This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
I don't know many people who aren't trying to save more money. Whether it's getting ready for Christmas, the back to school season, trying to pay off debt or any number of other reasons... we all have those goals that have us pinching our pennies.
Many times when we talk about saving money we cover the big stuff. Stop eating out, do things to reduce your electric bill, only drink coffee at home... the list could go on, but what happens when it seems like you've already done all the major things and there's nothing really left that could make a major change.
The truth is, even when you've eliminated all of the big ways you're wasting money, there are still ways money can slip through the cracks, simply because you don't realize what you could be saving. These are simple, everyday ways you could be losing money & what to do about it.
Go meatless - While you can go without a lot of things in life, food isn't one of them. So often the grocery budget is the hardest to get under control. BUT going meatless for dinner even just one day a week can do wonders for your overall budget. It's such a small thing, but can really make a difference in your everyday budget.
Cut down on gas - Gas is such an important part of our every day lives. A big part of me misses the public transportation methods from when I lived in the Philippines. Riding with other people in jeeps was so fun, and we never had to pay for gas. Public transport isn't as much of a thing in Texas. Instead of jeeps to share we're all driving cars and spending lots of money on gas.
There are some ways to save on gas though, carpooling is the obvious choice to cut down on gas, it's not always a do-able choice. The other big thing that you can do is stop speeding. Driving slower gives you better gas mileage, so it will actually save you money to keep the law. *wink*
Save on makeup - It amazes me how pricey makeup can be, it seems like it's not always doable to go out and buy a replacement for something that ran out, especially if it's a particularly budget-tight month. This month, I found out that Dollar General has it's own line of beauty products AND they carry many national brands too. I grabbed lipstick, blush, mascara and some new nail polish for just over $5! Find these products and more at Dollar General
I love that Dollar General makes it affordable for you to stock up on what you need! You can Discover beauty products, tips and more in the Dollar General Beauty Zone and stop overspending on them other places!
Stop waste - Another big way lots of people lose money (myself included...we're working on it) is with paper goods. While you're at Dollar General, pick up some extra hand towels for your kitchen and even some small, soft ones for your face for makeup removal. Instead of spending money on massive packages of paper towels and cotton balls, simply use your new DG towels instead and throw them in with the laundry. You'll be amazed at how much this simple change will save you over the course of a month and even a year!
If you think about it, I bet you can find small, everyday ways you're losing money instead of saving it! Once you find them, make sure you direct that extra "income" to your savings fund, instead of spending it on something extra! It's the best way to save!
Stop with the bulk - My friend Kate (from Nourishing Little Souls) shared a theory with me that if you buy in bulk you're actually spending more money because you take it for granted that you have a lot of that product and you use more of it. It only took me a few minutes of thinking about it to realize how right she was! No more bulk shopping for me, unless I know I can ration myself.
Keep the shower off - Okay, it's possible that I'm the only one that does this...but maybe not. You know how it goes, you turn on the shower so it can get warm, and then you get distracted. You brush your teeth, you go to the bathroom, you floss you do 100 different things in the bathroom while the shower water is running and the hot water heater is working to keep it warm. Stop it! It doesn't take that long to get the water hot, so don't turn the water on until you are ready to get in the shower. Yeah, it's a small amount but if it's every day and every member of your family, it's actually a pretty big loss!
Are there little ways your family is losing money everyday? Sare your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to check out the DG beauty products this week when you're at the store. I was majorly impressed!
