Spend Time on Saving Money

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We are entering a financially burdensome time. Many individuals and businesses are projected to suffer financially. The impact will look different for everyone.

If you are seeking ways to change your spending habits, something you will certainly need is time. Said differently, cash outflow is unlikely to change unless we take the time to research, contemplate, and change current routines.

Here is a list of ten ways you can help cushion financial burdens that have either occurred already or are expected in the future:

Check your credit card points.
When is the last time you used credit card points? If you are in a financial crunch, now might be a wise time to cash out your credit card points. Not all credit cards include cashback rewards, but examples of companies that offer cash back cards include Chase, CapitalOne, and Discover.
Regardless of the cashback options available to you now, take the time to review whether you utilize the benefits of your existing credit cards. While you are reviewing your credit cards, this site is a helpful tool to figure out which credit card fits best with your lifestyle and spending habits: Nerdwallet - Credit Card Comparison
Eat the food you buy for quarantine.
This sounds obvious. But for some households, this will be challenging since we have purchased an allotment of random items. Was the store sold out of spaghetti? Did you instinctively grab the only noodles left? If so, make it a fun activity for your family to express some creativity or try new recipes in the kitchen.
Consider refinancing your mortgage.
Do you have a mortgage? Rates have come down considerably this year and refinancing your mortgage is worth a looking into. Refinancing your mortgage can lower your monthly mortgage payments, offering both short-term and long-term savings. If you are interested in learning more about refinancing your home, see our recent post by Will Kellar: “How to refinance your home.”
Save the money you would be spending.
We all have had to cancel upcoming plans. In many cases, that means extra savings. Put aside those dollars and use the money as needed.
Create or monitor your emergency fund.
We realize many people do not have an emergency reserve. Traditionally a family should have three-to-six months of expenses saved in an emergency fund (three months for dual-income families and six months for single-income families). We encourage individuals to create an emergency reserve regardless of the economic forecast, but it becomes especially important during turbulence. If you do have an emergency fund and are experiencing financial hardship, now is an appropriate time to use it.
Shop and spend mindfully.
Personally, I love the 24-hour rule. It’s a practice of self-restraint. If you feel the urge to purchase something (new shoes, a different laundry basket, extra-spicy BBQ sauce), wait 24 hours before you make the purchase. The time-lapse often mitigates a compulsive purchase.
Due to the economic uncertainty of tomorrow, we must be willing to make drastic changes to our spending habits. We are all compromising our normal routine in some way, shape, or form. With that said, it’s important to be cognizant of how these changes are impacting our cash outflows.
Consider selling unnecessary household items.
I predict that people will spend more time selling their unused or unwanted household items. Take some time to go through your storage or extra items. Craigslist, Facebook Market, Poshmark, and Nextdoor are all great resources for buying and selling things second-hand. One man’s trash is another one’s treasure.
Create a budget.
A budget can provide financial awareness and reassurance. Now is a great time to revisit your budget or create one if you have yet to do that. Here is a budget template to get you started - Budget Template There are also online budgeting tools available such as mint.com, YNAB.com, or everydollar.com.
Unsubscribe.
Out of sight, out of mind. Take this time to unsubscribe to unnecessary social media accounts that tempt you to splurge or spend extra money. To minimize your current expenses, it may also be worthwhile to unsubscribe from unused memberships like online streaming services or gyms.
Create ‘no-spend days’.
Since many Americans are working from home, ‘no-spend days’ are a good family challenge. It’s important to vocalize the game to your family so everyone can participate and be mindful of not spending money.

Please feel free to share with others and let our team know if you have other examples of financially savvy savings that we can add to this list. We are open to new ideas and challenges!