If your plan for money for your next emergency is to scoop up the change that falls between the cushions, you might want to come up with a plan to add to that stash. It is always a good idea to have a little extra green for the lean times. Rainy days could be just around the corner. Rainy day funds become necessary! Here are some very clever and virtually painless ways to put aside some money now!
Put aside a large envelope, cookie tin, coffee jar or something similar. At the end of every week, throw a couple of dollars aside. By the end of your first month you should have some extra cash put aside to have a nice start on an emergency fund. The idea to doing this is don’t count it or spend it. Place it somewhere that is hidden away. Put it somewhere that you won’t be tempted to dip into it. This kind of money really adds up!
The next time you treat yourself or your family to a meal out, tip yourself! Just as you go to tip the waitress 15 to 20 percent, put the same amount aside for yourself. When you get home, stash it away in your cookie jar. Every time you go through a fast food window, put a dollar away for that cookie jar, too!
The next time you get a good raise, instead of applying it to your cost of living, bank it! This way you will always be living one raise behind and your bank account will be growing by some 3 percent.
Take advantage of that cash back option! Next time you make a purchase using your debit card, ask for a small amount of cash back. Instead of spending it, stash it away in your cookie jar! Chances are you won’t even miss that extra $1, $2 or $5 bill and come emergency time, you will notice how the amount has piled up.
Next time you pay off that big-ticket item like a new car or tuition, continue to make the payments to yourself! Set up a savings account and each month slip the ghost payment into it. Watch as it builds nicely.
If you have noticed that you can get a better long distance telephone plan and you want to switch, allocate the savings to your cookie jar. You won’t likely miss that little bit of extra money, and you will have a better telephone plan, too.
Consider joining a Christmas club. You will save a lot of money. Each year you put aside a bit of money and place it into a hamper program. Then, as Christmas rolls around you don’t need to scramble looking for Christmas cheer to share with your family. Your hamper arrives filled to the brim with all kinds of seasonal goodies that you paid for over the previous year. You can easily put aside $50 each year towards your emergency fund this way and you and your family will enjoy a hassle free Christmas.
Sign up for a grocery shopping membership card. At the bottom of your store receipt, you will see a print out that states how much you save each week. It really adds up. You can easily save an average of $15 on each weekly grocery trip. Add that amount, each week, to your savings cookie jar.
Did you enjoy your tax refund this year? Sure you did, we all did. That’s because of the new tax laws. Many people will have a little extra money coming their way after April 15. Decide to deposit that extra money right away into your savings account or cash it and then stash it. Sure you can come up with plenty of ways you can use that money now, but put it away for later. You might need it even more later.
If you are a responsible spender, take out a credit card that rewards your loyalty. When you pay off the bill every month, use a card that promises a cash reward and bank the money. Use your reward credit card smartly and you could end up with a very nice windfall for your rainy day fund.
Put aside a large mouthed jar in the kitchen. It is very likely that your parents and grandparents had one. At the end of each workday simply empty your pockets or clean out your change purse. All the change goes into the jar. Who wants to carry around all that dead weight, anyway? Your spare change adds up a lot faster than you think. While you are at it, add at least one bill to your change jar at the end of each week. Aim for a $20!
Is it time to give up that nasty smoking habit? Imagine the money you will save! If you are not quite ready to quit at least cut back by half. Put the savings each day into your change jar and watch it overflow!
Convert to a coin-operated laundry. Keep a jar on your washer and dryer and every time you go to do a load of laundry, slip in a coin or two. This adds up month by month.
The next time you go to return a movie rental on time, pay yourself the late fee. You will see how quickly that $1.50 to $4 can add up.
If you yearn to loose some weight, try rewarding yourself the cost of the item that you do without each day. Put that money into your change jar. You will look great and you will be saving for a rainy day!
Place a large jar by the telephone. Everyone must drop in a coin to make a call. All proceeds go to the emergency fund. This one works!
Emergencies always crop up. They are always guaranteed, unlike the money to deal with them. Be prepared and plan!
Every Day Ways to Save Money for an Emergency
When you think about it, there are a good many ways to save those precious pennies. Some ways will require some sacrifice, while others will require little before thought.
The point is to be forever mindful of saving those extra pennies and before you know it, you will have saved up a tidy sum.
- Spend less money than you earn each week.
- Seek out a higher paying job.
- Keep your job skills sharp and up-to-date so that when a new opportunity comes up, you will be on your toes and first in line.
- Adjust your lifestyle to always spend a bit less.
- Create a firm financial budget to encourage saving.
- If you must use credit cards/cut up those you can do without.
- If you must use credit cards, pay them all down in full each month.
- If you have credit card debt at high rates, consolidate at once.
- Figure out a way to lower your student loan payments.
- Just say NO to spending money whenever possible.
- Lower your expenses, one by one.
- Stop purchasing items that you can do without.
- Forego purchasing non-essential items.
- Refinance your mortgage or debt at a much lower rate.
- Refinance your car loan at a much lower interest rate.
- Find cheaper insurance rates/then switch over.
- Use coupons to shop with. Don’t purchase without a discount coupon.
- Wait for things to first go on sale before buying. Take advantage of catalog saving certificates.
- Don’t buy an item just because it is on sale.
- Buy generic or non-name brand merchandise as much as possible.
- Wait for prices to fall to a discounted rate before buying (applies especially to electronics items).
- Reward yourself for saving money. Enjoy as your debt shrinks and your investments grow.
- Drive used cars or leases rather than brand new cars.
- Reduce your auto insurance.
- Don’t eat out as much as you’d like to.
- If you do eat out, buy gift certificates for half price meals.
- Buy only discount magazines.
- Do more stay in activities at home.
- Invest the money you save to earn even more.
- Create a plan to save $200 each month (as much as you can manage.) Never miss the monthly savings payment to yourself and try to find ways to increase it.
- Don’t spend money just because you have it.
- Look into getting a better quality education.
- Stay very busy – you will have less time to spend money.
- Find an interesting hobby to occupy your time and stop you from spending money.
- Find a hobby that you can turn into earnings.
- Stop smoking and bank the savings.
- Go on a sensible diet and lose weight. You will save money on food, look and feel better, and your long-term healthcare costs should fall dramatically.
- Look carefully at how you spend and save your money.
- Learn how to manage your finances by reading financial publications.
- Increase the amount of money you earn through a second job, promotion, new job, investments, etc.
- Don’t try to compete with your friends and neighbors. Be satisfied with what you have.
- Don’t compare yourself to your friends and neighbors. Be happy being you.
- Sell your car and take the bus to work if you can.
- Contribute the maximum each year to your 401K or to an IRA.
- Buy Dental Insurance before you need it.
- Buy Health Insurance before you need it.
- Paying down your debt is also a way to save money (it saves you from a debt payment and brings you closer to having money to invest).
- Switch to lower your telephone bill.
- Lower your cable bill by deleting pay channels or switch to satellite.
- Earn extra money by completing short surveys online.
- Practice restraint at all times.
- Be patient when bargain shopping.
- Start saving money today!
- Don’t give up — put just $10 aside, today!
Related posts:
- Introduction to Emergency Money
At least once in every person’s life comes a time when the need is great and the resources are few. It can be hard enough to make ends meet on a decent wage, but, when the times get tough and the money just is not there to meet the need,... - 7 Serious Ways to Save Money – Not for the Faint of Heart
Do you truly want to save? Take a serious look at how you spend and then change it. Quit smoking those cigars, take in a roommate, park your car-and you’ll save as much as $10,000 a year. It really is just as easy as all that! Are you finding it... - Emergency Money Strategy while Dealing With Debt, Financial Stress & Family
Financial stress is common among those forced into frugality because of a lost job, divorce, death in the family, or being overcome with debt, etc. This can cause a person to feel insecure, fearful, anxious, angry, and, of course, depressed. These same feelings are easily the number one cause of... - Learning to Cope with a Money Emergency
Wherever there are money woes, you can be sure to find crippling emotional setback. Avoid it all you try, you might just as well begin to prepare for the devastating fiscal and the emotional fallout that is sure to come. You will need to cope very well with both if... - GOOD WAYS TO FIND FREE MONEY
If you are tired of making lifestyle changes to accommodate your savings plans then read on. These ideas lead you to prime places to look for money that’s already rightfully yours. Some people see little point in changing their ways to save a quick $5 or $10. These same people... - Thrifty Ways to Save Money
Saving for an emergency need not be a chore when you are making a good effort to put money aside constantly. Be in a mood of saving and watch as that bank account accumulates. Instead of buying a new DVD, save money by trading with family and friends. Once a... - Start to Build your Emergency Fund
Finding money during an emergency can be very difficult if you fail to plan. Establish emergency savings in both good times and in bad. The chance is very good that you will be called upon to put out a sum of money on the spot and when you least expect... - More Creative Ways to Save Money
Shop for clothing at thrift shops (especially for young kids). Look for gently worn or even new clothes for 1/10 the price of new (or less). Pay your bills online. It’s protected and you can save with stamps. Put your kids on the school bus rather than driving them to... - Simpler Solutions for Managing your Money
Let’s face it, coming up with smart and simple ways of saving money takes thinking that is a bit more creative. Use some of these shortcuts to managing your finances. They are guaranteed to save you time and money. Trick your mind into saving Can’t always come up with where... - 6 Ways to Teach Children About Money and the Financial Markets
If you are planning to teach your child to learn how to handle money then the best way to do so is to get them started on allowance early. When money matters children need to get a first hand experience. If they do so they would understand what it takes... - Building your Emergency Fund
It is great to build your emergency fund which is useful over time.... - Several Ways to Earn Money from Your Expired Domains
Making money by selling expired domains is gaining immense popularity because of its potentialities to make lot of profits. Many expired domain traders treat this business very seriously and they use a number of methods and strategies to sell their domains at very lucrative prices. Also known as virtual estate... - Yes! You Really Can Save Money
Sometimes, saving money may seem impossible. You buy groceries on Monday, pay bills on Tuesday, and by Wednesday your paycheck has disappeared. However, if you establish a savings plan, you’ll “find” money in places you’ve never thought to look! If you’re like most American families, you wait for “extra” cash... - Multiple Ways to make the most of a Year-end Bonus
If you have a nice chunk of extra cash to look forward to each year, think now about the best ways to put it to work for you. Maybe this year you’ll get lucky. You’ve applied for that great, higher-paying promotion and this will boost your monthly pay by $500.... - Every Day Money Saving Tips
How to Save Money on Gas Gas prices just keep going up, and our wallets keep decreasing in size. This how-to will teach you many ways to save money at the local gas station. Steps 1. Take out a credit card. Some credit cards offer gas savings when you use...