From one kilogram of natural minced meat (pork + beef) for 280 rubles. get 200 pieces. 100% natural homemade dumplings that we freeze and prepare as needed.
  • I began to make preparations for seasonal vegetables for future use. For example, we bought several kilograms of carrots for another 20 rubles. per kilogram, grated and also portioned into bags and into the freezer. It will be very comfortable in winter. In the same way, we bought potatoes for another 10 rubles each, cabbage, beets. In the summer, mushrooms and berries were frozen.
  • I began to bake more pies, cookies, buns at home. This saved a significant part of the budget for sweets.
  • We have formed stocks of long-lasting products, such as canned food, preparations, preserves, jams, yeast. For any unforeseen event, there is something to profit from.

4. Optimize the cost of maintaining the machine. This article was significantly reduced due to the fact that the husband began to travel to work not by car as before, but by the transport of the enterprise where he works. Why didn't you think of it earlier? From here still minus 2,000 rubles.


5. Optimize other expenses, you can read more in the article. This includes purchases of household supplies, household chemicals, clothes, shoes, public transport, cosmetics, gifts. I will not dwell on this point for a long time, I will only say one thing, that due to optimization, this item was reduced on average by 5-6 thousand rubles. Mainly due to the exclusion of purchases of unnecessary little things, clothes, because I am on maternity leave and do not really need to update my wardrobe, well, etc. Total minus another 5,000 rubles.


In total, it was possible to reduce and optimize costs in the amount of 15,099.27 rubles. As a result, by October we have the following budget. Yes, I also forgot to note that by identifying additional sources of income, I managed to receive additional income of 8,000 rubles every month, mainly due to the monetization of my husband's blogs and covens (welding work). I wrote about this in more detail.

October 2015

EXPENSES

INCOME

Sources of

sums

electricity

My income

housing and removal of solid waste

husband's salary

gas supply

Additional income

Internet

cable TV

home phone

mobile connection

water supply

Kindergarten, school

Heat supply

Loans

Living from paycheck to advance payment, not caring about tomorrow, is a habit of many. Unfortunately, lessons on how to manage a family budget are not taught at school, everything has to be comprehended empirically.

To some, such a science seems too complicated, they continue to waste their finances thoughtlessly, risking one fine day being left without a livelihood. Others are exploring the home economics, dramatically improving their quality of life.

There is nothing difficult in distributing personal and family budgets. To do this, there is absolutely no need to plunge into calculus with many formulas. There are only two important columns in the home accounting table: income and expense. The first is the money that the family receives: salary, pension, benefits, income from rent or securities, interest on bills. All sources of family income are taken into account in order to know exactly what the total amount is composed of.

Expenses include: payment for housing and communal services, transport, telephone and Internet bills, food, education and development of children, payment of insurance premiums, loans. It is also necessary to include the column "unforeseen expenses". A good housewife knows very well how much money a family needs "for the housekeeping" a month.

You can make calculations in a notebook, but it is more convenient if home accounting is presented as a table with two horizontal columns: income and expense.

As you can imagine, the sums in the last lines must be at least the same. If the needs are more opportunities, then some items will have to be reduced.

It is not necessary to turn family budget planning into a total economy mode, but it will not hurt to give up too much. Focus primarily on mandatory spending, calculating them for a certain period, week or month. From the remaining funds, an amount is allocated for unforeseen situations (repairs, treatment, urgent purchases), the remainder is sent to the "reserve fund".

To understand which expenses were necessary and which were unnecessary, the personal finance table, which consists of two columns, will allow.

Obviously, by giving up a business lunch at work and buying newspapers, you can easily replenish your family treasury with a noticeable amount. If tabulation isn't quite right for you, check out our review article, where we looked at the top 5 of them.

How to save on "communal"

Today, utility rates are growing, and bills are capable of undermining the family budget. But we have not yet developed the habit of saving on trifles. We use the advice of Europeans who are used to living in a resource-saving mode. Here are some simple ways to cut costs:

  • Give up unnecessary kitchen devices with the prefix "electro". You can cook food, boil water on a gas stove. When purchasing large household appliances, pay attention to the energy saving class, the “A” marking is more suitable for the house;
  • Make it a rule to unplug appliances from the outlet at night, turn off the light in the room, leaving it. Arrange multi-level lighting in the room, it is not only economical, but also convenient. Simple tricks in a month will save from 100 to 300 rubles;
  • The refrigerator consumes most of the energy, so make sure that the ice coat does not freeze, this increases the consumption. Do not set the temperature regime too low without special need, keep an eye on the tightness of the chamber;
  • Increasingly, in modern kitchens, an elegant hob is taking the place of a gas stove. Such devices are more expensive for the owner, so you should not forget about saving. Use the residual heat, buy containers for cooking the size of the burners;
  • View invoices to understand what constitutes the amount for the billing period (month, year). Do you really need an intercom if you live on the 1st floor? Or maybe you are still paying for radio or unnecessary cable TV? Look carefully and you will certainly find how you can save your family budget without much damage.

Examine your bills. When was the last time you used your home phone, although you pay 200-300 rubles a month for it? But after all, a tidy sum runs up in a year?

Shopping for groceries - how to save money?

According to statistics, Russians spend from 30 to 50% of their finances on food, therefore, considering ways to save the family budget, we cannot ignore this item of expenses. Each housewife has her own secrets of cooking, making a menu, and the feeding process itself in each family is individual.

Somewhere all household members gather at the table only for dinner, in other houses it is customary to take food 3-4 times a day. Despite this difference, there are still general rules for saving. Here are the most effective ones:

  • Learn the tricks of marketers so you don't fall for their bait. Try not to take children to the store;
  • Go shopping with a detailed list, so you won't forget anything and don't buy too much;
  • Pay not by card, but in cash, real money is more difficult to spend than virtual;
  • Pay attention to the products of little-known manufacturers, they are much cheaper than well-known brands;
  • Avoid ready-made semi-finished products, pre-packaged products. Often, not the best quality goods are used for slicing, besides, you have to overpay for the work of the packer;
  • By replacing partly household chemicals with a natural product, you will replenish your household budget with a tidy sum. The same can be said for cosmetics. Our grandmothers used mustard and soda to wash dishes, washed glasses with vinegar. Their house has always shone with cleanliness without the use of "super funds".

Bad habits fight

Sooner or later, each of us has to think about how to manage the family budget as efficiently as possible. After all, this is an urgent need to avoid financial difficulties in the future. Even if it seems that you live quite within your means, there is always something that you can refuse without difficulty, and sometimes even with benefit.

Review your bad habits. By giving up alcohol and cigarettes, you save more than money. Smoking is bad for your health, and it hurts your wallet. Considering that tobacco products are regularly "growing" in price, a bad habit becomes a pretty penny. The same can be said for light alcohol. Calculate how much a daily bottle of beer costs, and then imagine what that money could buy if you put it off for a year.

Network games are considered by many to be harmless entertainment, pleasant relaxation, without thinking at all that this is a well-thought-out way of "pumping out" money. Without even realizing it, lovers of all kinds of "zomboferms" leave more than one thousand on the Internet a year. What can we say about avid gamers for whom the game is a competition.

Make it a rule to earn money for entertainment separately and spend your personal finances on it, not to the detriment of the general wallet.

Sugar is a food drug, which means that the habit of uncontrolled eating of "sweets" can be classified as harmful. The average family spends from 200 to 1000 rubles a month on confectionery. Ice cream, candy, gingerbread, lemonade and other nonsense that cannot be called food or drink. Learning to live without sweets is not so easy, but the more valuable such a victory will be. A detailed table of food costs will help to understand which foods are superfluous in the diet.

Five ways to cut costs

When you're young, active, and partying, family budgeting seems boring. It is much more interesting to jump from a state of unrestrained revelry to economy mode and back. But sooner or later, spouses start to think about financial discipline. This does not depend on the level of family income. In any case, money does not fall from the sky, but is earned, so it is better to learn not to throw it away.

Who should be in charge of family finances?

This question is important for the preservation of the psychological climate of the cell of society. Undoubtedly, the decision on what and how to save the family budget is taken together. The rest of the functions can be divided between the spouses.

For ladies, the theoretical part of financial management is easier than for men, for the stronger half, there is simply no time to waste time on calculations. But women are prone to impulsive purchases, which means they cannot have free funds. Accordingly, the wife can distribute personal finances, and it is better to entrust the purchases to the spouse.

Hold me, now I will buy

Consumerism is the scourge of our time. Buying tons of things that are essentially unnecessary, we work for corporations that produce these goods. Here is a simple advice for you on how to save your family budget - give up rash purchases.

Do you want a dress, a purse, shoes like a friend's? Wait a couple of days. During this time, carefully examine your wardrobe. Most likely, the same boats are already gathering dust in the closet, and the clutch does not fit the existing things at all.

Well-defined long-term goals allow you to learn to control your personal finances.

Don't buy what you can get for free

Are you used to reading each new "Cosmo" or are you waiting for the release of Daria Dontsova's book? Planning to attend the blockbuster premiere? Why pay for something you can borrow for free? Rational planning of the family budget is a reasonable attitude to spending. The press can be read online, the novel is borrowed from a friend, and the films appear on the Internet a week after release.

Many people get rid of unnecessary things by giving them away or selling them for a symbolic price. Feel free to participate in similar promotions.

Penny to penny - altyn came out

Make it a rule to save 5-10% of your income every month and not spend this money unnecessarily. So you not only get free funds at your disposal, but also gain psychological comfort. Over time, you will understand that it is better to spend your personal budget on the necessary things, learn how to prioritize, form long-term goals, and invest profitably.

The science of how to manage a family budget includes not only meticulous calculations of expenses, but also the skills of managing available funds. Personal finances should not lie dead. It is better to place them on a long-term deposit in a reliable bank.

Investing in securities

The topic is not easy, worthy of a separate article. It should be borne in mind that this is a risky way, even experienced brokers do not guarantee a positive result.

Having saved up a significant amount, invest it in the purchase of something of value. Purchase of real estate will increase the family's sources of income. In the future, you will receive a stable profit from its rental for many years.

Often, projects that promise dividends of 50% per month turn out to be an ordinary scam. Be careful not to fund modern pyramid builders.

You can lend your savings to friends at a small percentage - this is beneficial to both parties. Just don't forget to formalize the deal legally.

Summing up ...

Living carefree is much more enjoyable than puzzling over how to draw up a family budget and do without unnecessary expenses. But with such an irrational approach, at the first storm of life, your financial boat will not just leak, but sink.

Saving money is not shameful, on the contrary, a modern person is simply obliged to have a financial literacy so as not to become a "cash cow" for suppliers of goods, bankers, and all kinds of schemers.

Good afternoon, dear readers! The question of how to save money is one of the most popular and urgent questions in modern times. And in order to answer it as fully as possible, I have prepared a detailed article for you.

In it, I will share my personal experience and extremely practical ways that will really (and not in words, as is often the case🙂) help you seriously save your family budget.

Everyone knows that the modern economy is consumer-oriented. Every day they try to sell us a certain product or a certain service. Advertising on television, on the Internet, on the radio is spinning around the clock. All this creates an excellent breeding ground for thoughtless consumption.

💡From personal experience!
Managing your finances wisely will allow you to see how much money is actually being wasted. And not just for nothing, but for things you don't need!

So, for example, often only by planning your expenses and refusing spontaneous purchases, you can immediately save about 10-20% of your budget !

However, you should not think that saving money in the family means completely limiting yourself in everything. On the contrary, through smart savings, you can afford more! Believe me, even with a small salary, you can live quite normally - checked on yourself! 😀

Today you will learn:

  • How to save money with a small salary;
  • How much and how can you save on groceries, food and shopping in general;
  • How to properly manage your finances and manage your money;
  • How to save on housing and communal services, transport, recreation ...

In the article you will also find a table and you can download a file for self-tracking of income and expenses! 😀

1. How to learn to save money + spreadsheet?

Unfortunately, salaries in our country do not actually grow, and inflation does not stand still. Prices for food, services, clothing, entertainment, and utility bills are increasing.

Some people prefer to take out loans, but any financier will tell you that loans for living are crazy, as debt bondage is tightening more and more, preventing you from living a normal life.

Before moving on to specific ways of saving, let's consider 4 basic rules of smart economy:

Rule # 1: Take control of all your income and expenses.

Do not rush to immediately spend the earned money on everything. First, try to plan your budget in detail for the next month!

❗️ For example, you can make basic notes on income and expenses in notebook or at plain sheet of paper ... Record all expenses for food, clothing, utilities, transportation, personal needs, etc. This will help you to competently save wages and calculate unnecessary expenses at the end of the month.

An even easier and more convenient way is to use finished table(Excel) to keep track of income and expenses, you can. All you need to do is enter basic data - all calculations will be done automatically, this is how it looks:

Rule # 2: Always wivite within your means.

Yes, sometimes you want to buy an expensive thing, go to a restaurant or go on an unplanned vacation. But it's better to do this if you have extra funds that are not included in your main monthly budget.

Never empty your budget to the ground and do not get into loans, even with seemingly obvious financial benefits. All the more so forever refuse loans , the percentages on them are just crazy - more300% per annum!

Rule # 3: Pay yourself first and then everyone else.

Get in the habit of saving a certain amount of money after each paycheck. Thus, you will provide yourself with a certain safety cushion. In the future, this money can be useful for any large investment or purchase.

☝️ Also implement system of rewards and punishments for yourself. Let's say you can spend a specific amount of money once a month on what you want. However, if you didn’t hold back and spent more than planned, limit your spending next month.

Rule # 4: Don't buy everything at once.

Do not rush to buy new items or run to the first sale that comes along. If you really want to buy a thing, then you should do a market analysis. For example, search for similar models on the Internet, you are 100% likely to find them much cheaper.

Using the example of the table, you can see how profitable savings can be even in such trifles as abandoning cable TV or installing a water meter.

Way Saving
1 Buying clothes and things at Chinese sites More than 30-50% savings compared to buying clothes and things in offline stores
2 Refusal from spontaneous purchases Saving about 10% of the family budget
3 Installing a cold water meter Saving from 200 rubles per month for water consumption
4 Installation of a thermostat for heating equipment Saving up to 30% of heat consumption in the house
5 Rejection of incandescent lamps in favor of energy-saving up to 50-75% of electricity
6 Ditching cable TV / replacing free or digital TV over the Internet up to 700 rubles / month
7 Replacing expensive medicines with cheap analogues or using natural medicines Saving about 50% when buying medicines

The key to smart economy is discipline. It can be difficult to save or save money without it. It is hard at the beginning, when you are forced to give up certain benefits. But over time, you will realize that saving will bring you pleasure and practical benefits.

2. How to save money - 50 simple ways to save your family budget for all occasions

Aliexpress online store

It's easy to make purchases with cashback. Just register on the EPN service, press the button " Buy with cashback»Next to the desired online store and choose the products you like.

Part of the money will be returned to you in your EPN account after purchases, which you can withdraw in a convenient way.

Method 3: make smart purchases by making a list before going to the store

If you are planning a lot of different purchases, then do not rush to take them thoughtlessly from store shelves. Always make lists of what you need.

It is optimal not only to make a list of necessary goods or purchases, but also to calculate the total cost of goods. This way you will be able to match the purchase price against your original budget.

⭐️ Usually a person without a list of products in 20% cases takes what what he doesn't need ... And with the list, you can easily avoid spending your last money in the store.

And by the way, don't go shopping on an empty stomach! 👍

Method 4: Forget about fast foods and cafes. Inexpensively and properly eat at home

Example of products on discounts on Biglion

Discounts on electronics can be purchased in such large markets as Ozon, Enter, Aliexpress, M.Video, Svyaznoy, Eldorado, DNS.

⚡️ In addition, sites are very popular with buyers Biglion.ru and Frendi.ru where you can buy things with discount coupons up to 90% percent ... You can also go on a tour at very, very competitive prices!

Method 6: Smartly save electricity and water

If the family does not have enough money, then saving on utilities can always help out. Utility bills are growing quite quickly, and the total amount depends on the area of ​​the apartment and the number of registered people. And, of course, there is no getting away from the amount of energy consumed.

Most of all, in everyday life, water is consumed in the toilet. If possible, simply install a combined inexpensive double flush toilet and this will save up to 20 thousand liters of water per year ... And replacing the bath with a shower helps save up to 30% of consumed water.

Be sure to install meters (if they are not installed), since you have to pay more according to the standards. It is worth washing your clothes when the drum is fully loaded.

You can save light by replacing incandescent lamps with energy-saving lamps, which help to reduce energy consumption up to 30-50% .

Method 7: Thrift stores and the Daru Dar website. Anything for free!

There are tons of communities on social networks where you can donate, give or exchange things. Just type in the search bar “ I will give it away»And you can find these communities. Separately, it should be said about the site “ Gift gift ».

Things for free on "Daru Dar" (site: darudar.org)

❗️ The site "Daru Dar" appeared a long time ago, it is a huge all-Russian platform where you can take free clothes, things, electronics, household items and care... In large cities there are entire communities of Darudar people who meet and exchange gifts.

If we talk about the advantages of the site, then there you can get even brand new equipment, clothes from store shelves, jewelry, in fact, for free. But if we mention the disadvantages, then recently there is a huge amount of rubbish on the Daru Dar website.

Method 8: Buy cheap and affordable analogues of expensive drugs

Why are some drugs fabulously expensive, while their counterparts are much cheaper? It's all about the aggressive marketing policies of pharmaceutical companies.

You are offered ordinary aspirin, wrapped in beautiful packaging through advertising on television and radio, and you buy this drug, naively believing that it cures everything in the world. However, almost all expensive drugs have cheaper counterparts.

⭐️ Example!
For example, Coldrex cold remedy costs from 150 rubles, and the same "Paracetamol", of which the same Coldrex essentially consists, will cost you only 5-15 rubles... Do you see the difference in the price of drugs and there are a lot of such examples?

Better yet, use natural remedies, they will really help you heal this or that disease much faster!

Method 9: budget a month in advance

The budget must be planned. Especially if you don't know if you have enough money for this or that purchase. It is better to plan a budget not even for a month, but for two or more months in advance. You will be able to adjust your purchases accordingly.

Get yourself a diary in which you can enter information about planned purchases or, which we have already talked about earlier. Thus, you will avoid unnecessary expenses that can hurt your family budget.

Method 10: Avoid frequent trips to hypermarkets and large shopping centers

According to statistics, we spend more money in hypermarkets and large shopping centers than we planned.

❗️ V 48% cases, buyers in large hypermarkets make rash purchases ... In this case, a person is usually attracted by the abundance of goods, "mythical" promotions and discounts. It seems to us that we buy a lot and profitably, but this is not so.

In addition, in large hypermarkets, most of the goods (especially food) are of rather low quality, so if you have an opportunity try to buy from private traders - besides, it will come out cheaper! 🙂

Method 11: repair, not throw away your clothes

Save on clothes - fix them

We are constantly buying new clothes, gradually throwing away old things. This is not worth doing. First of all, fashion is cyclical, and what looked ridiculous or caused laughter now may be at the peak of its popularity.

Secondly, it is possible to repair practically any clothes for an inexpensive price, even seemingly "hopeless" ones! 😉

In addition, there are tons of channels on YouTube that tell and show how you can make real masterpieces out of old things. And the vintage style is in vogue now. You can even DIY new shorts from old jeans or sew a vest from a shirt. This requires only your imagination and desire to change something.

Method 12: Buy things and clothes on sales in online stores, as well as on Avito and Yula

Now quite good, high-quality and sometimes even branded items can be bought on such sites as “ Avito" and " Yula", And much cheaper than they cost in stores.

Profitable purchases with savings on Avito and Yula

❗️ Please note:
You can also buy in online stores such as “ Lamoda», Wildberries, Joom... In such large Internet sites, there is the possibility of accumulating points that can be exchanged for clothes and shoes. At the same time, things cost an order of magnitude cheaper than in ordinary shopping centers.

Free fitting, delivery, return and exchange of goods are provided for buyers. And during periods of discounts, you can buy things literally for a penny.

Method 13: Forget about credit cards (use an interest-free period)

Ceramic heaters - real energy savings

Secondly, install a programmable thermostat - it will allow you to save additional money up to 25% thermal energy. A thermostat is a special device that allows you to regulate a certain level of temperature in a living room.

In Europe, thermostats are used everywhere, and in Russia such devices have appeared relatively recently. The thermostat is inexpensive and everyone can afford it.

Method 17: Save on pets. Homemade food prepared by yourself

If you have a cat or dog, it is not necessary to feed the animal specialized food. In nature, any animal eats meat, vegetables, roots.

☝️ For example, you can replace dry or wet food with various cereals. At the same time, a kilogram of porridge is very inexpensive. 25-40 rubles.

Porridge can be combined. For feed, buckwheat, rice, millet, oatmeal are suitable. Moreover, the diet will be balanced and beneficial for your pet.

Method 18: do not rush to change gadgets and equipment

Large companies present their new products every season, but does it make sense to chase fashion? I think not, especially since usually the new technique is essentially no different from the old one.

It is better to get by with one high-quality, but at the same time not too expensive gadget, which, if used carefully, can serve without problems for at least a couple of years. It doesn't matter what it is: a personal computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. The same applies to any other technique.

Method 19: Vegetable garden on the windowsill

⭐️Useful tip:
Try to buy equipment not lower than " A"Or even better" A +++ «, « A ++" and " A +"- this technique will reduce the consumption of electricity up to 50-80%!

Method 24: unplug your cable TV and surf the internet

Now more and more people prefer the Internet to television. It is simple and convenient, especially since there is no need to wait for the release of a particular program and switch channels during the broadcast of commercials.

Cable TV together with the Internet costs about 1000 rubles per month. Moreover, the amount varies depending on the provider you choose.

You can also connect the Internet to your TV via an adapter. With just a couple of manipulations, you can also watch movies and your favorite shows online. With all this, you will save a lot.

Method 25: Make Meaningful Shopping After the Holidays

If you want to buy furniture, appliances or clothing, then try to do such purchases on weekdays, not on holidays. Usually on holidays, buyers are lured by various sales, but this is just an advertising trap (often prices are first significantly overstated, and then, as it were, "discounts" and "sales" are made).

In addition, sellers are trying to sell all, including illiquid goods. Therefore, on holidays there is a high risk of stumbling upon substandard and defective goods. Therefore, do not rush to sales. Better wait for the moment when the festive excitement dies down and calmly make your purchases.

Method 26: Avoid Cigarettes and Alcohol

On average, a pack of cigarettes costs one hundred rubles. With the daily consumption of one pack of cigarettes per day, you smoke 3 thousand rubles a month ( 36 thousand rubles per year).

☝️ This money can be spent on recreation, entertainment, buy yourself something out of clothes. It seems that a hundred rubles is not so much money, but the amount changes dramatically if you add up expenses for a month.

The same can be said for alcohol. People often buy light alcohol, which is also expensive. Just kick these habits and you can save money. at least 3-5 thousand of your budget, which can be spent on much more useful and pleasant things.

Method 27: Freeze for the winter

Savings on travel - a real-world example

❗️ There are special services, thanks to which you can find fellow travelers (for example, Blablacar - blablacar.ru). You can also find other services offering carpooling services on the Play Market.

Method 30: Learn to save at least 10-15% of your paycheck

The trouble with many citizens is that they simply cannot plan their budget. It always seems that there will be money, and unforeseen circumstances will bypass. But, as practice shows, this is absolutely not the case.

What are the common problems? We are spending our budget unwisely. But you need to accept only one rule for yourself.

Save after every paycheck at least 10% of money as a safety cushion. For example, you get 30 thousand rubles a month. Just put it off 3-7 thousand to a safe place or to a deposit in a bank (but nevertheless, it is better not to keep too large amounts in the bank)!

Believe me, after about six months, you will feel more confident knowing that you have a certain airbag.

Method 31: Save on entertainment for children

If you have children, then you perfectly understand that they are one of the main expenses in the family. Children require constant attention. And it's no secret that now there is a lot of entertainment, and all of them, as a rule, are paid.

Contact zoos, trampolines, cafes, children's rooms, water parks - all this costs a pretty penny. You should not limit the child in everything, but at the same time you can come up with a lot of entertainment for children that will be absolutely free.

Check out the schedule of events on city posters. In any case, there are board games, free parks and fantasy, with which you can keep even the most naughty kid busy.

Method 32: sell old things

Don't hoard your trash at home. And if you have antiques, you can take them to an antique store. Perhaps you yourself are the owner of real treasures without knowing it. Ancient medals and stamps, utensils, porcelain and crystal products, books, icons, and jewelry are of particular value.

You can hand over not only a rarity, but also quite modern things to buy. For example, old fur coats and coats, unnecessary equipment, furniture.

Of course, it doesn't have to be outright junk, so carefully disassemble your treasures and dispose of them. Moreover, they will bring you income and will not take up much space in the apartment.

Method 33: Bring lunch to work from home

Try not to dine in a cafe or snack on fast food at work. In such establishments, food is expensive, and it is not always tasty and healthy. So cook yourself at home.

Get yourself an inexpensive lunch box that can hold sandwiches, and don't forget the hot food containers. So you can eat tasty, inexpensive and healthy!

Method 34: Follow Black Friday. Products with discounts up to 90%

Buying cheap is real. Follow the discounts and promotions. In particular, on the last Friday of November, giant sales will start around the world. Some stores offer quality products at a discount up to 70-90% .

As a marketing and social phenomenon, Black Friday originated in the United States, and it is associated with Thanksgiving, after which stores usually waited months of stagnation. It was in America that they came up with the idea of ​​completely selling goods once a year at huge discounts.

⭐️ During Black Friday, you can buy cheap clothes, shoes, appliances, jewelry, gadgets and more. At the same time, both ordinary hypermarkets and large retail chains, as well as online stores, participate in hyper-sales.

Method 35: Cut Your Leisure Costs. Camping instead of a hotel

Rest is not a luxury, but the right of every working person. If you do not have the opportunity to relax in a five-star hotel, then there are always options available that will cost you cheap.

Planning a vacation abroad? Do not buy packages during the high season, as they will be quite expensive. Better to choose non-seasonal destinations.

When planning a trip to the Russian south, you don't have to book hotels, but find a camping site that has everything for a normal life. Camping costs 3-4 times cheaper than a room in a three-star hotel.

☝️ Take note!
Another way to significantly save on housing is to book it from private traders through the online service. AirBnb.ru.

Method 36: don't waste money to relieve stress

Shopaholism is officially recognized as one of the forms of psychological addiction. A person can spend a huge amount of money just like that. Many psychologists argue that mindless and spontaneous purchases are akin to a soft drug and bring pleasure.

Usually, after such purchases, a person gets upset and begins to analyze his behavior, realizing that he is spending money on the wrong thing. But then he begins to calm himself down, justifying himself.

Shopping for the sake of stress can drag you into a dangerous quagmire, so before sweeping away all the shelves in the store, just think, do you need it? After saving money, you can spend it on really necessary things.

Method 37: look for free events in your city

Of course, sometimes you want to go somewhere to relax. However, mass events can be expensive, and a ticket to a concert of a capital or foreign star can cost tens of thousands of rubles.

If you don't feel like staying at home and you are thinking of joining the cultural life, then it is not at all necessary to spend all your savings on going to the club or to the theater.

Dozens of advertisements about free events are published on the Internet every day, which may also be running in your city. These are various premieres of performances, films, exhibitions, concerts, show rooms and much more. You do not need a ticket, and you can use your personal time to good use.

Method 38: get yourself a piggy bank

As a child, almost all of us had a piggy bank. An ordinary porcelain pig or cat with a slit on the back, into which we carefully lowered our precious coins.

You can also use this method as an adult. A trifle is always useful for travel or small purchases in the store.

⭐️ We often do not attach any importance to small money. You shouldn't do that. Just buy yourself a piggy bank and put a coin in it. In a month in this way, you can easily accumulate a more or less significant amount.

Method 39: buy housing in another area

Previously, apartment buildings located far from the city center were not considered prestigious. It takes a long time to get there, it is inconvenient, and there is no transport. But times are changing, and developers are creating huge residential complexes with inexpensive apartments and their own well-developed infrastructure.

Let's say you live in the city center and have a one-room apartment. You can easily sell an apartment (or rent it out) and buy a two-room apartment in another, less prestigious area.

In any case, pay attention to the number of storeys of the building, transport accessibility, the presence of socially significant facilities and infrastructure.

Method 40: insulate and seal your home

You can also save on utility bills. For example, this can be done by insulating and sealing your home. By the way, you can insulate both a private house and an apartment.

Insulation is usually used for these purposes, which is inexpensive and is sold in any market. Materials such as ecowool, mineral wool, polyurethane foam are suitable for insulation. Correctly selected insulation allows you to save up to 45% of heat in the house !

Also, if necessary, it makes sense to seal and insulate the windows.

Method 41: Home cosmetics and self-care products

Cosmetics and personal care products are not cheap, especially if they are promoted and advertised brands. Believe me, simple tools at your fingertips can replace expensive creams and masks.

What can you make homemade cosmetics from? Plain oatmeal, ground into powder, can replace powder. At the same time, it does not irritate the skin and looks natural. Also, instead of a tonic, you can use a chamomile decoction. Honey is suitable for body wraps and steam baths. Egg and baking soda can easily replace shampoo and hair conditioner.

Salt and turmeric can be used as a natural and natural skin scrub. And for nourishing oils and massage products, you can use regular sunflower oil sold in any store.

👍 Natural cosmetic- it's not only cheap. All over the world, sulfate shampoos or creams containing hormones are being abandoned. Therefore, you not only save the family budget, but also make your body healthy thanks to such simple and affordable folk remedies.

Method 42: Get free preventive examinations

It has become expensive to monitor health these days. But you don't have to go to expensive clinics. Free monitoring of the health of citizens is organized in many cities every year.

Just follow the news and come for a routine examination with your passport and a pole. You can go through all the doctors and not pay a penny for it.

Dentist services are incredibly expensive today. But if it comes to dental treatment, then you can carry out all the therapeutic procedures absolutely free of charge and in the city dental clinic.

⭐️ Do not rush to give all the money for dental treatment. Just go to a simple clinic, and then just look at a paid doctor. Be sure that in addition to one diseased tooth, a dozen more healthy ones will be healed.

Do not ignore free medicine, because sometimes really experienced dentists work in city clinics. If you need to install an implant or prosthesis, then in ordinary social dentistry they will make it and install it several times cheaper than in a well-promoted and often advertised clinic.

Method 44: exchange things with friends

It is absolutely not difficult to get a new one or exchange an old thing. You can exchange things, clothes, gadgets with your friends. At the same time, completely free of charge, you get what you need at the moment.

The method is suitable for those who do not want to take other people's things on the same " Avito" or " Yulia". You trust your friends and relatives more, and there will definitely not be any problems with the exchange. As you can see, this is also a good way to save the family budget.

Method 45: Find a roommate or flatmate

The method is suitable for those who have their own two-room or three-room housing. Of course, you can settle a neighbor for money in your room or in a one-room apartment, but you are unlikely to feel comfortable with a stranger in the same room.

A neighbor can pay you utility bills or pay for a room at a price you set. Living with the owner is not an easy thing psychologically, so try to find a tenant to your liking. This is a good way to save your budget and not pay utility bills yourself.

Useful information often appears on the Internet. You just need to learn how to filter it from unnecessary garbage. There are tons of helpful earnings blogs about financial planning, our site is no exception!

You just choose the best resource and select relevant information that can really come in handy in your life. Tips and life hacks help you to correctly and optimally plan your budget without unnecessary and thoughtless spending.

Believe me, even with a modest salary, you can save money and live very decently. Therefore, we look for information, write it out and then apply it in practice. Try to constantly develop and learn something new! 😀

Method 47: Doing things with our own hands. How can you earn and save your budget using handmade products?

Did you know that with a little imagination and skillful hands, you can do beautiful and interesting things? You can sew pillows with your own hands, create decor for your home or interior, while spending a minimum of money. You can also sell such things.

The following are popular:

  • Making paintings and portraits with your own hands. There will always be clients for such jobs who can be searched for on social networks;
  • Home knitwear, pillows, sachets, patchwork bedspreads;
  • Knitted goods for children and adults;
  • DIY clothes and accessories.

Think about what you do best? For example, you knit well. In this case, you can look for clients on social networks and offer them your services.

Method 48: looking for an additional part-time job

There is never a lot of work, especially if you don't have enough money. You can earn extra money even if you have an official job. For example, you can get a job as a weekend salesman in a shopping center.

Such vacancies are often posted online, and weekend sellers can additionally receive about 10-15 thousand rubles to their main income. And this amount is typical for the regions, and in Moscow the payment is even higher.

Freelance articles can be of great help. In this case, you can write articles, give advice, do minor work. Fortunately, there are a lot of freelance exchanges. The most popular of them are:

  • Yandex.toloka.ru is a service for making money from Yandex, suitable for a little side job for almost everyone (the tasks here are very simple, so initially no skills are required).
  • Kwork.ru. The site is relatively young, but it is hugely popular with freelancers. You can create so-called quorks, and the customer chooses you and pays for them.
  • Pchel.net. The resource is not bad, it is suitable for beginner freelancers. The site appeared back in 2007 and it still operates. There you can find tasks on naming, rewriting, copywriting;
  • Fl.ru. The site is considered one of the first Russian-language exchange, which has a lot of different tasks and orders. But there is also a minus. You will have to buy a professional account, and it is not a fact that it will pay off from you in the first month;
  • Moguza.ru. The pricing policy on this site is dictated by the freelancers themselves. You can come up with a task and set any price for it. If your offer and price suits the customer, he will be able to order the work;

You can also make good money on text copywriting exchanges, such as ETXT or Advego... In any case, choose large sites and do not settle for offers that are obviously unfavorable for you.

Method 49: Join Volunteer Programs

Volunteering is a special mutual help between different people. Volunteers carry out various programs and it is not at all a shame to make friends with them. Did you know that volunteer programs allow you to earn money and see the world around you? Let's consider the most unusual and interesting ones:

  • Company World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farm s helps volunteers from all over the world grow vegetables and fruits in countries ranging from Holland to French Polynesia. At the same time, volunteers are provided with housing, food, and a salary. You can choose the scheme and country yourself;
  • Rescuing turtles in Thailand. You can join the environmental project Naucrates. Accommodation and meals are provided. Volunteers monitor Thai beaches and help the turtles not to die. The volunteer contract is concluded for 9-12 weeks;
  • Teaching children in Peru. There is a chance to visit one of the most unusual countries in the world. And at the same time not just visiting, but spending time with benefit, teaching children in Peru computer literacy, language, art, literature. International fund "Santa Marta" invites volunteers to work;
  • Teaching children in Brazil. You can go with volunteers to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. Organization MonteAzul provides an opportunity not only to see Brazil, but also to help children in need. Accommodation and free meals are provided for volunteers.

Volunteering isn't exactly a classic way to save money. This is a way to earn extra money, allowing you to get acquainted with different states and different people.

Method 50: Use cash more often than bank cards

It would seem, what does cash and savings have to do with it? And the relationship turns out to be there! 🙂

In everyday life, we pay for many purchases with bank cards and simply do not notice how we spend money, but all because we do not have the feeling of money!

Agree, when money is in your wallet and you can touch it, then it’s even a pity to part with it, and even more so you don’t want to spend it on unnecessary things.

The situation is completely different with bank cards. I have noticed on myself more than once that when shopping with a card, you are more likely to collect much more than you need!

Look after yourself, I'm sure, and you will notice a clear difference! Trivial advice, but it really works! 😀

3. Change your thinking and your life will change

You always want to earn more. And you can do it. The main thing is your desire and motivation. If you do not like your job, then look for a replacement for it, since now there are a lot of proposals and good specialists will always be needed.

There are people who simply do not know how to increase their capital. It seems that money, like water, flows through your fingers. You need to change certain outlooks on life, such as:

  • The subconscious belief that you have to hold on to your job. Don't, because you can change your life for the better at any moment. Always look for and probe the best options for yourself in parallel;
  • Patterns and habits of behavior. You can't be a slave to life's circumstances. Life is one and do not be afraid to change it;
  • Use any options for a side job. For example, the same freelance, when you do not depend on bosses and your colleagues;
  • Avoid stagnation in your development. Always try to improve your professional skills.

The most important thing is your social circle. Do not be afraid to make new acquaintances, thanks to which you can find a new, higher-paying job. Therefore, you should not avoid meeting new people for you who can bring potential benefits.

4. Conclusion

So, we looked at the most interesting ways to help you save your budget. Do not be afraid. If you learn how to properly plan your finances, then you will understand that money does not go to waste.

Simple ways are available to everyone. Some of them are already familiar to you, while others will be a pleasant discovery for you. Don't be afraid to change your life. And then it will definitely change for the better together with you!

I really hope that this article turned out to be at least somewhat useful to you, I really tried very hard! 😀

I wish you a good mood and profitable savings! 👍👍👍

❗️ If I missed something, be sure to write about it in the comments below. Also tell us about how you manage to save money - many will appreciate your experience!

We will be very grateful if you rate this article and share it on social networks! 😀👍👇

Before you figure out what you can use, you need to isolate the main categories of spending for the average family. We have identified the main categories of consumption:

  • housing costs;
  • spending on utility bills;
  • home food;
  • meals outside the home;
  • transportation costs;
  • expenses for communication services: telephone, Internet;
  • buying clothes and household appliances.

All of the above categories are not only controllable, but can be, just follow our simple advice.

Saving the family budget in our case will imply only rational consumption without unnecessary restrictions that can significantly affect the comfort of life.

Savings on housing

If the family does not have their own home, then they are forced to look for alternative options - renting a home is the most affordable way to solve this problem, but sometimes it takes up to half of everything! Therefore, when choosing an affordable apartment option for your household, try the following tips.

Choose a cheaper area, but with good transport accessibility and everything you need for your life.

Consider the option of renting an apartment without furniture: almost always such a living space is 20-30% cheaper, however, the issue of furniture (as well as simple wallpapering) can always be solved significantly cheaper on your own.

Share a large apartment with friends: if you are a young family without children, then you can consider renting a large apartment "for two families" with the same couple of friends, which is up to 30% of the cost.

Savings on "communal"

Your housing must be installed, the readings from which must be transferred monthly to the management company in order not to pay more.

To save on electricity, always turn off lights and electrical appliances when you don't need them, and also use energy-saving lamps and more "economical" equipment.

As a leisure activity for children, you can look for budget clubs in your area, and if you have free time, you can even organize them for your children yourself. Think: perhaps you or your husband have an art education or some other additional education, basic sewing skills or knowledge of origami: in this way, you will not only organize free leisure for your children, but you can also earn extra money by inviting you to participate in a circle of colleagues' children. friends and other familiar parents.

Spend more time with your children just like that: walk together in the fresh air, play outdoor games, involve them in common household chores: this way the child will not feel slighted in attention and communication.

Leisure for adults

Instead of regularly visiting restaurants and bars, organize home evenings with friends: just get-togethers with tea or parties with board games. The issue of treats is easy to solve: ask everyone to bring their favorite dish and voila - you already have a gastronomic evening.

Follow the news in your city and organize free: it can be exhibitions, free screenings of experimental films, days of free access to museums and galleries, the arrival of folk artists and other events.

Plan family vacations and trips in advance: A well-defined goal detailing the time and place will help you to procrastinate a little, without overwhelming yourself with your daily needs. For example, if every year you all go to the sea together in August, calculate the amount for the trip at the beginning of winter and set aside 10-15 percent of each family income. Also, this uncomplicated method will help, for example, during sales with an airline, and renting a house in advance is 10–20 percent more profitable!

To make it more clear how others are building the savings of family funds, we will give advice from an experienced hostess.

In order to live economically, it is important to start to prevent the emergence of a "financial hole" - this is when money simply flows through your fingers, and you absolutely cannot do anything about it! I'm talking primarily about debt. When we just started living together in my husband, we did not know how to dispose of the available funds at all and both were terrible spenders. Take a phone or a coffee machine on credit with a salary of 30 thousand? Please! Rent an apartment with European-quality repair and give (just think!) 60 percent of all income for it? Yes, as much as necessary! Do I need to say that we constantly lacked? We even took out a loan for a wedding vacation. And when I lost my job, and there was no new one in the first couple of months, I got scared in the least. There was nothing to pay, and when my husband gave all the money for loans, he had to borrow from his parents. It was lucky that we got out of this hole after all, but only now, with the appearance of a child, we are together learning to live more or less within our means and to keep track of our expenses.

So, what advice is there for those who are also close to financial ruin:

  • Pay off all existing debts as soon as possible - loans, loans, installments - and not only to the bank, but also to friends and relatives. By repaying loans ahead of schedule, you will not only get rid of this "burden" of material responsibility and, finally, you will not give half of your salary, but you will also avoid overpayments.
  • Once you get past the first step, it's worth considering a “credit alternative” for extreme cases in the form of a financial “safety cushion”. Judge for yourself: unforeseen circumstances are stronger than us, at any moment each person may need to pay the costs of treatment, urgently replace broken equipment, or even somehow cover their primary needs in the event of a job loss. To do this, calculate how much your family's income is at the moment and set aside this amount threefold. Yes, this may take a lot of time (six months or even a year), however, this is how you and your loved ones will be at least partially insured in case of loss of a breadwinner, lack of work during a crisis and other unpleasant financial circumstances.
  • Keep track of your income and expenses with your husband. This is quite easy to learn, as there are now many convenient ways from a spreadsheet to special applications. You will be surprised how much money you actually spend ill-considered and why you do not have enough time for vacation all the time.
  • Try together to establish an inflow of additional finances. Saving is, of course, important, but it is better to earn more than to limit yourself to good food or clothes, for example. Therefore, it is necessary to find additional and passive sources of income that will allow you to take your budget to the next level.
  • From an early age, teach your child to plan expenses and live “within his means”: explain why this or that toy cannot be bought now, how he himself can influence this situation and find alternative options. "

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