In today’s world, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to live a frugal lifestyle. If you want to be happy, healthy, and entertained, then you need to pay for the privilege – and the cost of living certainly isn’t getting any lower. It’s no wonder that so many people struggle with making ends meet.
If you’ve been having a hard time finding space in your budget for savings, then now could be the ideal time to start thinking outside of the box. Sometimes, if you want to make a difference to your savings account in the long term, you need to be willing to do things a little differently. Here are some handy and unusual life hacks that will save you money faster than you’d think.
- Clear your Browsing History
These days, a lot of people go online to help them compare the price of various items and expenses. That’s a great practice, as it means you’re not going to buy what you need from a more expensive retailer. However, before you start comparing, make sure that you clear your browsing history and cache first. Many online companies follow your searches and place cookies in your browser to see whether you’re a repeat customer.
If you clear your history, then you’ll appear to the vendor as a new customer, which means that you’ll be more likely to get some high-quality savings and voucher codes added onto your purchase.
- Dim Things Down
Do you ever end up with a headache after a long day watching TV or using your computer? Your brightness might be too high. Most screens are set to a standard brightness level that’s much higher than you realistically need. However, going into the settings will allow you to reduce the brightness, which ensures that you protect your eyes, and reduce the amount of electricity you use too.
It’s a great way to help your eye health and improve your cashflow at the same time.
- Deal in Cash, Not Plastic
Research into purchasing behaviors often shows that if you pay for items in cash, rather than credit, you’ll probably spend less money. The reason for this is that you see what money you’re putting into your purchases. When you’re just flashing a piece of plastic, it’s easy to lose track of how much you spend.
Take this strategy a step further and only carry larger bills. The larger the bill, the less likely you’ll be to want to break into it. This means you won’t make as many impulse buys.
- Improve your Credit
Most people in life will need to take out a loan at some point, whether it’s for a new kitchen, a bathroom, a car, or something else entirely. A good way to reduce the amount you need to pay back on your loan is to improve your credit before you make an application.
The better your credit rating is, the more likely it is that you’ll get a high-quality deal when you apply for a loan. That’s because your bank or building society will assume that you’re less of a risk.
- Make Larger Purchases at the End of the Month
By the time you reach the end of the month, you’ll probably know a lot more about how much money you have leftover for things like entertainment, or luxury items. It’s much harder to make decisions about what you can afford at the beginning of the month than at the end of the month when necessary expenses have come out.
Additionally, if you’re making a big purchase at the end of the month, then a sales rep keen to make their quota may be more likely to give you a deal.
- Paint Your Roof White
Finally, your utility bills can make up a considerable amount of the money that you spend each month. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to look for ways to keep electricity costs down. One option is to compare supplier options online to ensure that you’re getting the best deal. Another solution is to make sure that you turn all your appliances off when you’re not using them.
One particularly creative way to save money on electricity is to paint your roof white. This will help you to avoid absorbing extra heat during the summer so that you can spend less on air conditioning costs. This might not be a good idea if you live in colder parts of the country, though.
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