Are you saving for a new car or just trying to pay off your credit card? There are a lot of simple ways to stop spending money which do not have to have a negative impact on your lifestyle. However, you will have to put some effort in otherwise you will really not see any results. And of course, the best way to get results is to actually make some small changes in your lifestyle since several small changes soon add up to one large saving in dollars!
If you enter a supermarket without a list then you are already a lost cause. You will be bombarded by temptation and special offers that have been crafted by highly paid marketing specialists and you will be powerless to resist: Eventually you will emerge having bought twice as much as you wanted and having forgotten half the things you really needed! Always make a shopping list and stick to buying what is on the list. Navigate around the shop so that you can get in and out as quickly as possible. The less time you are in the shop the less money you will spend...it is as simple as that. Being organized with a shopping list is one of the most secure ways to stop spending money...and don't forget to turn a blind eye to all that crap they pile up at the checkout that you stand and look at while you are in the queue...trust me, you don't need any of it:
Vending machines are big business and are either Junk food dispensers or Drink dispensers. You don't need the junk food calories...which is the main reason why you also have to pay that expensive gym subscription every month...and drinks from those machines are just overpriced water, sugary water, carbonated sugary water or disgusting tasting coffee. Just buying a few beverages a day can easily add up to over $500 a year. So think what else you could use that money for before you put any more dollars in the slot. Quitting the vending machine habit is one of the really simple ways to stop spending money.
Impulse buys are the number one way to waste money, but they can be slowed down or stopped if you have no cash in your pocket. It might be that Brownie bar you always buy at the kiosk on your way into the office each morning...or it could be that "interesting magazine" that just gets put on the pile and never read. But of course the very worst is the "buy one get one free" offer at the supermarket that ends up at the back of the fridge and gets binned in the end since you left it past the sell by date. If you need cash for a specific purpose like a taxi or tube fare then only take the amount you need. As soon as you get used to not having loose cash in your pocket you will soon get used to walking past all those impulse buys. This really is a key skill to learn in your frugal armoury and one of the best ways to stop spending money quickly.
If you have read this far then you already know that these skills do not come naturally and they have to be learned....and most of us learn by experience which often isn't so nice. Set yourself a target, keep track of your spending and avoid wasting money. Do not be taken in by peer pressure and clever marketing...you are in control and you can choose what to buy and what not to buy. This is a lifestyle choice but also one that you need to nurture. There are lots of other more complicated ways to limit your spending, but if you start with some simple steps that mount up every day then you will soon see a big change in the amount of money you have left in your bank account at the end of each month.