Sometimes people are surprised that I'm able to pay my rent and loans and other expenses, but manage to still go on vacations and shop. I thought I'd leave a few tips on some everyday things you can do to leave a little cushion in your budgets so you can splurge.
Be flexible: This is the biggest one for me, I think. My boyfriend and I have been long distance for almost 6 years now (sigh), so I've spent quite a lot of money on buses and trains. Usually I plan my trips based on the cost of the train. Thursday train tickets are usually cheaper than Friday tickets, so sometimes I'll take a Friday off work or work remotely to spend a long weekend with him and save money too! It's a win-win. Planning ahead is always a good thing, too.
Start cooking: Literally. Start cooking. I usually go grocery shopping once a week and spend somewhere between $35 - $60 on average. It really depends on what I'm feeling for the week, how my work schedule looks like, any plans that I have, any sales that are going on, etc. Typically, I like to make all my meals Monday through Friday and splurge on the weekends. This is not just because I don't want to gain weight, which is what usually happens if I eat out too much, but it's also so I can save moolah. Cereal for breakfast, salad and fruit for lunch, and some sort of protein for dinner. You can save a lot of money here.
Make your coffee at home: This one is simple. Make your coffee at home!
Find the deals: This one is a little iffy, but I'll put it out there. I try to do most of my drugstore shopping at CVS rather than Duane Reade/Walgreens. Based on my experience, CVS tends to have better coupons and deals than DR. They also have a coupon machine at the entrance where you scan your card and get a print out of all the coupons you can use. If you're going to find the same brand of shampoo at both stores, why not walk a few extra blocks for a cheaper one?
Get a little exercise: Living in the city, we spend a lot of money on transportation: cabs, subways, buses, etc. Why not start walking or biking? Not only will it keep you fit, but it will also save you some $$$. I signed up for the CitiBike membership and have gotten pretty good use out of it. It was only about $100 for the entire year, whereas subways cost a little over $100 per month. Granted, for some people, it is simply not feasible to walk/bike to work, but if you can, I'd strongly advise it. I take a 20 minute walk to work each day, rain or shine, and I'm lucky to avoid the crowds and get a little exercise each morning. The rule that I typically use is, if it's 2 or less subway stops away, walk!
For each of these tips, you'll save a few dollars here and there, but they will add up! Trust me! Give it a few weeks and you'll be able to buy those shoes you've had your eyes on.
Cheers!
Ali
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