Tricks to save money?

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tricks to save money?
5
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 11:14am
Hey all - we have often discussed various ways to "trick" ourselves into saving money.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 11:54am

Right now I am saving change and rounding my deposits down a dollar ($106 deposit would be $105, $103 would be $100, etc.) and round my expenses up a dollar ($23.79 at Target, would be $24.00 deduction, etc). I did this for the first time this past week and I saved $10.00, which will be going to my overdraft cushion. I want to get a $100 cushion. After I save that cushion, any money saved from that point will be transferred into my ING account every two week. Basically each payday my account will be at zero dollars (except for the hidden overdaft cushion). It may not make sense to anyone else, but in my mixed up mind it makes sense to me - lol.

Jennifer

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 12:12pm
I wish I had some fancy advice for saving, but I have found that for me, the old addage "pay yourself first" has absolutely been the way to go.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 11:30pm
I had to mentally trick myself into saving more money, because I was starting to lose my momentum. I had $11,000 in savings and couldn't seem to save anymore than that. So I took all but $1,000 and I transferred it into an 8 month CD, so it would be safe and I would earn a little more interest, and it would be out of sight; out of mind. Then when I looked at my savings account balance it would cause me to panic and say OMG I need to build my savings back up. It seems to be working so far! We'll see if I can get back my momentum and keep it until the end of the year.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2003
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 11:34pm

Both of the above! We get money automatically transferred to the ING accounts every 2 weeks-basically it's treated as just another bill.

I also round up/down in the checkbook. That hidden amount is my 'keep it here' part of the emergency fund, while the other part is in the ING account. I write down the exact amount down in the columns in the middle, it's just on the running balance that I do the rounding.

We also save our change, but it tends to take awhile to get the jar full. Maybe I should deposit it every other week for a snowflake!

I like to use envelopes if I'm saving up for something. Like right now, I'm setting money aside for my "Fun Day" in August. That day is when DH & one of his sisters take our kids, and some of their cousins to a theme park. All day! I don't go with them (no thanks-I like my sanity), so I go do whatever it is I want to do for a whole day. All by myself! I have $110 of the $150 I wanted to have. If I have more, I'm sure I'll figure out a way to make use of it,lol.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 12:24am

I know I can't walk out of Barnes & Noble without having spent money, so I avoid it like the plague.