Want to know my favorite way to help clients save money?
Consider this, have you ever looked at your online banking statement and been shocked at the large amount debited out for all of those seemingly tiny purchases made over a mere week?
I’m talking about those little $4 coffees, $1.50 parking meters and seemingly innocent $12 lunches. BAM! You’re down $500 out of now where.
Well guess what? It works in the opposite direction too.
I used to subtract out of my checkbook the things I thought about doing or buying; but didn’t.
Stay with me here…
If I wanted a pedicure but did it myself, I would subtract that amount plus tip out of my checkbook, circle it, and at the end of the month add up all of the circles and deposit that amount into savings.
Same with dinner out when I decided to cook at home. Movies in vs. movies out? That amount was subtracted out. Thought about buying a magazine but instead read it at the library? Drool over a new dress but abstain? Yep~subtract the amount out.
Think this won’t add up? Peruse your current bank statement closely and notice how those 3$ coffee’s here and there, add up to a whole lot of money!
It became a game to see those circles add up in my checkbook and super satisfying to deposit that total at the end of the month. The extra money is there, you just have to dig a little for it.
xo
That’s a great idea. Another idea…although not as quick in building savings as yours…is to put all your spare change in a bowl. My husband and I started doing that two years ago when things were very tight, but we wanted to go on a vacation. I was shocked as how quickly it added up…we paid for a good portion of the family vacation just from spare change! Things are better now, but we still do this. It’s fun to watch it add up.
What an excellent idea! I will be passing this along.
This is absolutely brilliant! I had thought about doing this a long time ago – but for my personal checking out. When I read your article, I realized that I can do the same thing for my home-based business.
For example, I switched a meeting that would have been at Starbucks to Skype yesterday with a colleague. This saved me $4 on a latte as I talked to her online while sipping my $0.20 cup of coffee I made at home. Why not put that amount away for business expenses I will need in the coming months…
Brilliant! Thank you so much for the inspiration, Tamara!
Great article!
On a similar note, this is what couponers tell you to do…the money you save using coupons you deposit into a separate account. It doesn’t do any good using the coupons if you don’t set aside the money you’re saving! 😀
Absolutely love that idea!!!
The ideas are great, but YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE MONEY COMING IN! And that is the challenge, when already everything else has been cut off, like going out for dinner, pedicure, buying “nice clothes”. Do not forget that sometimes “a cup of coffee” in a nice (even luxurious place) can make you feel abundant, rich and glamorous.And that in exchange can change your mood, and your feelings!
I must agree with Cristina. This idea, and many others are great, IF you have $$ coming in. But like C., I’ve already cut all the “specials” from my life, including the $3 coffee. Take a look at my checkbook, and tell me what to cut…the electric bill? And saving “spare change”? HA- ours goes back into the bank so we can EAT.
Hi Linda, Cristina,
Thanks for reading and for writing. I’m betting this isn’t the post pertaining to your money issues. Seems the topic is off a bit from what you’re speaking of~ I’ll do another post on manifesting more money soon.