💵 How to save and put money aside with a small salary

What to do when the family income is not large enough to meet basic needs? It is enough to learn how to manage money correctly. And you will not notice how much your life will change for the better. In this article, we will tell you how to learn to save, even if the salary is very small.

Find motivation

Do you want to go on holiday to Europe with your family? Or maybe you've always dreamed of buying an expensive dress. And all you do is walk past it every day in the shopping centre? Think about what you want to start saving money for. Because finding the right motivation will help things move forward faster.

But do not rush. First move towards financial well-being. First think about what you are making sacrifices for. Do not try to save for a “rainy day”. Because all the money saved over a long period will be spent at the first opportunity. And on unnecessary things. Therefore, save up for something nice. A good gift for children on their birthday, an unforgettable romantic trip, new household appliances. Choose any goal.

Control your expenses

Once the tasks are set and the motivation is found, it's time to find out how to learn to save money. And what you can limit yourself to without harming your health and well-being. First, you need to count the bills in your wallet – you should always be aware of how many there are. Also, many banks offer one useful function: SMS notifications after each transaction carried out the card.

Get a special notebook where you will write down all your expenses. But it is better to start keeping it from the beginning of the month. Because during this period, utilities, which eat up the lion's share of the family budget, are usually paid. This way, you will see where the money is spent. And if necessary, you will begin to cut unnecessary expenses. You can also make a special table in the notebook, where all expenses are divided into the following categories:

• mandatory expenses – food, utilities, medicine, travel;
• optional expenses – shoes, clothes, entertainment;
• luxury – alcohol, spirits, impulse purchases, going to restaurants.

Try to reduce unnecessary expenses to a minimum and not touch the last category at all. Because the family budget is not unlimited. You can also save on essential goods, which will be discussed further.

How to Learn to Save on Food Products

It's hard to believe, but you can save a good amount of money just by reviewing your diet. Sometimes each of us treats ourselves to tasty, but expensive and not filling food, which hits the pocketbook hard. A good way to learn how to save money is to control such expenses. Follow these recommendations:

• Skip the cafe or canteen during your lunch break and instead take your home with you to work;
• every time you go to the store, make a list of necessary purchases and do not deviate from it;
• Go grocery shopping when you're full to avoid impulsive spending;
• buy long-life products in stock at wholesale warehouses;
• visit markets and bargain with sellers;
• If possible, replace sweets with homemade baked goods.

Public utilities

Another good tip to save money is to use utilities wisely. In this case, you have to reconsider your consumer habits in order to spend less resources. Try to use the light in the evenings only when necessary and do not forget to turn it off when leaving the room.

Use water wisely: turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, clean your hands or body from dirt, use a low pressure to wash away detergent from dishes, soap or shower gel from your hands and body, and do not drain all the water from the tank when you go to the toilet. It is important to understand that how much money you can save largely depends on how smart you use your utilities.

Additionally, you may want to consider the following tips:

• use energy-saving light bulbs in all rooms;
• install meters for electricity, water and gas, pay only for what you use yourself;
• unplug household appliances when not in use;
• buy products with low energy consumption;
• use the air conditioner only in case of abnormally hot weather;
• Fix plumbing problems, replace leaky faucets.

Payment for mobile communications and the Internet, travel

You can also save on other expenses. For example, car owners can switch to compact cars or use public transport more often, buying travel tickets in advance. If work is relatively close to home, it is recommended to walk to it: you will not only be able to avoid unnecessary expenses, but also take care of your health, because it has been proven that daily 20-minute walks in the fresh air allow you to saturate the brain with the necessary amount of oxygen.

Avoid additional services from mobile operators, except for discounts on voice and text communications. Mobile Internet is also not always necessary (except for cases when you are in an unfamiliar area and need to look something up on maps), since you can connect to free Wi-Fi in many places.

Education and medicine

Getting an education and taking care of your health are not things you should give up for the sake of saving money. But in some cases, you can get some benefit for yourself. For example, sometimes people who study on a contract basis at higher education institutions get a certain percentage of their payment back after the contract expires.

As for healthcare, remember a simple rule: take out medical insurance, which will to some extent compensate for the costs of treatment. Do not rush to the pharmacy immediately after the doctor writes a prescription: today you can find cheaper domestic analogues of most modern foreign drugs, which are absolutely no different in composition.

Learning to save money

Want another tip on how to save your family budget? Put aside 10% of each salary. It is unlikely to affect your well-being in any way, but after a year you will have quietly accumulated a solid amount that you can use to plan a vacation, buy something valuable, or put aside for hard times: for example, if suddenly one of your family members is laid off at work.

You can use the saved money to buy currency, which will protect your money from depreciation. You can also put it on a bank deposit at interest, increasing your capital every year. Such savings will help out in case of force majeure, eliminating the need to borrow money.

All the above tips will help you become financially independent. The main thing is to practice and learn how to save money. But you should also save wisely. Without limiting yourself in the most necessary goods and interests. And continuing to enjoy life. Competent budgeting, rational use of utilities, reasonable purchases – all this will allow you to save money after some time, without limiting yourself in everyday needs.