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The Ultimate Guide to Being Cheap…

Step 1: How to control spending

Envious of your financially adept peers who pay off their credit cards monthly, are faithful to their mortgage repayments, and can still holiday every year? Have you, in contrast, unwittingly contributed to the additional $230 million of credit card debt this May through wanton spending? Is ‘excessive’ your middle name and you equate ‘savings’ with a credit limit increase?

If you answered yes to any of the above, my three stage ultimate guide to being cheap is for you. Here is the first installment on controlling your spending:

  1. Make your goal emotive, and share it. We develop an emotional connection with the small luxuries we buy for ourselves – why not our big financial goals? Give an image or name to your goal and place it where you will see it daily and feel motivated to achieve it. Share your goals with friends and family to reduce any pressure on you to spend unnecessarily, and to create some support.
  2. Know your spending weaknesses. In your world, does ‘Westfield’ equate with ‘weak at the knees’? Do you have VIP status on multiple shopping sites? Give yourself boundaries and steer clear from situations that encourage you to spend. Restrict your internet usage in your personal time and never save your credit card details on shopping sites, the more effort required, the less you’re likely to buy.
  3. Review your bills. Do you baulk at your monthly bills, and yet never question their rates? You can save up to $150 per month by auditing bills and switching suppliers. Often, by bundling services, you can get a discount. Likewise, every year shop around for better car and health insurance before it’s time to renew.
  4. Avoid buying at full price. Waiting a few weeks for an item to go on sale will help control impulse shopping, and create much-needed discipline. If you do need to buy, take the time to search for deals within coupons, promotions and discount codes. For further information on Finder.com.au or to source shopping deals visit Finder.com.au/deals
  5. Paying for services that you can DIY? Taking a regular beauty routine out of the salon and into your home can save you more than $1000 a year, and exercising with a friend in place of a gym membership can save another $1000. If you normally spend big at the pub, think about inviting friends over, and ask them to BYOG.
  6. Avoid spending big in a group. Are you overly generous? Picking up the tab for drinks, taxis, movie tickets and the like may have helped you into debt in the first place. When your friends know you have a savings goal, you’ll feel less pressured to help them out, and they may even support you.
Author: Fred Schbesta, co-founder and owner of Finder.com.au, Australia’s leading financial-product comparison website, has created a three stage guide to help everyday Aussies save money and tighten their purse strings.
Available in three installments, Fred gives his tips on how you can save through controlled spending, working off bad debts and developing a savings mindset.
We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • Spending in large groups can get you in trouble when you have a budget!

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  • Great tips – this makes it easy to do.

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  • I feel I am quite good at this. When money is tight I am really good at cutting back on things which aren’t necessary

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  • Ive stopped using my credit card and im paying extra off it each month. its my aim to get rid of the card.
    If I cant afford to pay cash i dont buy things now.

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  • Really practical advice. I like the idea of making it more difficult to spend money to reduce the likelihood of buying

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  • Really good knowledge to know! Thanks for sharing this!

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  • Budget planning. Writing down every item you buy etc so you can see where your spending. Separate needs from wants. Prioritise.

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  • Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative article; I love the point about avoiding weaknesses! Very true! Don’t self sabotage!

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  • lol or verry simply put—- how to control spending? DON’T

    HAHA

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  • thanks, will help heaps.

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  • these are good tips for budgeting!
    thanks for sharing with the mums

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  • Have been doing a lot of DIY around the house, saving so much this way :)

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  • Know your weakness. A very good point!

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  • im so proud to not have a credit card

    Reply

  • this makes saving seem more achievable!

    Reply

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