No matter where you live, no matter how much you earn; you should definitely strive harder to save for the future. You might think that saving requires a lot of sacrifice and having to give up life’s simple pleasures—but this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

If you really want to save, you can definitely do so without having to sacrifice a happy life. Here are some ways how:

10 Best Tips to Becoming a Cheerful Saver

10 Best Tips to Becoming a Cheerful Saver

Simple is best: Simplicity is definitely in these days—from smartphone designs to fashion. There is a growing awareness in the world about the benefits of reducing clutter. Apply simplicity in every aspect of your life and this will allow you not only to save money, but to actually feel less stressed and much more content and relaxed.

Check your closet: Here’s a tip: if you have a shirt or a pair of pants that you haven’t used in a month, chances are, you’re not ever going to use it anytime soon. Learn to let go of things that do not offer you any real value. De-cluttering your home involves getting rid of things you don’t need. You might even be able to make some money out of those.

Check your cable service: Are you paying for 1000 channels when your family actually only watches eight? You might need to reconsider your cable subscription. There are many other ways to be entertained apart from watching TV. Organize movie nights with your loved ones instead and you are guaranteed to grow closer together as a family.

Know your broadband service inside out: You might be paying for a huge internet package when people in your home aren’t even getting the most out of it because they’re at work or school most of the time. Get a modified or a basic plan, if this is the case. Check for hidden costs, especially if your internet plan came in a package deal.

Stream and download: You don’t have to spend a quarter of your salary in order to give a good time. Books, movies, podcasts, TV series—literally everything is available online. Even with a limited bandwidth, you can still download a lot of stuff for your personal entertainment and leisure.

Stay in: Armed with movies, books, and other goodies from the internet, you can have everything you need for a satisfying weekend, without needing to spend a lot of money. Just think about how much you waste when you go out with your buddies every week. It’s so impractical, you might as well put your money in the bank instead of spending it on beer and expensive dinners.

Always compare: Don’t let companies spoon-feed you information. Whether you are going to avail of a new credit card, insurance, loan, broadband, or mobile plan, make it a point to visit online comparison portals first. These free online services empower consumers to make sound financial decisions by providing information on various financial services.

Read the newspaper: It’s not just to stay updated with the latest news, but you can also find out about events, offers, and festivals happening in your area, such as a free movie screening at your nearby mall. Don’t miss out on cheap thrills. After all, the best things in life are free, as they say.

Drink water: Do you also have the tendency to feel depressed every time you go binge-eating? Try drinking lots of water. Not only is it a healthy habit, but drinking a lot of water boosts your metabolism and curbs your hunger—preventing you from eating too much. And when you’re fit and healthy, you have a greater tendency to be happy.

Think of your children’s children: Don’t think of saving as depriving yourself; start thinking of it as storing away some of your earnings for your children, and maybe even their children. If you don’t have children yet, you can at least relish the thought of being able to afford to go on a round-the-world trip once you reach retirement.

It is true that if you want to save, you might have to give up on some of your wants—but only for the chance to live a fuller and more fulfilling life with your family, especially when you grow older.


About the author:

Ryan Del Villar is a freelance writer at Helm Word, an online reputation management company. He supplies articles to top industry leaders in Africa.  Apart from freelance employment, he is a full time writer at Money Max, Philippines’ leading online comparison portal and Philippine market news provider. He worked as an Online Video Editor before he explored the field of writing.


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