Tips To Curb Your Spending

By Lisa Xing
[Personal Finances]
How can recording your purchases help you spend less?  Lisa Xing shares little ways to save that can make a big difference.
Sometimes when you’re looking to save up for something, that’s when it feels like your wallet is most stretched thin.  Believe it or not, one of the best ways to feel a little more financially stable really does start with the little things.  This ranges from little tricks to keep your cash to daily habits you can tweak that can help you out more than you would think.  Don’t think about how you could make more money; that usually ends up being counter-intuitive and unproductive.  Instead, think of how you can save your money and surprisingly, there are a lot of ways!

Leave Your Wallet At Home

This concept is as simple as it sounds.  Leave your wallet at home when you go out for things that you know for sure won’t require your use of cash or credit cards.  For example, when you go to the gym, just bring your membership card, driver’s license (if you’re driving) and keys.  Bring whatever you need to work out, but people are especially prone to buying junk food or snacks after a workout, so instead of fighting the urge (and caving!) just leave your credit cards and cash at home.  You can always make yourself a healthy snack once you get home.

Clean Out Your Pockets Daily

This is also quite a simple concept.  At the end of your day, empty the change from your pockets and store it in a container.  You will be pleasantly surprised how much accumulates after a month or sometimes even a week.  Plus, it’s also a benefit if you have to do laundry or constantly need parking money.
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