I waste so much money... and I need to do something about it!

[Notcontent]

I am lucky enough not to be in debt but I should save more. I used to be more careful with money BUT now, because I have very high outgoings (mortgage in London, bills, etc) I feel like “why worry about spending £7 at Pret when that’s nothing compared to everything else”. But that’s a terrible attitude as if all adds up. My main areas of waste are good (too much on meals out) and buying things for my dd that she doesn’t need... oh, and clothes for me...

Anyone else!?

I used to spend a lot on payday, like lots of others I'm sure. It would always be, woohoo, it's payday, lets spend. Now, I have the day before payday as my blow out and most of the time I end up thinking, 'actually, I've waited a month for that and I don't really need it afterall'. Money goes straight in my savings instead!

I also divide my disposable income by the amount of days until next payday. If I have a day when I don't spend anything, it means I've either got double the next day or divide it up again. It doesn't make much difference for the first week or so, but as you get less days til payday, it's a lovely feeling.

Choose one thing to work on at a time until that becomes the 'norm'.

So for example...maybe decide to take lunch to work instead of buying it out.

Open a savings account and every day or week transfer the money you've saved because of this small change into it so you can see it starting to mount up.

Once that's become the norm...choose another thing (e.g. no more than one coffee per day).

flowery