Make the time go by quicker by hosting gatherings at home. Plan lower-cost entertainment such as game nights with plenty of snacks (from the grocery store, not DoorDash), potluck dinners with friends or baking treats at home, instead of going out or ordering in.
Bonus: you may also see savings on your fuel bill.
Month Six: Write Everything Down
Go back to basics for this 30 days, and track all of your purchases in a spreadsheet or app. The goal of this challenge is to uncover just how much you spend on certain items, not to discourage you, but to identify patterns or ways to cut costs long-term.
When looking at your purchases ask yourself:
- Are there certain days of the week our family spends more?
- Where do we spend the most money?
- Are there patterns of spending only for convenience?
- Do we have clear savings goals?
- Are we paying for things we don’t need?
- Is there anything that surprises us about our spending?
Month Seven: Eating Out With Coupons or Redeeming Points
For this monthly goal, you don’t have to cut out treats altogether. Redeem loyalty points, use BOGO coupons or find daily deals when you want order takeout or visit a restaurant. Don’t order anything without a discount.
Make sure your budget stays balanced with a healthy mix of planned meals, too, not just convenience spending.
Month Eight: Generic Brands Only
Aside from select must-haves, go at least one month buying cheaper store brands. Your weekly costs will benefit, and your family will not notice a difference in quality. You may even find a generic substitute you enjoy more.
