Personal finance management may appear daunting, but it is an essential life skill that everyone should master.
Recently, someone shared on a popular forum, 11 small changes that greatly improved their financial life and can help you too.
1. “Get Things Done” Dates
Setting up regular “get things done” dates with a friend can help you stay accountable and focused. Whether tackling a big project or simply decluttering your space, having a partner in crime can make all the difference.
“If you can coordinate with a few friends, agree on a few recipes that everyone would like in their freezer, you can usually get better cost per unit when you buy in bulk.” said one.
“Along the same lines, I’ve started buying herbs, spices, seeds, and nuts in bulk — soooo much cheaper per oz and better quality available too — and sharing with others. (I’d be glad to trade or sell at cost, but haven’t gotten that going.” another added.
2. Keep A “Maybe” Box
Instead of immediately removing clothes or other items you no longer need, keep a “maybe” box in your closet. You can revisit these items later and decide whether to donate them.
“I will say that having a donation box like that made me realize how many things I bought that I didn’t need or wear. Physically putting something in the box made me assess what that was, and more often than not, it was some impulse purchase or a piece of clothing that I knew didn’t fit right, but I thought it was cute. So over time, it helped cause it made me more conscious about my buying habits.” said one.
3. Assign Chores to Different Days
Instead of trying to do everything at once, assign different chores on different days of the week. This can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and ensure everything gets done promptly.
“assigning chores…well, instead of overwhelming yourself with a bunch of things in one day, splitting it out gets it done faster. Many people act like they need a house cleaner when a couple of minutes of organization a day would get a lot done. But they want to justify spending money on that.” a user said.
4. Meal Prep
“Planning meals within your budget is vital. My food budget is less than $3-5 daily for my entire family. Rice and beans are filling, and nutrient-dense and dried beans soaked overnight and simmered with a meat bone can be devine. ONLY purchase produce in season.” a user added.
“Meal prepping saves money…you don’t overbuy or need to order in all the time.” another added.
5. Schedule A Quarterly Home Purge
Set aside time every few months to go through your belongings and remove anything you no longer need. This can help you keep your space organized and clutter-free.
“This is a great reminder that decluttering isn’t just about aesthetics – it can also impact our mental and emotional well-being. I’m going to try to be more intentional about getting rid of things I don’t need.” said one.
“I love this idea. I always feel so much better after decluttering my home, but I struggle to find the motivation to get started. Scheduling a quarterly purge would give me a concrete deadline to work towards.” another added.
6. Open a Rewards Credit Card
If you’re responsible for your credit card usage, opening a rewards card can help you earn cashback or points on your purchases. Just be sure to pay your balance in full monthly to avoid interest charges.
“Rewards cards can give cash back or points or whatever if you’re smart about how you use them.” a Redditor said.
“I get 1 1/2% back, plus they paid me a $200 bonus to get the card.” another added.
7. Limit Time On Social Media
Social media can be a major time-suck. Try setting limits on how much time you spend scrolling each day to free up more time for productive tasks.
“The one about social media got me. I’ve deleted tik tok and Instagram over the last year, and I’m spending a lot less on things I don’t need. I’m a highly influential millennial.” said one.
“the only reason social media exists is because of advertising nonstop. Get off social media, you spend less money, and Facebook fails. Add on TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, etc., “influencing” posts, and you spend even more money you don’t need to spend.” another said.
“Got off social media this year. Zero ‘omg you have to buy this immediately’ moments this year.” another added.
8. Follow Hobby-Based Accounts
Instead of following accounts promoting consumption and materialism, try following accounts focusing on your hobbies or interests. This can help you stay inspired and avoid falling into mindless spending.
“This is a great tip! I’ve found that following hobby-based accounts on social media has not only helped me save money, but it has also connected me with like-minded individuals and communities.” said one.
“I never thought about following hobby-based accounts, but it makes so much sense. I often find myself scrolling through shopping pages and buying things I don’t need. This tip could be a game-changer for me.” another added.
9. Get a Password Manager
Using the same password for all your accounts is a significant security risk. Invest in a password manager to keep your login information safe and secure.
“I’ve hesitated to use a password manager because I’m worried about the cost. It’s interesting to hear that it could help me save money in the long run.” a user said.
“I’ve heard of password managers before, but I’ve been worried about how difficult they might be to use. It’s good to know that there are options out there that are user-friendly.” said another.
10. Delete Saved Credit Card Info
Saving your credit card information on websites can make it all too easy to make impulse purchases. Delete this information to avoid temptation.
“delete saved credit card info…meh, makes it harder just to hit “buy” plus saves you the hassle of stolen credit card info. Yea, you can just mark it as fraud, but if you aren’t paying attention or the credit card company is giving you a hard time, you might end up paying the bill.” said one.
11. Cancel Amazon Prime
While Amazon Prime can be convenient, it can also encourage you to make unnecessary purchases. Cancel your membership if you overspend or use the service too often.
“Yes to canceling Prime. I deleted my Amazon account about four years ago, and my impulsive spending went down so significantly.” said one.
“Yes!!! Most important one, Amazon is an evil organization that doesn’t provide much of a service.” said another.
“I cannot stress enough how little I needed all the things I’ve ever ordered from amazon. It’s easy to rationalize it like, oh, it ends up paying for itself and all the free shipping, and I can get groceries and whatever you Gotta tell yourself, but at the end of the day, you go back and look at your history, and you think damn that was a waste. That was a waste. That was a waste.” another added.
We hope you liked these 11 simple life hacks into your routine can help you get more done, stay organized, and manage your money more effectively. Give them a try and see how they can improve your life.
What are your thoughts on the 11 simple and effective life hacks mentioned in this article? Have you tried any of them yourself, and if so, which ones have been most helpful in boosting your productivity and managing your finances? Do you have any additional suggestions or tips to add to this list?
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This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.